Posted by Allen Pearson on December 7, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Hi,
It has taken me awhile to ask this question, but I have discovered this to be an excellent group. I am not looking for pity, but for some advice.
Recently, I have been learning how to take the camera off "auto" and shoot. I have been pleasantly surprised at my success. However, I have noticed that it's very difficult to shoot in anything but "auto". I have a degenerative neurological-muscular disablity that frequently makes it difficult to hold the camera steady. Walking and stability are very difficult too. Besides a tripod or monopod, as these are not always easy for me to set up nor do I always have the room in the field to set them up, can anyone recommend or give suggestions of products that would allow me to hold the camera steadier?
Thank you for your opinions.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on December 7, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Allen, you may want to consider the following:
1. lenses with "image stabilization"
2. resting the camera on something solid, such as a fence post, hood of the car, etc.
3. bracing the camera on a solid vertical surface, such as a wall of a building or a tree
4. using a beanbag or "windowpod" and shoot from inside the car
Posted by Ed Cordes on December 7, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Jim has given excellent suggestions. I would also add that you might consider suing higher ISO. If your camera has "high ISO Noise Reduction" like the newer Canon cameras be sure this is turned on. If you do use higher ISO you might need a plug in like Noise Ninja to further reduce the effects of noise when you post process.
High quality light weight lenses with IS and using teleconverters can get you longer focal lengths My wife is a good example. She has gotten heavilly into still photography from video. She just can't handle my 500 F4 IS even with a tripod - it's just too heavy with her 40D. So, I am going to get here a 300 F4 IS for Christmas and she can use the 1.4 TC with it and get more than 420mm with AF without taking into account the crop factor.
Let us konw what you decide so others can learn from your experience.
Posted by Allen Pearson on December 7, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Thank you for your suggestions. I did recently lower the ISO to 200 for the class I am taking. I'll try raising it and see what happens.
I bought a Trek Pod Go! and although it works great, there are some instances where I can't get low enough with it. So, I end up holding the camera and trying to get several shots to compensate the shake that I have when holding the camera. I use rocks, trees, anything I can find to try and stablize myself, but the issue becomes when holding the camera. If my hands on it, then I risk the shaking.
I use the Pentax K10D and have the image stablization on, which seems to help. (Wish I could install stabalization within me )
I will share what I learn.
Thanks for your suggestions. As I age, the issue will become worse (so the doctor says) so I am trying to learn now what I can do to compensate.
Posted by Wayne Jones on December 7, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Allen,
If tripos and monopods aren’t what you want, there are a few devices that don’t rely on ground support. There are support devices that attach to the body, and provide arm or hand support to help hold a a camera steady while standing or sitting. Here are a few things that may or may not be useful, but you can check them out. Using them with a cable release may be useful for you, because they can help you keep the camera steady without putting your hands directly on the camera.
Glidecam Body-pod. Probably not what you want, but it may give you ideas.
One of the simplest, but most useful products I used to demonstrate attaches to photographer's belt. It provides a support to rest your elbow or camera directly. "The Original Body Pod" is an inexpensive light weight brace worn on a belt. Standard version supports the elbow; and a longer version can directly support a camera. I could not find it on the Web. I hope they are still in business. Here's the last contact info I had.
Body Pod Mfg., P.O. Box 224 Bernie, MO 63882
phone (573) 293-4270
If you can't find the maker, and you think it may be useful, drop me an E-mail, and I'll send you a drawing of it. I'm sure it can be made out of a couple of hinges and scrounged parts like a cheap tripod leg.
Also... Gun Stock-style Camera Mounts Might be useful. Here are a few to look at.
If the image stabilization mode on your camera/lenses has an "active mode" turn it on. It was designed to help compensate for the movement caused when hand holding a camera while on a boat, e.g. Having a set of clamps might help with setting up the camera for a shot so you can then take your hands away. More coming in email...
And bravo for posting-- will probably be very helpful to others.
Allen,
First of all I am proud of you for posting your question, I am mobility impaired as well and have been for 5 years now with Chronic regional Pain Syndrome. This disease also effects nerves and muscles and sometimes makes it very hard to walk or hold my camera steady. The guys have made some great suggestions, and some of the equipment I am considering buying myself. I tend to drive a lot to get the pictures I am looking for, and I also have a scooter that is designed by rascal and is a little taller and more powerful so i use it sometimes to get on some trails.
If you are limited to your chairs, there are 1 or 2 companies that have designed a off road 4WD wheelchair. I have see pictures of it and read feedback from customers on it, and they were all good. I mention these because I will use my cart as a balancing platform to shoot from and I am also planning to mount a monopod that can swivel onto the side of my cart. I hope you keep on shooting and enjoy everyday that best as you can.
If you need any advice please don't hesitate to email.
I know two photographers who prefer cross sticks to either monopods or tripods. One uses this product, and another fashioned his own longer version using two old bamboo crosscountry ski poles. Yet another has just added a small carabiner clip to one of the straps on his trekking poles. When he need a rest, he clips the two straps together and rests the camera on the straps between the upright poles. Slick.
Allen,
First of all I am proud of you for posting your question, I am mobility impaired as well and have been for 5 years now with Chronic regional Pain Syndrome. This disease also effects nerves and muscles and sometimes makes it very hard to walk or hold my camera steady. The guys have made some great suggestions, and some of the equipment I am considering buying myself. I tend to drive a lot to get the pictures I am looking for, and I also have a scooter that is designed by rascal and is a little taller and more powerful so i use it sometimes to get on some trails.
If you are limited to your chairs, there are 1 or 2 companies that have designed a off road 4WD wheelchair. I have see pictures of it and read feedback from customers on it, and they were all good. I mention these because I will use my cart as a balancing platform to shoot from and I am also planning to mount a monopod that can swivel onto the side of my cart. I hope you keep on shooting and enjoy everyday that best as you can.
If you need any advice please don't hesitate to email.
Posted by Allen Pearson on December 14, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Hi,
I'd like to thank everyone for the ideas, opinions, and suggestions. I've got a lot to work with which gives me great hope to be able to continue photography if my health continues to worsen.
It took a lot for me to write the original question, but as I've seen in the past year this is an excellent place to ask questions and learn.
If you have anymore ideas on equipment for a situtation like mine, please post them as I like to continue learning.
I forgot to post this, but I regularly shoot with a friend who wears a leg brace while also is fighting normal deterioration of his bod from age. He just doesn't have the stamina he once did. In recent years he has resorted to an English walking stick, the top of which opens into a small seat. You may have seen them. He needs a cane anyway, and it really extends his day to be able to sit (after a fashion) both for rest breaks and for steadiness. It's not the steadiest seat in the world, but it kind of joins his legs to form a "tripod" when he uses it.
Discussion
10 repliesIt has taken me awhile to ask this question, but I have discovered this to be an excellent group. I am not looking for pity, but for some advice.
Recently, I have been learning how to take the camera off "auto" and shoot. I have been pleasantly surprised at my success. However, I have noticed that it's very difficult to shoot in anything but "auto". I have a degenerative neurological-muscular disablity that frequently makes it difficult to hold the camera steady. Walking and stability are very difficult too. Besides a tripod or monopod, as these are not always easy for me to set up nor do I always have the room in the field to set them up, can anyone recommend or give suggestions of products that would allow me to hold the camera steadier?
Thank you for your opinions.
1. lenses with "image stabilization"
2. resting the camera on something solid, such as a fence post, hood of the car, etc.
3. bracing the camera on a solid vertical surface, such as a wall of a building or a tree
4. using a beanbag or "windowpod" and shoot from inside the car
I think using the right monopod and image stabilzation could be a good option. There are more slender, lighter weight monopods that also serve as "walking sticks" such as the Gitzo G-1560 Monotrek or the Trek-Tech TrekPod II Monopod/Tripod/Walking Stick.
I hope this helps!
High quality light weight lenses with IS and using teleconverters can get you longer focal lengths My wife is a good example. She has gotten heavilly into still photography from video. She just can't handle my 500 F4 IS even with a tripod - it's just too heavy with her 40D. So, I am going to get here a 300 F4 IS for Christmas and she can use the 1.4 TC with it and get more than 420mm with AF without taking into account the crop factor.
Let us konw what you decide so others can learn from your experience.
I bought a Trek Pod Go! and although it works great, there are some instances where I can't get low enough with it. So, I end up holding the camera and trying to get several shots to compensate the shake that I have when holding the camera. I use rocks, trees, anything I can find to try and stablize myself, but the issue becomes when holding the camera. If my hands on it, then I risk the shaking.
I use the Pentax K10D and have the image stablization on, which seems to help. (Wish I could install stabalization within me
I will share what I learn.
Thanks for your suggestions. As I age, the issue will become worse (so the doctor says) so I am trying to learn now what I can do to compensate.
If tripos and monopods aren’t what you want, there are a few devices that don’t rely on ground support. There are support devices that attach to the body, and provide arm or hand support to help hold a a camera steady while standing or sitting. Here are a few things that may or may not be useful, but you can check them out. Using them with a cable release may be useful for you, because they can help you keep the camera steady without putting your hands directly on the camera.
Glidecam Body-pod. Probably not what you want, but it may give you ideas.
Bogen/Manfrotto 585 Modo Steady Cameral Support
One of the simplest, but most useful products I used to demonstrate attaches to photographer's belt. It provides a support to rest your elbow or camera directly. "The Original Body Pod" is an inexpensive light weight brace worn on a belt. Standard version supports the elbow; and a longer version can directly support a camera. I could not find it on the Web. I hope they are still in business. Here's the last contact info I had.
Body Pod Mfg., P.O. Box 224 Bernie, MO 63882
phone (573) 293-4270
If you can't find the maker, and you think it may be useful, drop me an E-mail, and I'll send you a drawing of it. I'm sure it can be made out of a couple of hinges and scrounged parts like a cheap tripod leg.
Also... Gun Stock-style Camera Mounts Might be useful. Here are a few to look at.
Cullmann 3090 Travelpod Shoulder/Tabletop Tripod
Steady-Stock
Bush hawk
And bravo for posting-- will probably be very helpful to others.
First of all I am proud of you for posting your question, I am mobility impaired as well and have been for 5 years now with Chronic regional Pain Syndrome. This disease also effects nerves and muscles and sometimes makes it very hard to walk or hold my camera steady. The guys have made some great suggestions, and some of the equipment I am considering buying myself. I tend to drive a lot to get the pictures I am looking for, and I also have a scooter that is designed by rascal and is a little taller and more powerful so i use it sometimes to get on some trails.
If you are limited to your chairs, there are 1 or 2 companies that have designed a off road 4WD wheelchair. I have see pictures of it and read feedback from customers on it, and they were all good. I mention these because I will use my cart as a balancing platform to shoot from and I am also planning to mount a monopod that can swivel onto the side of my cart. I hope you keep on shooting and enjoy everyday that best as you can.
If you need any advice please don't hesitate to email.
I know two photographers who prefer cross sticks to either monopods or tripods. One uses this product, and another fashioned his own longer version using two old bamboo crosscountry ski poles. Yet another has just added a small carabiner clip to one of the straps on his trekking poles. When he need a rest, he clips the two straps together and rests the camera on the straps between the upright poles. Slick.
First of all I am proud of you for posting your question, I am mobility impaired as well and have been for 5 years now with Chronic regional Pain Syndrome. This disease also effects nerves and muscles and sometimes makes it very hard to walk or hold my camera steady. The guys have made some great suggestions, and some of the equipment I am considering buying myself. I tend to drive a lot to get the pictures I am looking for, and I also have a scooter that is designed by rascal and is a little taller and more powerful so i use it sometimes to get on some trails.
If you are limited to your chairs, there are 1 or 2 companies that have designed a off road 4WD wheelchair. I have see pictures of it and read feedback from customers on it, and they were all good. I mention these because I will use my cart as a balancing platform to shoot from and I am also planning to mount a monopod that can swivel onto the side of my cart. I hope you keep on shooting and enjoy everyday that best as you can.
If you need any advice please don't hesitate to email.
I'd like to thank everyone for the ideas, opinions, and suggestions. I've got a lot to work with which gives me great hope to be able to continue photography if my health continues to worsen.
It took a lot for me to write the original question, but as I've seen in the past year this is an excellent place to ask questions and learn.
If you have anymore ideas on equipment for a situtation like mine, please post them as I like to continue learning.