Shooting at high ISO
Modern cameras enable you to shoot at
comparatively high ISOs with
acceptable noise levels. So you might
not need to reach for the tripod when
the light fails. That said, using a tripod
still has many benefits: it encourages
careful composition and the extra
stability usually means sharper shots.
The time and place dictate its use,
however. Erecting one may not be
practical in a crowded tourist location.
Avoid camera shake
A common misconception when using a
tripod is that it will automatically
eliminate all camera movement. Even
the gentle press of the shutter button
can cause unwanted camera shake. Use
a shutter release or the 2-sec
self-timer to minimise movement for
hands-free shooting. If you have a
DSLR use the mirror lock-up feature.
When the mirror moves during an
exposure it can cause a minor shake
that can affect the sharpness of photos
when shooting at slow shutter speeds
Turn off image
stabilisation
If your lens features image
stabilisation (IS or VR switch on
lens barrel), it might be better
to turn it off when mounted on
a tripod. With some lenses, and
particularly older designs, the
IS unit can move of its own
accord, causing image blur
during longer exposures on a
tripod. This is visible as image
drift in the viewfinder, so if you
see this, set the IS or VR switch
to ‘off’
Why one leg
sometimes has
a foam cover
Everyone has seen
those tripods with a
single leg
wrapped in foam, but
what’s it for? This
is simply designed
to be the leg you
hold when carrying
a tripod in cold
weather. Carbon
fibre and
aluminium will make
your hands cold even
with gloves on, and
the foam is there to
reduce the coldness.
If your tripod doesn’t
have one, universal
leg wraps can be
bought separately.
19
Improving stability
using a camera bag
Outdoor photographers will often
find themselves shooting in windy
conditions and running water.
Luckily some tripods have a hook
at the bottom of the centre
column to hang your camera bag
from to create a ballast to reduce
vibrations. This often works well,
but in extremely windy conditions
it can make things worse.
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