DSLR 101 2.0

[ebiggs1]

Maybe you will like these better.  I try to please! 

All with my best of class, 1.3 body the EOS 1D Mk IV.  Birders favorite camera!  I love this camera. 

[RobertTheFat]

---

@jazzman1 wrote:

This brings up another question???    What supports the heavy lens (L's) weight, when the camera and lens is on a tripod????  Only the camera right???   If there's another acc for supporting a big heavy lens when the camera/lens combo is on a tripod you have'nt ever mentioned that.

---

It's usually a ring containing a tripod socket. It surrounds the lens and can be loosened to allow you to position the camera either horizontally or vertically.

You usually want the mounting point to be as close as possible to the center of gravity of the camera/lens system. If the lens is long and/or very heavy, the COG will be somewhere along the barrel of the lens; so that's where the ring goes. If instead you attached the tripod to the camera, the lens would act like a strong lever and try to distort the face of the camera. If it succeeded, part or all of the image would be out of focus. If the distortion got to be permanent, you'd need a new camera.

[jazzman1]

I agree with all you've said about the lens weight.  I said I did when you 1st told me, I even got the Sling Strap and Canon Lens Ring.   It just dawned on me that the lens bares the same amount of weight on the camera when mounted on the tripod.   I wondered did this mean that it's Ok for the lens weight on a tripod, and only not Ok carrying lens attached to camera with sling attached to camera tripod mount.  I figured there must be something here I'm not understanding.  I see many guys in my clubs (many more than I can count)  using bigger L lens than I have, using a tripod/monopod only.  Guess I'm saying does using a tripod, in some way......makes it Ok for the lens weight on the camera???   Not trying to be difficult here Obiwan, I never am with you.  I'm just trying to understand.      Your answer here may change how I use any heavy lens with my camera on a tripod now.   Just seems something I must not be understanding.

[ebiggs1]

"The picture with the water taxi boat."

I made specific comments, only, on the two photos I corrected. None of the others.  When you hold your camera croocked or out of square, if you will, there is no way of telling what caused the distortion.  Did you not look at the three lenses I drew for you?

You have a curved surface and a flat plane.  When you are not perpendicular to that, you get distorted lines.  All your photos look like they are not horizontal.  And likely not perpendicular to the subject.

Most of this, if not all, is correctable in PS, not LR, however.  For the most part it is imperrative to keep straight lnes that run through the center of the lens straight.  Horizontal and perpendicular.

The photo below was shot with a 15mm lens.  All WA lenses have severe distortion if not used correctly. Yet the photo looks straight because the horizontal and perpendicular lines going through the center are horizontal and perpendicular.  Plus I am not holdin the camera crocked or crooked.

[ebiggs1]

" Not trying to be difficult here Obiwan, I never am with you."

I am at the end here as I don't know how else to put it.  Do as you like it will be fine.  

[jazzman1]

It's usually a ring containing a tripod socket. It surrounds the lens and can be loosened to allow you to position the camera either horizontally or vertically.

You usually want the mounting point to be as close as possible to the center of gravity of the camera/lens system. If the lens is long and/or very heavy, the COG will be somewhere along the barrel of the lens; so that's where the ring goes. If instead you attached the tripod to the camera, the lens would act like a strong lever and try to distort the face of the camera. If it succeeded, part or all of the image would be out of focus. If the distortion got to be permanent, you'd need a new camera

That's why my privious post.   It seemed to me the weight on the camera would be the same on a tripod also, and wondered if I should start doing something different when using my camera/lens combo on my tripod/monopod.  Usually I have been letting the tripod hold the combination, but now I'm really considering someway to support my heavy lens when using my tripod/monopod.  If nothing other than using my left hand under the lens for support.    I have the canon lens ring mount as you know, and thought maybe I would'nt attach the camera to the tripod, but just sit my lens on top of the tripod, and let the tripod support the lens/camera combo under the lens ring mount.   That ring mount has a small arm that I can use to set the lens on top of the tripod with.   I would have to continually hold my camera, could'nt let it go in this position.   What do you guys do when using a tripod/monopod, you have much heavier Zoom Lens that I do????

[jazzman1]

---

@ebiggs1 wrote:

"The picture with the water taxi boat."

I made specific comments, only, on the two photos I corrected. None of the others.  When you hold your camera croocked or out of square, if you will, there is no way of telling what caused the distortion.  Did you not look at the three lenses I drew for you?

You have a curved surface and a flat plane.  When you are not perpendicular to that, you get distorted lines.  All your photos look like they are not horizontal.  And likely not perpendicular to the subject.

Most of this, if not all, is correctable in PS, not LR, however.  For the most part it is imperrative to keep straight lnes that run through the center of the lens straight.  Horizontal and perpendicular.

The photo below was shot with a 15mm lens.  All WA lenses have severe distortion if not used correctly. Yet the photo looks straight because the horizontal and perpendicular lines going through the center are horizontal and perpendicular.  Plus I am not holdin the camera crocked or crooked.

---

All this now is very important info for me.   I never knew the things you're saying  It will help me use better posture and framing now.  I always knew that one should squire a pic up in the viewfinder and keep lines straight.  But I never knew till now all the problems can be caused from not framing a scene correctly.  Did'nt know it would create distortion.  I do know that many lens create some distortion at the widest angle, but none of the pics I've posted were at the wide angle on my lens.   As I said I used my 24-105 L for the jazz fest shots and most shots were from mid to farthest range.   I did not know till now that we can cause distortion with our pics from using bad form.

None of my questions here had anything to do with me thinking you told me anything wrong.   But I really needed answers so I would know how to proceed.  This tells me I have to think about my camera stance and really pay atention to lines in the viewfinder.   As I said, I'm not trying to be difficult only want to understand, and do things right.

It would be good to know if you thought the taxi boat pic was Ok, cause that pic looked distorted and I did'nt think it was from anything I did.  That's why I asked you to take a look at it.  thanks for your answer.

If my questions have you at your last nerves, I'll ask you no more about it.  I told you I get bent outta shape when I think I'm not doing things right. 

[jazzman1]

Bob thanks much for your answer here.  I have such a hole on my Canon lens ring mount.  No directions came with the ring mount and I thought that hole was only for the sling strap attachment.   I had no idea that hole was for a tripod quick release plate.   That is what you mean right????        Now the light bulb came on and all my questions are answered and it all makes sense.  Now I understand how to attach my lens to my tripod.  No one had explained that to me.  Not Canon (no directions came wiih the ring mount)  Nor Biggs....I never knew till now, that's how to use a heavy lens on a tripod.  Biggs probably took for granted I should know this.  But this is the 1st heavy L lens I've ever owned.

And the clincher here, is that I still would not have known this had I not pursued my questions.  Sorry if I caused you guys any headache.

[jazzman1]

---

@ebiggs1 wrote:

" Not trying to be difficult here Obiwan, I never am with you."

I am at the end here as I don't know how else to put it.  Do as you like it will be fine.  

---

Sorry Obiwan if I caused you any stress.   Did'nt mean to do that.   As I said I was only trying to understand.  Now it has all fell in place, the light bulb just came on when I read Bob's post, the 2nd time.   You told me right Obiwan, I never said or meant you did'nt.  I'm just slow to catch on to things sometimes, sometimes it takes a while before the light bulb comes on.  You did good. 

[ebiggs1]

"Sorry if I caused you guys any headache."

"Sorry Obiwan if I caused you any stress"

No way! No such thing.

I just run out of ways to explain such a simple concept.  I try very hard to not argue.  Sometimes it isn't possibile but I try.

I have done this way too long.  About 30 years ago when I became the Instructor/Trainer for Graphic Arts at Hallmark, when the first person in one of my classes failed, I was devasted.  I thought it was all my fault and was depressed for  a long time.  What did I do wrong?  Nothing, is what!  My boss made that clear.  Everyone is not going to make it.

After some more classes and training for myself, I did learn and found out there are some people that wil never get it.  No matter how hard the teacher tries.  It has been true and I learned a good lesson.  It is also trune with the kids in my music tutoring.  Most get it, some do not.  That is just the way it is.

I also do not try to convince peopel to do things my way.  Not to say I don't give it a little push, however.  Everybody can use  a swift boot in the pants occasionally.  But in the end however you or anybody want to do things is fine with me.  Have at it and good luck to ya.

[ebiggs1]

" But I never knew till now all the problems can be caused from not framing a scene correctly.  Did'nt know it would create distortion."

"I did not know till now that we can cause distortion with our pics from using bad form."

Let me take this in.    You never thought not holding correctly or tilting or other ways of being crocked with the world would cause distortion?  Really?