Airframes
Benevolens Magister
You might find a monopod a bit awkward and restrictive Grant - there's a tendency to trip over the damned thing as you turn to pan !
I've just had a similar conversation with Karl over the last couple of days. I've been using a shoulder stock, cobbled together from a video camera rail mount and stock, fitted with a remote trigger pistol grip, and a second, plain grip at the front.
It works wonderfully, allowing sharp, steady, controlled shots, rather like firing a rifle at a moving target. But it's a tad on the heavy side, especially as the arthritis is getting worse, making lifting and panning a bit of pain - literally.
I spotted the American-made 'Stedi-Stock' on e-bay and Amazon, a very light-weight, nylon skeleton stock, with a grip to fasten through the stock, into the camera, via one of three holes. They're normally around the £25 to £29 mark, which I thought a tad expensive for a simple stock, no remote trigger, but I saw a limited number on e-bay at £4.95, so Karl and I both grabbed one !
I'll need to adapt it, and mount a tripod-type quick-release head for the camera, and an extension plate on which to fit the two pistol grips, but it should work as well as the other one, and it's a lot lighter and more compact.
Worth looking at, as a stock makes a heck of a difference.
As for a bigger lens, I know what you mean - I'd love a Nikon 400mm zoom, but I can't justify spending £1,500+ on a lens used 2 or 3 times a year!
The Nikon 300m I use now gives some great results, especially with Image Stabilisation engaged, and to be honest, the 200mm to 300mm range is probably used more than if I had 400mm at my disposal.
It's not an expensive lens, and on the used market, they can be picked up for a very reasonable price, in good to 'as new' condition, as they often form part of a 'bundle' with camera kit sales, where the buyer wants to move on to something more specialised, and sells-off the 300mm lens.
Again worth looking at, especially if bought from a recognised photo dealer. As and example, I picked up a Nikon D80 body last year, so that I can use two cameras at shows, and got it in 'as new' condition, with a low shutter count, for £95 - a snip really.
I've just had a similar conversation with Karl over the last couple of days. I've been using a shoulder stock, cobbled together from a video camera rail mount and stock, fitted with a remote trigger pistol grip, and a second, plain grip at the front.
It works wonderfully, allowing sharp, steady, controlled shots, rather like firing a rifle at a moving target. But it's a tad on the heavy side, especially as the arthritis is getting worse, making lifting and panning a bit of pain - literally.
I spotted the American-made 'Stedi-Stock' on e-bay and Amazon, a very light-weight, nylon skeleton stock, with a grip to fasten through the stock, into the camera, via one of three holes. They're normally around the £25 to £29 mark, which I thought a tad expensive for a simple stock, no remote trigger, but I saw a limited number on e-bay at £4.95, so Karl and I both grabbed one !
I'll need to adapt it, and mount a tripod-type quick-release head for the camera, and an extension plate on which to fit the two pistol grips, but it should work as well as the other one, and it's a lot lighter and more compact.
Worth looking at, as a stock makes a heck of a difference.
As for a bigger lens, I know what you mean - I'd love a Nikon 400mm zoom, but I can't justify spending £1,500+ on a lens used 2 or 3 times a year!
The Nikon 300m I use now gives some great results, especially with Image Stabilisation engaged, and to be honest, the 200mm to 300mm range is probably used more than if I had 400mm at my disposal.
It's not an expensive lens, and on the used market, they can be picked up for a very reasonable price, in good to 'as new' condition, as they often form part of a 'bundle' with camera kit sales, where the buyer wants to move on to something more specialised, and sells-off the 300mm lens.
Again worth looking at, especially if bought from a recognised photo dealer. As and example, I picked up a Nikon D80 body last year, so that I can use two cameras at shows, and got it in 'as new' condition, with a low shutter count, for £95 - a snip really.
