Do Tripod Spikes Make Any Difference? | Digitising Your Film | Starling Murmurations & More
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- In this episode of Photography Online, we attempt to take photos in 60mph winds to see what difference tripod spikes make. We witness one of the world's most spectacular wildlife displays, look at various options to digitise your film, and we take a critical look at some of your photos. We also have £100 worth of tripod spikes to giveaway!
Our February Part 2 show will be released Sunday 13th Feb 2022
Marcus's pistol grip tripod head is the Manfrotto 322RC2
LINKS:
WIN A SET OF SPIKES: NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES
Shop our new ECS manual, tripod spikes & more: shop.mc2photog...
Visit the drum scanning business we used - www.bayeux.co.uk/
View our show features index: bit.ly/33MrGUb
Submit images for The Surgery: email photographyonline@mc2photography.com (Please include your name. Max file size 2MB, please)
Find out more about our Harris & Lewis film trip: bit.ly/3nYiMcS
JOIN us a PO LIVE Supporter: bit.ly/2HNSM28
Shop for used & new gear at Ffordes Photographic: www.ffordes.com
MORE ABOUT US:
Mc2 Photography website: www.mc2photogr...
Sign up to our Newsletter: bit.ly/3uctYVo
Facebook: / photographyonlineyoutube
Instagram: / photographyonlineyoutube
I witness these murmurations in Southern Onario, Canada every fall season. It is beautiful and I thank you, Harry, for bringing this to our attention as a photo subject and the challenges that photographing them can present. As an aside, the colours of a male starling in breeding season are spectacular!
Could I asak where specifically one could see this in Ontario as I am in the Hamilton area frequently.
Great show, thanks. Love the bloopers at the end. Screw Thread!!!😂😂😂😂😂
Glad you enjoyed the show.
Wow. I must have said this in a past video, but the quality and content is just amazing on this channel. Just fantastic. it's less of a TH-cam channel and more like someone you'd see on a real TV network. Just fantastic.
Thanks very much Michael
A wibbly wobbly one….😂😂 I do love the out-takes you now include…
Glad you enjoyed it Dave
A good watch every time. Great work guys
Much appreciated!
Great demo of spikes and stunning video of the murmuration. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it Jim
Wow. Who knew Marcus had hair?!. Seriously though, great show as usual guys.
Thanks Andrew. Marcus is growing it while he can!
One of the best produced shows available on TH-cam. And just in time because I was about to look for a new tripod. Great content! I joined in this week and much appreciated for all the work you all do! I'm waiting for the comparison between the Sony A7RIV and Canon 5DSR. I have used the Canon during a day on the Dutch afsluitdijk trip and made some real cool images during that day. Last year after my father passed away, age 87, I decided to reboot my photography hobby by stepping up from a Fuji XT2 to my new Sony A7RIV and four lenses. I'm planning a multi year trip along the Wadden islands of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, including their surroundings.
Keep up the good work and sincerely thanks everyone.
Hi Gert. That sounds like a great trip you have ahead of you! Thanks for your kind comments about the show. We hope to get around to comparing the A7r IV soon. All the best
What a ballet of starlings!
Cheers
Thanks for sharing the bloopers! Please Keep all content coming.
Will do!!
Never thought of digitizing film by shooting on a lightbox. Great review of the options. Once again enjoying the best photography show online. Great stuff.
Cheers RR.
Murmurations - Brilliant, a really marvelous sight. Thank you Harry.
Harry, the murmuration shots were stunning, we had a small one, about 3,000 birds near to me in Long Melford recently, right over the high street. It lasted about 3 weeks before they moved on, what was brilliant was the numbers of people increasing each time I visited, my videos were shared on social media and I had many people comment that they came because of my videos.
Good to hear Bill
Thanks for another brilliant episode, murmuration shots were amazing and absolutely loved the out takes at the end
As always, showing is better than telling and you’ve done it again, making a great erm…point….about spikes…plus it’s handy as a defensive strategy if someone tries to steal your gear on a late night shoot….😇😇✔️
Glad it was useful Dave.
Thankyou - top class once again
I love starlings and have a greater appreciation for them now. Very excellent TH-cam show. The quality of just the beginning of this video with the tripod spikes made me subscribe.
Welcome to our channel Rob
As usual, never a dud moment - especially not the out takes...
That was an excellent demonstration with the spikes, I'm reassured - I recently fitted the spikes that came with my tripod but haven't really tried them out yet! Yours seemed to grip rock better than I expected.
Thanks for watching David. Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful.
Who'd have thought the lowly starling could produce such beautiful patterns? I'm doing some film scans right now from my past life, thanks for the info. Great show as usual. See you in a few weeks!
Have fun with the scans Mark.
hello ruth and team that was nice to watch the starling great views as always wonderful show thank you all so much cheers from trev in sussex
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant as always 👌, the best way to spend a bit of time on a Sunday
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant show again all.
Interesting review regarding the spikes.👍
Cheers Craig. Glad you enjoyed it again.
Can't wait for the show to begin 🤍🤍
Cheers Marc
Great show, again. I feel like you are all starting to really hit your stride. Good job. The spikes and the scanning was of most interest to me, but reminders about dusty sensors is very useful too. The murmurations were spectacular. We have starlings here on Vancouver Island (BC, Canada), but certainly not in those numbers. The outtakes are priceless!
Thanks for watching Tinker.
Great show team. Having invested in spikes last year having heard Marcus discuss them previously they have definitely been the cheapest and most impactful of the recent additions to my camera equipment.
Good to know Steve. Thanks as always for watching.
Another great episode. As others have said, this is still the best produced photography channel on TH-cam and I guess the presenters aren’t too bad either. 😂
Cheers Steve. We appreciate your continued support.
I have to say that I'm warning to Harry! I didn't like him at first but his last few pieces have been great to watch...and his "heart" in the sky shot with the starlings was superb! As always though, fantastic presentation and info...well done all.
Don’t warm to him Andy - it’s far more entertaining to continue not liking him! That’s what we all do! Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Thank you!!
The film photography is trial and error until you get the best results. I develop my own film and scan it using the DSLR method and everytime I discover new stuff. Also this video gave me a few ideas... so thank you for this :) I have something to do in the weekend.
Cheers Alex
Great work, congratulations, cheers.
Thank you! Cheers!
I'm fairly sure I know where Harry was as it looks very much like my local RSPB reserve. If it is I'm not sure I'd describe it as local, well not to Skye anyway lol. Great video once again and those murmurations were spectacular.
I just finished watching all of the episodes of the show, can't wait for the next one to come out. Great work folks!
Wow. You deserve a medal! Only 2 sleeps until the next one!
@@PhotographyOnline I live in Ireland so I recon we share a lot of the same rain in winter! Lots of spare time to edit photos and watch the show 😁
it is many years since I last watched this spectacle in Midlothian. I actually stopped my car to sit a take it all in. I now live in the Scottish Highlands and I feed the birds daily with only a small flock of starlings attending (amongst the other birds). Good to watch and get tips here. re - tripod spikes - I always carry spikes but never used to date - now removed pads so to add spikes as a must now. Only issue with fixing spikes semi permanently is that the pierce back pack pocket!!!!
I have recently sold off my D850 (which I do miss) for the Z7 II and very pleased with results - I am mainly landscapes these days
Thanks for your comments James. All the best
I have your aluminium 55mm spike had them for a very long time. Very good. I would add that my tripod has a gasket seal and yours were not wide enough at the thread point so hade to add a washer.
Good to know you managed to work around the problem Paul. Thanks for watching.
I’ve used a fourth option, doing a fluid scan on a flatbed “Epson 750”, using scanning fluid, lexan clear plastic. Great for 4x5. Also years ago- a LeafScan 45.
Thanks for sharing!
Another action packed vlog and belated happy new year
Get a tent spike ....attach a string to centre column and whack it into ground....done 😮....yes
Good video as always. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
fantastic episode
Thanks Andy. All the best.
Well done Marcus you have jolted me in to action. Been wanting longer spikes for ages as my tripod manufacturer only provides stubby ones. Will now order. Superb show as always.
Great to hear John, but we've now sold out! We've got more on the way, but due to Chinese New Year, it will take longer than usual.
The best spiked feet I've ever used were on a Ries tripod. Would love to see you break out a massive wooden tripod with massive spikes
We have starling movements like that here in Georgia, but on a smaller scale. I missed capturing them this year. Another great show. I will be getting me some of those spikes for my tripod.
Sounds great Jon. Thanks for watching as always.
Great episode! Those Starlings were amazing!
Thanks jim
And there is the (not the cheapest) Nikon Slide Copier ES-1 for 35mm slides. You can screw it onto almost any lens. Any neutral light source can be used for lighting, including a flash unit.
Thanks Klaus
Love your channel, just discovered it.
Welcome. Hope you enjoy our future shows
Well shoot, now I have to buy tripod spikes. Nice job as always.
Photography sucks!
I have a set of three inch spikes for my Benro Mach 3 AXL that I use when I set my star tracker on it, the tripod itself is an absolute beast but the extra stability that the spikes give me is a godsend when I have my astro gear on it.
In everyday landscape use I have rock claws for it, which work so much better than the normal rubber feet.
Thanks for watching Willie
Great program as always. Really highlighted the need for spikes, which I had sort of known for ages but never done anything about. Unfortunately none of my tripods have the ability to take proper spikes. Maybe they hadn't thought of them when I got my original big Slik nearly 50 years ago!! Prompted me to invest in a new carbon fibre tripod with proper spikes and a substantial new ballhead.
Good luck with the new tripod Chris. All the best.
Hi Ruth and team thank you for another great show always look forward to it and just received my copy of photography tips V2 and very impressed with it lots of great advice and information hope that there will be a V3 in the making, stay safe guys!!!
Cheers Mark
Nice to see a rep from Western Australia 😀
🤙
This just makes sense. Spikes are standard on most loudspeaker stands and have been for years. They give a more focused soundstage to your music. I think photography has been slow on the uptake. Same can be said for astronomy and mounting a telescope. No brainer
0.01 is insane, but everything starts somewhere and look how far cameras have come since then, interesting that it was a Kodak, who didn't really buy into the consumer digital camera revolution.
I don't know if it's the same on all high end tripods but on my Gitzo there are spikes located inside the rubber feet, simply pull off the rubber feet and Bobs your uncle. They aren't as long as those shown in the video but probably long enough for most situations.
Hi Andre. The ones you refer to are only good for hard surfaces such as rock. They won’t have any benefit over rubber feet when used on soft surfaces as they aren’t long enough to penetrate the ground and secure the tripod.
I’ve often wondered about the effectiveness of tripod spikes! Mystery solved! I will buy some when you have them back in inventory! Thanks!
Glad it was useful Randy. All the best
Excellent show again.
Thanks for your continued support Alan
Good program again........have to say, there’s something about film
We agree!
Ive used a dog corkscrew tether and a small ratchet strap for years ,100% secure even in a chinook helicopter downwash!
Yes works well if you don’t want to move around lots to explore different viewpoints. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. All the best.
Loved the show as per guys... Huge hug JC...
Cheers jC
So love visiting Ham wall to see the mumeration, unfortunately not been able to get there this year
There’s still time Jenny
Heads up - I was informed by Sirui that my W-2204 feet are NOT a standard 1/4 or 3/8" but 10mm ? Have to return ones I purchased
My first digital camera was 0.3mp and I documented a holiday to Florida and a wedding with it, thought it was great ... at the time.
Good to hear. Hopefully you have more resolution now!
Good Show.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video and very informative!
Cheers Ellis
Cool!
What about putting some weight on your tripod? I usually hang my backpack to the tripod, with some of the backpack resting on the ground to avoid shaking in the wind and thus transmitting oscillations. And this works the same on any ground, soft or hard. Nice educational video. thank you.
Hi Thierry. Hanging your bag from you tripod will make things worse in high winds because you are essentially adding a sail to your tripod. The best thing is to make it as wind resistant as possible and have a solid connection with the ground. Adding weight helps but only if it doesn’t increase wind resistance. A ground anchor can be very useful if you don’t intend moving the tripod around around. Thanks for watching. All the best.
There is a hook just below the center of your tripod. Hang your camera bag on that hook and things will get real stable. This even works well without any wind yet you rarely see photographers use this little mechanism.
Oh dear Bob! The worst thing you can do is to hand your bag from your tripod. If you do this in wind, then it will make things far worse, as you now have a sail attached to your tripod! We did a feature all about how to use tripods in a previous show, so please go back to watch this. Thanks for watching.
@@PhotographyOnline Hasn't happened in 71 years including shooting in the arctic!
@@Bob4golf1 we’ve done tests here Bob, and the key to shooting in high winds (as we did successfully in this show with long exposures of several seconds) is to make your tripod as aerodynamic as possible and increase the connection with the ground. Hanging anything from a tripod does the opposite and puts low frequency movements through it.
Realistically, if you are going to do DSLR scans as your main method of converting analog to digital you will need: A copy stand 1(£100-£500+) Lightbox (£50ish) Filmholder (around £100 to start) plus something to block stray light. Plus you need a camera/lens that will be up to the job and be prepared to do the setup every single time. (?££££) current wisdom seems to be that DSLR scans are best for 35mm, level with a flatbed on 120 and struggle with 4x5 where the flatbed is at it's best. Personally, I'm sticking with my V850 for now as it is flexible, will do everything I need, just needs switching on and is way cheaper than any kind of lab scanning. If I was just starting to get analog media scanned OTOH and I had invested in suitable camera kit, then I might want to use the DSLR route. It does make me feel queasy though, kind of like cannibalism.
Having worked in the broadcast video cameraman for 30 plus years, I cannot emphasise the importance of a good, solid tripod platform. Most broadcast cameraman use Sachtler tripods and heads - which new - will cost £4K retail - at which price makes most “amateur” cameramen wince . For News & Current affairs, where cameras might be “shoulder mounted” for short periods of time - there is always that degree of movement that would be unacceptable for most production - heavy cameras are not comfortable on shoulders. For long periods filming sporting events, cricket, football, rugby, etc - a solid platform is essential. Lash out - buy the heaviest tripod you can possibly afford . The quality of your filming will improve considerably!
Thanks for your input John. Sadly we can't afford £4k on a tripod!
What about a dedicated film scanner? Like the KODAK Scanza Digital Film Scanner or the Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE Film Scanner?
This wasn’t a comparison of film scanners - just an introduction into the options available. Dedicated film scanners aren’t much use for anything over 120, so flatbed scanners are far more popular.
If you use a light box to take pictures of your negatives do yourself a favor and at least get a high CRI one. CRI 95+ at least. And make sure you are absolutely level with the negative. Shooting downwards to table and using a mirror to align the surface and camera works well. And if you do it often get a negative holder that speeds up the process a lot. Once setup you can go through a whole roll fast. Also, use a blower just before you hit the shutter to take out the pesky dusts. Ultimately the quality of your macro lens makes a huge difference too.
@charles lo You place the mirror on the surface of the light table. Then you aim your camera so that you aim at the center of your lenses reflection. That will ensure your camera and the light table are absolutely aligned.
For analoque affair, how about the topic of getting 35mm slides for use on a slide projector from film and digital cameras.
Don't forget to wear a hat when watching Starlings!
I have a zomei tripod that has rubber feet and I don't think it has a screw thread, do you know if there is a way of fitting spikes on it.
Great episode with a lot of very interesting articles. As someone who normallt 'hates' starlings I have to say Harry's article was wonderful. My tripod normally lives in spikes but I also invested in a set of Rock Claws for my tripod as although I agree spikes are the best overall option they have a very small contact area and it's not always possible to 'wedge' them into some natural feature/texture. Rock claws give you more traction in certain scenarios.
Thanks for watching Steve.
Very interesting comparison on the 3 processes of taking a negative and making it digital. Your examples utilise the larger frame formats. But what of all those old photos we have from 35mm pre-digital cameras? What are your thoughts on using those small film scanners to convert our 35mm negatives to digital files? Like those by Kodak, Digitnow, and others. I would think there are more people out there with this 35mm dilemma. There is a wide price range. Are they worth investing in? Be interested in your opinions.
Hi All! to steady my tripod which does have spikes in extremely windy conditions may I suggest a Dog Tether Corkscrew into the ground (when possible) then with the use of a bungee cord well placed can take away any anxiety of losing or the breaking of your kit
Hi Allan. This is a sound technique but it only works if you are going to be set up in one single location. If (like most photographers would do) you want to move around and explore different viewpoints, then tethering the tripod is a real pain. This technique is probably more suited to large format film photography.
Curious here.....the image by Ian Moore had CA at the top of the image where the water starts over the falls, That's not a problem?
Great feature on converting analog to digital - thank you. But, you were starting with analog colour transparencies - what about from film negatives? How do I process digitised images from negatives into usable photos? Thank you
Hi. It's exactly the same process, but you just need to invert them in Photoshop once you have scanned them. It's just one extra step which is super easy, but might involve applying a few colour balance tweaks if using a digital camera. The flatbed and drum scan options should give you the correct colour stright out of the box. Hope this helps.
Great informative video just one thing on the film scanning you didn’t mention digital film scanner’s
Hi Andy. Yes, but I think these are only useful for 35mm and smaller MF formats, so they are a little limiting in some situations. We've never used one though, so thanks for the addition.
So where are the usual places for the links to all previous shows??
We don’t put links to previous shows because you can easily find them by looking at our channel. Hope this helps
Please, make a Playlist of Related Vedios
Great item about the spikes and the murmurations....really interesting. Can't see the link for the spikes though....
Hi Marlene. The link is there, but to save you looking.... bit.ly/34kCkB8
I have the starling murmurations on my door step, at west hay, somerset.
Lucky you. They’re amazing to watch
Thanks for another excellent episode, complete with tricky tongue twisters! The article on digitising was very informative.
I've been considering getting some spikes for my tripod but am concerned about possible problems at airport security. Do you take them off before boarding considering that I always carry my gear onto the aircraft and will never check it in? I had an open ended 15mm spanner taken off me once in France but they've never been bothered by the instrument screwdriver that's in my Lee filters kit...!
Hi Alan. I always put my tripod inside my checked bag anyway, so spikes are no problem. If you carry your tripod onto a plane, then I would imagine they will have less excuses to cause problems if you remove the spikes and use the rubber feet just for transit. Thanks for watching.
Hi I really enjoyed your video's and after watching the section on tripod spikes , the problem I have is I have a cheap but sturdy tripod which has standard rubber feet, my question is is there a way to fit spikes?
Sadly not - at least not one we know of.
Hi, great program you have, just seen for first time! My question for you is in relation to using the Epson Pro V750 scanner with film scans - what software are you using for the scan and what sharpening do you apply (either at the point of scanning or after)? I have experimented with sharpening as I found the native scan I get from my scanner is quite soft. My solution then is to use Photoshop to sharpen a duplicate layer using a High Pass filter, then apply 'Overlay' to the blending mode and tweak the resulting sharpness through the opacity of this sharpening layer. The resulting image is much improved by doing this! As I have experimented to come to this solution, I'm aware there may be better ways so curious for your views?
Hi Graham. I use Silverfast software, but I can get good results from the Epsom software too. The Silverfast just gives more control over the colour balance and contrast so I prefer to use it. I found that I can get much sharper scans by taping the film to a piece of Anti Newton Glass and then inverting it. This gives much better results than I got by using the film holders (at least for 120 film and 4x5). The key is getting the film on the exact focal plane of the scaning head - which takes a lot of trial and error, but once you find the sweet spot, then you should see a big improvement in the sharpness of the scans. I apply very little sharpening in post or during the scan - just a subtle touch. I hope this helps.
Great show! Can you tell me what ball head Marcus was using on the KingJoy?
Hi Stuart. The pistol grip head is a Manfrotto 322RC2. These are not made anymore, so you can only buy used ones (but there are usually plenty available). Don't bother with the replacement model which is not very good.
Hope this helps
Marcus
Hi All! I wonder what your thoughts are on doing a test on extra-wide monitors for landscape photography and if possible providing a link for the same. Or perhaps, you may think that may be unsuitable. I would love to hear your unbiased views...
Hi Allan. This is not something we are familair with. We use Mac screens for all our editing, so we have no experience with wide options. Thanks for the suggestion though.
The First Digital camera MP was 1.3 MP so we can use 1.2 MP
You’re wrong Ainsley
Hi Ruth! Can you please tell me the brand of your jacket as my wife really likes it. I know it's not photography related but that's what catch her eye while I'm watching my favourite photography show.
Thanks!
Hi L P, the green one is from Esprit. Light and warm for this time of year! (Ruth)
Thanks Ruth!!
She is already searching for it:)
What is the style of the tripod Marcus used in this video?
The tripods used are all Kingjoy. We sell them in our online shop.
My tripod spike set came with "baskets", how useful are these?
They’re intended for use on soft snow only.
Tripod spikes are great on grass or rocks but not good for wooden floors or sand.
And just try to take a spiked tripod or the loose spikes on a plane...
Spikes are great for sand! Mulch better than rubber feet. Never had a problem taking them on a plane.
What kind of Head or Model Grip Head do you all
Use
@@rickeyray311 it’s a Manfrotto 322RC2
I wonder how a cheap flatbed scanner for $100 or less would compare. My old photos on film are not the sharpest anyway. So I wonder if a cheap flatbed scanner would do the job.
It depends how big the photos are which you are scanning. If you are scanning large areas then it may be okay, but if you are trying to scan 35mm negatives then you will definitely need a dedicated film scanner.
Nice video!Can I ask where can I get piece of anti-newton glass?Thank you.
Hi Ventsi. I got my ANG from here - www.knightoptical.com/stock/default/windows-and-diffusers/diffusers/anti-newton.html
@@PhotographyOnline Thank you!
Funny thing is that I know what weebly wobblies are ... Are you being served ...
If any of the team are still there, if I order some spikes from you just now, are they likely to arrive this week? I'm in York. I'm going to Glencoe next Sunday and would like them for then if possible. They're a really good price compared to 3LT's which I'd looked at when I bought the tripod.
Hi Andrew. If you order today or tomorrow, then they should be with you by Thursday. We will dispatch them on Tuesday by first class mail.
@@PhotographyOnline brilliant! I've ordered. Thank you.
I have operats Screen's drumscanner. It made fantastic detail and dynamic range if slide film have enough grain. But oiling pre process darkside. Anyway This 3 test prove it again and directly shooting with digital camera is interesting way.
Thanks for watching Johnny
Could you give the brands name and the model of your tripod. Thanks.
The tripods we use are made by Kingjoy. If you are in the UK, our shop is currently the only place you can get them from. Please see all the options here - www.mc2photography.com/shop
Hard, soft and supersoft: are you truly reviewing tripods or rather Formula 1 tires? :-)
🤣