Posted by Roger Rouch on March 17, 2013 at 9:14 AM
I came from the old school of Velvia 50 sometimes with big medium format cameras and virtually any shot was taken using a tripod. Even as I progressed to the 5D classic, noise seemed to start showing at moderate ISOs and the tripod remained a staple for all my serious landscape shots, though not for more forgiving mid-day snap shots or people photos. Recently my 5D died and I replaced it with the 6D which has had very positive reviews for "low light use". And throw into the mix the fact that IS type lenses seem to becoming the norm.
I am not seeing abandoning my tripod for those late day early morning sunrise and sunset shots or flowing water scenes, but am starting to wonder about things like mid-day overcast weather intimates where a person could combine higher ISO/shutter speeds, wide or mid range focal lengths, and maybe an IS lens and still have a high quality result?
Have others changed their philosophy of tripod use with these modern advances in equipment?
"Have others changed their philosophy of tripod use with these modern advances in equipment?"
Nope. Not with landscape photography. Granted, better ISO performance, IS lenses, and newer mirrorless cameras make going sans tripod easier, but for landscape work I see no reason to tempt fate. And I was shooting long before Velvia. Today, shooting with a 50 mpix medium format camera, I find the tripod every bit as crucial. One important factor comes to mind -
"Image registration."
With so many new techniques available for focus stacking, exposure bracketing, and stitching, the camera needs to remain perfectly still for best results. And with the advent of super wide lenses coupled with the style of having near/far subject matter, it becomes important for precise composition and focusing, even with single shots. And for all lenses, including longer lenses, I still prefer shooting with the mirror locked up when possible. For longer lenses particularly, I still prefer a tripod over IS. For composition, I want to be sure I have the scene the way I want in the viewfinder before tripping the shutter. And I want to be sure I have a level camera. Without a tripod, all this becomes hit or miss.
To avoid noise, I prefer shooting at the lowest ISO possible, and that means slow shutter speeds - so for that reason alone, a tripod remains necessary for me.
With modern advancements, the tripod may not be as crucial for other subject matter. But for serious landscape work, it will always be a necessity, IMO.
I'm going the other way, actually, using my tripod more and more.
Besides the obvious reasons for using a tripod, I find I pay more attention to what is on the edges of the veiwfinder, when the camera is supported, than I do shooting off hand.
Too easy to get lazy, me thinks.
Posted by Dan Roberts on March 18, 2013 at 1:29 PM
I'm another one going the other way. I have avoided tripod use like the plague for years. Felt even more justified with VR lenses. I've taken some pretty respectable flowing water shots with wide angle lenses all the way down to 1/6s handheld with VR. But when I compare things there is no doubt my work is better off a tripod. I think part of it is per the prior post in that it makes you take more time and consider the scene a bit more simply do to the hassle factor of moving around and setting back up with the tripod. Also with higher resolution cameras any flaws in technique seem to be more visible. At least to the photographer...
Tripod? If you can use one for appropriate subjects, a good thing. Certainly moving water blurs don't work so well handheld. I find that the pod does encourage two beneficial habits, pre visualization prior to plopping the pod, and careful examination of the composition.
Carefully working I find a Blad with a CFV50 as good or better than the old 4x5 and the Canon on a pod with careful focus etc to be as good as the Blad was with film.
Coming from long use of a 4x5, where a tripod is absolutely essential for critically sharp images, I use my tripod for virtually every image I make with my D-7100. Aside from the benefit of using lower ISO values for noise control, I have the time to really see what's going on in the viewfinder. So, when I started doing more digital exposures last year, using a tripod for my work was easy-peasy.
One quick note: Be sure to turn VR off when using a tripod. The VR motor can set up a vibration in the system if it's left on resulting in a loss of sharpness.
Discussion
5 repliesI am not seeing abandoning my tripod for those late day early morning sunrise and sunset shots or flowing water scenes, but am starting to wonder about things like mid-day overcast weather intimates where a person could combine higher ISO/shutter speeds, wide or mid range focal lengths, and maybe an IS lens and still have a high quality result?
Have others changed their philosophy of tripod use with these modern advances in equipment?
Nope. Not with landscape photography. Granted, better ISO performance, IS lenses, and newer mirrorless cameras make going sans tripod easier, but for landscape work I see no reason to tempt fate. And I was shooting long before Velvia. Today, shooting with a 50 mpix medium format camera, I find the tripod every bit as crucial. One important factor comes to mind -
"Image registration."
With so many new techniques available for focus stacking, exposure bracketing, and stitching, the camera needs to remain perfectly still for best results. And with the advent of super wide lenses coupled with the style of having near/far subject matter, it becomes important for precise composition and focusing, even with single shots. And for all lenses, including longer lenses, I still prefer shooting with the mirror locked up when possible. For longer lenses particularly, I still prefer a tripod over IS. For composition, I want to be sure I have the scene the way I want in the viewfinder before tripping the shutter. And I want to be sure I have a level camera. Without a tripod, all this becomes hit or miss.
To avoid noise, I prefer shooting at the lowest ISO possible, and that means slow shutter speeds - so for that reason alone, a tripod remains necessary for me.
With modern advancements, the tripod may not be as crucial for other subject matter. But for serious landscape work, it will always be a necessity, IMO.
Besides the obvious reasons for using a tripod, I find I pay more attention to what is on the edges of the veiwfinder, when the camera is supported, than I do shooting off hand.
Too easy to get lazy, me thinks.
Carefully working I find a Blad with a CFV50 as good or better than the old 4x5 and the Canon on a pod with careful focus etc to be as good as the Blad was with film.
Good Luck!
One quick note: Be sure to turn VR off when using a tripod. The VR motor can set up a vibration in the system if it's left on resulting in a loss of sharpness.
--P