When you are taking photos, do you use a tripod?

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   Blond Logicposted 11 years ago

   When you are taking photos, do you use a tripod?
   
   Photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net and Prozac1
   
   

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2. 79

   aravindb1982posted 11 years ago

   It depends. Usually, I use a tripod only for things like time-lapse photography or ultra-slow motion capture. Modern camera arrive with very good ISO performances and almost have wiped out the need for a tripod.
   
   So, for normal shoots, I just kick up ISO till 1600 (I have a Nikon D3) and with that, even low light shooting is possible at shutter speeds like 1/50 of a second. Thus, a tripod is not necessary as such.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It sounds like you have a steadier hand than I do. Thanks for the answer.

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   Shravan Picsoniaposted 11 years ago

   Actually it depends on the image you want to take! People usually use tripods when they are shooting at a slow shutter speed or to avoid camera shake . They may even use it for taking pictures of landscape, waterfalls, etc

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I find a lightweight one is helpful and sometimes take it with me for landscapes etc.
      Thanks for the advice.

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   e-fiveposted 11 years ago

   I never used to, but I just bought one two months ago, and it makes a HUGE difference. I bought it to do some videos with my digital camera, but it makes a big difference on still photography as well.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I found the same, I wasn't a convert until I used one.
      Thanks for your response.

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   Randy M.posted 11 years ago

   Not usually, but I am doing macro with the tripod at the moment.  Getting a steady focus is necessary when doing this kind of work, especially under tricky lighting conditions.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I love macro photography, there is so much we miss with the normal eye. Thanks for taking the time to answer and explain.

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6. 84

   Suhail and my dogposted 11 years ago

   Extremely rarely.
   
   Since I take pictures of nature while on the go with my dog, I can't afford a tripod. It is just 'hike-see-point-shoot' kind of a thing for me.
   
   Even those wildlife pictures I have taken in different parts of the world are on the go.
   
   As you can easily see, bigger challenge for me is to keep camera always handy for that moment. I am willing to compromise on quality, as long as I get an evidence from nature itself that I was in that part of the world.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are right, better to get a shot, than not. I have been in our garden here in Brazil and wished I had brought the camera out. By the time I run to the house, the bug, bird, animal has gone.

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   Alise- Evonposted 11 years ago

   When I first got into photaography, I bought a very good used Nikon and used lenses, and those being heavy enough to haul around, plus the realization that I could continue to spend oodles of money on more equipment, I decided to keep it simple.  I never bought a tripod and I never even bought a flash.  When people saw my work, some told me I could have been a professional photographer.  Guess I never needed a tripod myself.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You must have  steadier hands than I do. Even my pictures at the beach seem to be on a slope.

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   edhanposted 11 years ago

   Nope.
   
   I prefer to aim and shoot. Using tripod ensure that you do not shake while taking it or maybe you are looking at taking a shot that might be quite a while. So far, I still like to aim and shoot.

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      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, this seems to be similar to many who are on the go. Stop, aim, shoot. Thanks for your response.

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   aviannoviceposted 11 years ago

   I do for my bird photos.  I recently got another lens where I will be mounting the lens on the tripod instead of the camera, so it will be a lot heavier.  The tripod will be beefier, too.  Just for standard pictures I can change to a vibration reduction setting, so I don't have to use a tripod.

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   1. 90

      Blond Logicposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My husband is the same. For birds it is often a waiting game. Often with a camera poised muscle fatigue begins. I think a tripod, for many pictures, is the difference between a good photo and a great photo. Thanks

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