Dec. 2000
President's
Message
Portrait
of Mark Friedman
Photo FAQs
Photo FAQs
Eric Kissa
Q.: Which
tripod is best?
A.: The best tripod is the sturdiest and heaviest tripod you can carry. In a studio the weight is not a limiting factor but lugging a heavy tripod for hours is not fun. Once you define the weight limit acceptable for you, look for other features. Pinch (lever) locks are easier to operate than collar locks. The maximum height and the minimum height are important. The favorite tripod for nature photographers, the Bogen Manfrotto 3021 (black 3221) has a minimum height of only 10.5 inches (Maximum height 70.5 inches, weight without head 5.75 lbs, NY price $ 109). The tripod seems to be popular in our club as well. However, after carrying this tripod six days on a rough terrain I started to look for a lighter version. After comparing tripods weighing about 3 lbs my final choice was the Manfrotto 3001 (black 3025, weight w/o head 3.6 lbs, NY price $ 73). The lighter tripod is as sturdy as its heavier brother but the maximum height is only 55 inches, still adequate for most outdoor shots. Carbon fiber tripods are now becoming popular. They combine a light weight with sturdiness and do not transmit vibrations. However, their price is high, at least two or three times the cost of a metal tripod.
An essential part of a camera support is the tripod head. Three types are being used: a ball head, a three-way controlled head, and a pan head, useful mostly for video cameras. A single action grip ball head allows a quick movement of the camera but lessens stability of vertical shots. I have one but do not use it. The head with three controls is the most precise but slower to adjust. Ball heads are most convenient. As a rule of thumb, a larger ball is better but heavier. A medium ball head (Manfrotto 3262, 1 lb, NY $30) can support a medium format cameras and tele lenses of moderate weight, but it is not as smooth as larger ball heads with friction control. A premium quality ball head preferred by bird photographers, the Arca-Swiss, weighs up to 3.5 lbs and costs up to $650, depending on the model! Again, your muscles and financial resources may decide which ball head to buy.
Q.: How to remove a stuck filter or a step-up ring?
A.: The plastic filter wrenches are useful only for filters smaller than 55 mm. A rubber band can improve the grip on larger filters. However, a rubber disk used for opening jars is the most effective, even for 77 mm size filters. Hold the lens barrel firmly just below the filter with one hand and grasp the sides of the filter with the rubber disk. Loosen the filter with a short turn and rotate the filter by hand.
Send questions concerning photographic equipment (cameras, lenses, accessories, filters), photographic techniques (other than digital), and film, as well as information on international photographic exhibitions, to: ekissa @aol.com.