What's Wrong With This Image?

[Arthur Morris]

The gentleman in this photograph is doing several things wrong equipment-and other-wise. Let's see how many y'all can find.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Doesn't have the proper grip on the lens to stabilize it from camera shake.

[Arthur Morris]

That's #1.

[Gus Cobos]

The Manfrotto Neotec 458B tripod is under rated as far as load capacity for the lens combination that he is using. the tripod's maximum load capacity is 16lbs...even if he hangs a weight from the center column, its not enough for proper stabilization...the head that he has on the tripod is mismatched for the tripod...:cool:

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Don't think the tripod legs are out far enough to counteract the weight of the lens and keep it from tipping over. Would extend them higher and have them spread out more.

[Dan Brown]

I would like to see the right hand on the camera body, face tight to the camera body, left hand on the lens somewhere and both knees on the ground.:)

[William Malacarne]

If it were me I would also unhook the camera strap, it is just hanging there waiting to be pulled over.

Bill

[Dave Leroy]

I think he has to get a little more up tight and personal with the camera, lense and tripod. he needs to get down on his knees, get one leg or thigh up against the tripod so he has some weight/mass almost pushing on a leg, drap one arm/hand over the lense to hold it up or down and pull the camera into his head and counter act against whatever way he is putting pressure on the lense/ tele extenders. Probably needs to get rid of whatever strap is hanging off the tripod and the camera. I leave my camera strap on, but my set up is a lot smaller being a 50D with no battery pack and a smallish 400mm/5.6 lens.

It is a nice, great big looking lense though and it looks like he has the leveling bubbles.

The tripod does look smallish but one good thing is he only has it extended a bit.

I can't quite tell what the min.fd. is set at, but if it was me, I would be at 8.5m, the lbb would be at 6m and by the time I figured out what was happening the bird would have wandered off!
Dave

[Harold Davis]

he's not using a BLUBB!! if your gonna get that low, you may as well go all the way.

agree with the comments on tripod stabilization. i've always been told that a fourth leg is a no no and i see he has one on that tripod. his stance, for me anyway, is not that stable. should be sitting i think.

[Nonda Surratt]

Hum...Long lens tech, already mentioned but there is some sort of strange dome shaped thing between the TP legs and the flat plate the 'gimbal type' mount is on, looks like an accident ready to happen, no matter how he's sitting or dealing with the lens . The whole support system is out of balance + that really out of balance position he is in.

Would probably be more stable to just sit on his hiney and use his knees and arms for support:D

[Desmond Chan]

Would probably be more stable to just sit on his hiney

But you will not be seeing your target at the same height when you're like what he did or on one knee as opposed to sitting on your butts. Besides, you can easily move into another position or adjust it in a split of a sec when you're not sitting. How low you should go I think depends on what you want your photo to look like.

It appears the biggest mistake here is not has his hand on the lens. The way he holds the camera is not proper anyhow even with a wide angle lens on. Other than that, I don't know :o

[Nonda Surratt]

Desmond I was just kidding:-) But it probably would be more stable;)

[CliveTonge]

Hello Everyone.

Nonda, the funny dome part is a support on either side of the center column, the tripod head is not actually balanced on it. It is part of a feature found on some Manfrotto tripods that allow you to quickly lift the center column and switch it between a horizontal and vertical position. It is useless with this setup. In fact it would be hazardess to use this feature with this lense.

Arthur I am looking forward to finding out what correct tripod technique is. I have seen numerous comments on the Internet about bad tripod technique, but I have never read what good technique is. A lot of pages refer to Tom Hogans page on tripods 101, but it doesn't have that information. If there is a link to a thread or web page I would be interested in seeing it.

Thank you,
Clive

[Nonda Surratt]

Clive,

Thank you for the explanation of the dome 'thing'.

[Arthur Morris]

My turn to chime in. I will try to comment on the comments above and then add my take.

I have no problem with his choice of perspective. His sharpness techniques are poor. For the best coverage of advanced sharpness techniques, see same in ABP II (with lots of photos with various tripod heads). Gus, it correct, the tripod is a pathetic choice--why choose a 49 cent tripod for a $7,000 lens??? And yes, his precarious posture is far less than ideal. A strap should be in the lugs of the lens. I recommend strongly against having a strap on the camera when using a tripod mounted lens. The only thing that it can do is get in the way.... Desmond, at the very least he needs to have one knee on the ground for better stability. And yes, a center post is a no-no. I hate them as they can cause a multitude of problems and with the set-up it would be beyond worthless to extand it for additional height.

Nobody has commented on the tripod head, which I believe is a King Cobra, a total piece of junk. As you tighten the vertical pan knob, the lens points down about 15 degrees from where it was when you started: tripod head creep. Brutal. The only head that I recommend for the 600mmm f/4 lenses is the Wimberley. If you are using a King Cobra the best thing to do is either throw it in the lake or use it as a deep water codfish sinker.

With most big lenses, the tripod head should be to the left of the lens so that if he is tightening the knobs he will still have his right hand on the shutter button...

On the plus side he has a bubble level in the hot shoe and has his lens protected with a Lens Coat.

Aside from missing the King Cobra you guys did fairly well.