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Tripod, monopod, no-pod survey. (1 Viewer)

lvn600

Well-known member
Here are my questions:
1)What percentage of time do you use the following when photographing birds?: a)tripod b)monopod c)hands only.
2)Under what circumstances do you use each of the above methods?
3)Please give an example of a photo using each of the 3 methods.(if you have time to do so.)
--thank you.
 
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1. 100% tripod. Monopod good for dog attacks.
2. When I want sharp pics with a 600mm.
3. No such thing as an 'average' photo-sorry
 
Hi,

If I'm out and about I use a tripod 100% of the time, I use a 500 mm lens.

If I'm in a hide, I use a tripod if I'm the only person in the hide. But as soon as other people come in, I take the tripod down, because of the space it takes up and I switch to hand holding. So I would say, I hand hold for 99% of the time in a hide.

I have a monopod but don't use it.

Dave
 
Personally I use a tripod the vast majority of the time, as I mainly use a Sigma 500 f4.5 lens which I find a bit much to hand hold for any length of time. The only other support I regularly use is a beanbag, I use this for all the shots I take from my car and also for quick shots when I don't have time to set up the tripod. The only time I ever handhold is when it is impractical to set up a tripod and there is nothing to rest the beanbag on (it doesn't happen often).

Here are shots taken each way - the song thrush is hand held, the curlew using a beanbag rested on the car window and the little grebe was taken on the tripod.
 

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1. tripod - rarely
2. monopod - rarely
3. handheld almost all the time, usually supported on car window etc. A VR lens is a great thing, even at 600mm
For pictures: see my gallery - all hand held
 
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