Potography newbie seeks Tripod advice About This Page:

[Pax]

Greetings, camera more-expert-than-I-am peoples!

I've recently bought a nice (to me) mid-range point-and-shoot digital camera, which has a lot of nice features for a total newb like myself (it's a Fujifilm S5700). One of those is a "Fireworks" pre-set mode, which the manual warns me would be best used from a tripod, as the shutter times can be quite long. Well; I've got my eye on a couple lightweight models, as I expect to have to carry them around the parks with me. But I've hit a couple stumbling blocks.

The first one: how the camera connects to the tripod. My new camera has a mounting point (a threaded hole), but .... are the mounting points standardised? Or do I need to figure out which type to get? I'd hate to buy one, get it home, and then discover ... that Tab A does NOT fit into Slot B, after all.

Second: about the quick-connect gear; how does one go about making sure that it fits both your camera, and the tripod? Or is that all standardised, too? The convenience factor is very tempting ...

Finally, for the biggest dilemma: I tend to shop online. So, any pointers on getting the right stuff that doesn't involve "try the fit in the store, to be sure" ...?


(Oh, total aside: what the heck is a "monopod", and what good does it do? If it's just the one leg like I think it is, I don't see how it'd be that useful ...)

[oldmom]

I believe the attachment to the camera is standard for all cameras. The students have a variety of cameras and they all use the same tripods. We have both tripods and monopods and find them both to be useful. I like the monopod for stills but prefer the tripod for shoots that will take longer. The monopod proved very useful at graduation where there wasn't much space for the tripod to spread out.

[Dave Marx]

Right - the fastener is standardized. As to the quick connect, you should also have no worries. What happens is that there's a removable platform that fastens to the bottom of the camera using the (standard) screw. That platform then snaps in and out of the tripod. Usually, you just flip a lever to release the camera from the tripod.

[disneyfan2000]

I saw something called a Gorilla? tripod featured on G4TV. I think thats what it was called. It was a small traveling tripod with movable legs that could wrap around stuff. I want to get one.

[oldmom]

We don't have the Gorilla but one that is about 6-8 inches with a strong elastic/velcro strap. We have used it on table tops and around poles, very handy.

[Pax]

The one I'm looking at right now runs from roughly 20" to 57" for height ... it's this one. Not a super-high-quality I'm sure, but it's tall enough ... very very light ... and inexpensive.

[Dave Marx]

Those small "tabletop" tripods have their uses, but I wouldn't depend on using one as a substitute for a full-size tripod. As long as you're dependent on having a nearby wall, utility pole, fence railing, etc., you're limited in your choice of photo locations.

During my years in broadcasting and audio recording we found the mini tripods/clamps were useful for a variety of challenging situations - attaching a microphone to a press conference podium full of other microphones, attaching a second mic to a full-size microphone stand, reducing clutter on crowded stages (such as attaching a mic to a music stand) or as a desktop microphone stand when caught short. However, they were rarely more than a "bag of tricks" item. The right solution was almost always to have the full-size gear.

[oldmom]

not even remotely professional, semi-professional or nothing, just a vacation camera bug family photographer. but we seem to need a variety of pieces that work in various kinds of situations.

[Pax]

I'm tempted to plant the camera on a tabletop mini-tripod, in Movie-mode, and hit Record ... during character meals, with us at the other side of the table from it ... and just let it run. One card will hold 36 minutes at 640x400, or about twice that at 320x200.

Download it to our friend's laptop, if necessary ZIP it up and email it home ... ^_^

[DVC_Increda_Man]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Right - the fastener is standardized. As to the quick connect, you should also have no worries. What happens is that there's a removable platform that fastens to the bottom of the camera using the (standard) screw. That platform then snaps in and out of the tripod. Usually, you just flip a lever to release the camera from the tripod.

One most important tip: Before you leave, attach the fastener to the bottom of your
camea.

That way when you set up your tripod to shoot Wishes, you won't suddenly realize
that your fastener is about 1500 miles away

[Dave Marx]

Originally Posted by DVC_Increda_Man

One most important tip: Before you leave, attach the fastener to the bottom of your
camea.

That way when you set up your tripod to shoot Wishes, you won't suddenly realize
that your fastener is about 1500 miles away

There's a lot of that going around. I did just about the opposite. We keep a tripod in our Owner's Locker so we don't have to shlep it back and forth. I got home from the trip, opened my camera bag (to get the memory card) and guess what was still fastened to the camera?

[smilechaser]

Originally Posted by disneyfan2000

I saw something called a Gorilla? tripod featured on G4TV. I think thats what it was called. It was a small traveling tripod with movable legs that could wrap around stuff. I want to get one.

Like already mentioned there are different tools that work best in different situations but this one ROCKS! I don't have the gorilla brand but something very similar. So handy!!