I need to get myself a SLR soon. Quite embarrasing when your 6'9" and taking pictures with a dinky digicam.
yippee, first one to post. Bet someone submits while Im typing this :( Been looking for a nice small tripod for a while. Your results from Roppongi Hills & Shinjuku look good. Im going to go have a look at one of these tomorrow.
i need a digital SLR im stuck with 2 sony digital cams and a Nikon N75 film SLR, it was a bad idea to buy the SLR since i have to develop the film so i end up using my tiny sony digi all the time letting the SLR collect dust
So I take it that the anti-dust features on the camera don't work that well? Was looking to get the same camera as you and looking forward to the anti-dust tech. Anyway, carrying around a tripod can be a pain. I used to carry a monopod, which most the time is all you need.
I have a EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi/Kiss Digital X (different namings) in the house but it doesn't belong to me :( There's the EOS Integrated Cleaning System for this one which reduces the amount of dust :) Tripod-wise the Velbon looks kinda weak at the ends when extended :/ The 5th picture with the tripod doing splits kinda feels like a gun turrent haha
A tripod for me is usually necessary for when I do figure photography or photos in low light areas. Though my tripod is slightly larger than the one you have and it does get to be a pain carrying it around, but that's how it is if you want to use a SLR properly. I myself have the Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi and it comes with the integrated sensor cleaner, which works wonders I must say. All my photos on my blog are taken with this camera and I love every minute I use it.
also when did u get a g4 ibook, if i remember right u have a macbook pro, powerbook, and the dell doormat. present for the wifey?
for me and my Canon EOS 350D, indoor shooting is pretty easy... just a couple of desk maps, the ceiling light, and the in-built flash are enough for some great shots... here are some "kiddy grade" samples... but i'm sure you'll do fine... good luck!
That's a nice looking tripod Danny. I've been thinking about buying a new head for mine, but maybe I will look for this tripod. Oh heck, we will all become pros some day and then nothing we say will sound amateurish. ^o^ Do you have a power transformer Danny? I use it when I clean the sensor on my 20D. In the back of my head, is this thought of my battery going dead during cleaning. ^^; I usually use a rocket -brand of blower that looks like a rocket- and a vac, very carefully of course. You are a careful person so you should have no problem. Like many people, the first time I cleaned my sensor I ended up with more dust. T_T I usually just take my camera somewhere to be cleaned now. I don't feel I can give a lot of time to cleaning, so... super rats, I've been told that the cleaning function works well for small amounts of dust. I personally, wouldn't let the lack of a cleaning function keep me from buying a particular camera. You are not going to be able to push a button and suddenly all the dust is gone. When you do get a camera you will be told many things to reduce dust. Always point the body at the ground when you change lenses, screw the back lens cap into the camera body cap and turn your camera off when changing lenses. These a few that have served me well.
Well ... i only own a Canon Powershot A710 IS .. but I also own a rather decent Slik tripod ... i think a tripod is very important ... its way better to shoot with the existing natural light than using the flash to factor in ...
Hi Danny I'm hooked in digital photography as well... as a matter of fact I'm taking lessons and joined the group formed by officemates... A tripod is good for taking nightshots for taking pics with prolonged exposure time to maximize the light that comes in to your camera thus reducing the motion blur (if you have shaky hands) Well if you can take a picture for a whole minute or more without moving... I rest my case =P
Hi Danny, Glad that you got yourself a Velbon tripod. I have one too & you gotta admit that it is top quality! (Quite expensive here in "Boleh Land").
I've always wanted to get into photography but never had the time or patience to really do it. I would LOVE to have a camera like that or something close to take pictures of my cars (CO2 Cars), models, etc and what not. Nice post here, thanks for the info. (FYI if you think you're a newbie; I don't know diddily squat about cameras other than they take pictures and are digital now =p).
135 BUCKS FOR A TRIPOD!!!!!!??????? this is gold painting or what?
I just started to use a Canon 30D now, but I have a tripod since few years but not as good as your Velbon. I don't use it, only a few times in the year, but it's so big, I can't walk 2-3 hours with it, plus my slr. When I need to take a picture at slow speed, I use what I find to be stable (me, a girl, a rock, a gundam...) and put on my slr or simply increase iso.
I am happy with my Casio P700 + Velbon VTR-815 as I can but each in either pocket. Also they are in matching black ;)
I have the previous generation... great product and can even be used for small HD Camera like the SONY HC1 or my HVX-200...
What is the weight of that tripod Danny?. I have a Manfrotto 190D tripod + 141 Pan tilt head which which all weighs about 2kgs all up. One of my friends is looking for one as well but isnt willing to pay the 26,262 yen i paid for mine so yours looks a better option for him.
I'm happy with my Slik Sprint Pro, but what I carry in my bag daily is a Gorillapod SLR Zoom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_d/sets/72157594359471678/ It's by Joby, holds my Nikon D80, 18-200mm DX VR Lens with a Nikon SB-800 Flash without any issue. ;)
Your Velbon tripod seems to be what I have been looking for a long time...Could you please tell me how solid/stable does the legs' locking system really is?
Agamenon, The legs are sturdy enough despite looking really thin. S.D. Thats a really interesting tripod! Oniichan, 0.99Kgs Daimaou, Learning how to be GOD again? David -M-, A stable girl? ^^; KCA, Gold plated and diamond reinforced Proxyserv, Tis very nice indeed - very happy with it. Edward, No power transformer at this time. xjaymanx, Some cool shots on your blog ^^ Ricky, Took these pics ages ago ^^; Windbell, super rats, The anti-dust feature does not seem to be that good on my camera ToT
i just re-read my comment: what the heck is a "desk map"? obviously, i meant desk LAMP, but now i'd like to find a "desk map"!... and thanx! it's easy to follow a god, but i'm still forging my own style... keep up the inspiring work :)
cool device, Id like to get myself one when I get my SLR!!
very nice danny, i love how small you can put put it together. I ahve one, but when you put it together its size is preaty great. i like the one you got good choice.
I've got a nice tripod that seems to be almost identical to the one you have but it's a different brand. Mine's a 5800D Platinum Plus by Sunpak. The only thing I don't like about it is that the quick release is kind of pointless. The switch to eject my SD card is on the bottom of the camera so I have to unscrew the quick release plate each time I'm done taking pictures anyway.
Nice tripod! Mine isn't designed for a SLR. Not to mention a lense is broken T_T Trusty Sony cam FTW *secretly desires for a cannon eos*
I have a Slik. Haven't used it in a long while. Found out that I didn't like carrying it around with me. Did you get a quote from the Canon service center about the cleaning? How much were they charging? Luckily I don't have dust problems with my camera.
Hi Danny! I've been meaning to ask for a while, if you were on the streets of Japan would people mind you taking photos of them? I've gotton weird looks from people in the US and UK but nobody's been angry or demanding I ask permission before hand. (I'm no professional and I'd never do something like trying to sell the photos, if that makes a difference) Thanks.
Haven't seen that brand, but it looks good! And it's not one of those that can't stand so wide because the legs are connected to each other. I walk around with my tripod on my camera sometimes, since it's light, and holding the tripod instead of the camera itself sometimes helps me control shake during shots.
gbrgn, The service is free I believe but takes time to get there. Avitty, Depends on the person I guess but I have had no probs so far.
Ah, so maybe I should start worrying about taking pictures of people on the street... By the way, how about a post about second hand shops in Tokyo? Do you ever visit those? I was thinking about selling my Nikon D40 and buying something better (like D80) but selling at a Japanese auction site would probably be impossible for me right now... I know that most people in Japan just buy new things and throw away old ones, but...
I took quite a few people pictures in Akiba/Harajuku (er, that should probably be maid pictures) when I was in Tokyo recently. I got a few glares so I think I must have broken all kinds of cultural taboos, but sadly no maids decided to beat me up :-O They're more forgiving if you want to take their picture with somebody, and the promo girls promoting manga and random stuff are generally much more willing to pose for otaku camera geeks than are the regular cafe maids. There does seem to be an elaborate Japanese ritual for asking to take a photograph of somebody - I saw a lot of the professional photographers in Harajuku do it, but I've no idea what it all meant. Incidentally, I've got a Canon EOS 300D but my 18-55mm lens that came with the camera has worn out. The 75-300 took some lovely maid/cosplay shots though, see my travel log here: http://www.brettb.com/TravelLog.Tokyo.Akihabara.asp
I need to get myself a SLR soon. Quite embarrasing when your 6'9" and taking pictures with a dinky digicam.
yippee, first one to post. Bet someone submits while Im typing this :( Been looking for a nice small tripod for a while. Your results from Roppongi Hills & Shinjuku look good. Im going to go have a look at one of these tomorrow.
i need a digital SLR im stuck with 2 sony digital cams and a Nikon N75 film SLR, it was a bad idea to buy the SLR since i have to develop the film so i end up using my tiny sony digi all the time letting the SLR collect dust
So I take it that the anti-dust features on the camera don't work that well? Was looking to get the same camera as you and looking forward to the anti-dust tech. Anyway, carrying around a tripod can be a pain. I used to carry a monopod, which most the time is all you need.
I have a EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi/Kiss Digital X (different namings) in the house but it doesn't belong to me :( There's the EOS Integrated Cleaning System for this one which reduces the amount of dust :) Tripod-wise the Velbon looks kinda weak at the ends when extended :/ The 5th picture with the tripod doing splits kinda feels like a gun turrent haha
A tripod for me is usually necessary for when I do figure photography or photos in low light areas. Though my tripod is slightly larger than the one you have and it does get to be a pain carrying it around, but that's how it is if you want to use a SLR properly. I myself have the Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi and it comes with the integrated sensor cleaner, which works wonders I must say. All my photos on my blog are taken with this camera and I love every minute I use it.
also when did u get a g4 ibook, if i remember right u have a macbook pro, powerbook, and the dell doormat. present for the wifey?
for me and my Canon EOS 350D, indoor shooting is pretty easy... just a couple of desk maps, the ceiling light, and the in-built flash are enough for some great shots... here are some "kiddy grade" samples... but i'm sure you'll do fine... good luck!
That's a nice looking tripod Danny. I've been thinking about buying a new head for mine, but maybe I will look for this tripod. Oh heck, we will all become pros some day and then nothing we say will sound amateurish. ^o^ Do you have a power transformer Danny? I use it when I clean the sensor on my 20D. In the back of my head, is this thought of my battery going dead during cleaning. ^^; I usually use a rocket -brand of blower that looks like a rocket- and a vac, very carefully of course. You are a careful person so you should have no problem. Like many people, the first time I cleaned my sensor I ended up with more dust. T_T I usually just take my camera somewhere to be cleaned now. I don't feel I can give a lot of time to cleaning, so... super rats, I've been told that the cleaning function works well for small amounts of dust. I personally, wouldn't let the lack of a cleaning function keep me from buying a particular camera. You are not going to be able to push a button and suddenly all the dust is gone. When you do get a camera you will be told many things to reduce dust. Always point the body at the ground when you change lenses, screw the back lens cap into the camera body cap and turn your camera off when changing lenses. These a few that have served me well.
Well ... i only own a Canon Powershot A710 IS .. but I also own a rather decent Slik tripod ... i think a tripod is very important ... its way better to shoot with the existing natural light than using the flash to factor in ...
Hi Danny I'm hooked in digital photography as well... as a matter of fact I'm taking lessons and joined the group formed by officemates... A tripod is good for taking nightshots for taking pics with prolonged exposure time to maximize the light that comes in to your camera thus reducing the motion blur (if you have shaky hands) Well if you can take a picture for a whole minute or more without moving... I rest my case =P
Hi Danny, Glad that you got yourself a Velbon tripod. I have one too & you gotta admit that it is top quality! (Quite expensive here in "Boleh Land").
I've always wanted to get into photography but never had the time or patience to really do it. I would LOVE to have a camera like that or something close to take pictures of my cars (CO2 Cars), models, etc and what not. Nice post here, thanks for the info. (FYI if you think you're a newbie; I don't know diddily squat about cameras other than they take pictures and are digital now =p).
135 BUCKS FOR A TRIPOD!!!!!!??????? this is gold painting or what?
I just started to use a Canon 30D now, but I have a tripod since few years but not as good as your Velbon. I don't use it, only a few times in the year, but it's so big, I can't walk 2-3 hours with it, plus my slr. When I need to take a picture at slow speed, I use what I find to be stable (me, a girl, a rock, a gundam...) and put on my slr or simply increase iso.
I am happy with my Casio P700 + Velbon VTR-815 as I can but each in either pocket. Also they are in matching black ;)
I have the previous generation... great product and can even be used for small HD Camera like the SONY HC1 or my HVX-200...
What is the weight of that tripod Danny?. I have a Manfrotto 190D tripod + 141 Pan tilt head which which all weighs about 2kgs all up. One of my friends is looking for one as well but isnt willing to pay the 26,262 yen i paid for mine so yours looks a better option for him.
I'm happy with my Slik Sprint Pro, but what I carry in my bag daily is a Gorillapod SLR Zoom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_d/sets/72157594359471678/ It's by Joby, holds my Nikon D80, 18-200mm DX VR Lens with a Nikon SB-800 Flash without any issue. ;)
Your Velbon tripod seems to be what I have been looking for a long time...Could you please tell me how solid/stable does the legs' locking system really is?
Agamenon, The legs are sturdy enough despite looking really thin. S.D. Thats a really interesting tripod! Oniichan, 0.99Kgs Daimaou, Learning how to be GOD again? David -M-, A stable girl? ^^; KCA, Gold plated and diamond reinforced Proxyserv, Tis very nice indeed - very happy with it. Edward, No power transformer at this time. xjaymanx, Some cool shots on your blog ^^ Ricky, Took these pics ages ago ^^; Windbell, super rats, The anti-dust feature does not seem to be that good on my camera ToT
i just re-read my comment: what the heck is a "desk map"? obviously, i meant desk LAMP, but now i'd like to find a "desk map"!... and thanx! it's easy to follow a god, but i'm still forging my own style... keep up the inspiring work :)
cool device, Id like to get myself one when I get my SLR!!
very nice danny, i love how small you can put put it together. I ahve one, but when you put it together its size is preaty great. i like the one you got good choice.
I've got a nice tripod that seems to be almost identical to the one you have but it's a different brand. Mine's a 5800D Platinum Plus by Sunpak. The only thing I don't like about it is that the quick release is kind of pointless. The switch to eject my SD card is on the bottom of the camera so I have to unscrew the quick release plate each time I'm done taking pictures anyway.
