Zaahir Essa
New member
Hi.
I've recently started to get involved with photography, and begun taking photos of motorsport events. I'm currently using my dad's Nikkormat FT2 film camera and a couple of MF lenses and really enjoying it. After my first proper shoot, I realise the limitations of my current setup and would like to invest in something a bit more.
I almost bought a second hand digital camera. I really don't like the digital look, though. Ugh. Anyway, for experimentation and learning purposes, it would have been ideal to have immediate feedback and access to my images immediately. Currently I can't develop myself, and I send my rolls of film in to a lab - quite limiting, and I hate not completing the process myself.
I really do need a monopod. I've read the sticky on the subject, but the terminlogy gets to me I'm going to use the money that I orignally set aside for a digital to buy a 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS and a 105mm f/2.5 AIS. The 3rd party zoom lens I'm using for on-track shots is difficult to pan with, and I'd guess the 180mm won't be ideal to handhold either for pans. So, the equipment will not be too heavy at all. The photography shops in my area aren't too knowledgable for my liking and I can't find much specific info online, but I'd like to know what would be sufficient for a monopod setup for my needs? Do I need a pan-head or something? What's a QR plate/clamp? :/ I'm going to experiment with panning shots down to 1/2sec I guess.
I've looked around locally, and found some really cheap monopods, and then they have Gitzo. Can I get away with the cheap stuff?
If there's anyone involved in motorsport photography that could help me out with the basics, that would be great. I can't afford a killer fast zoom, hence I'm just going to experiment with certain primes and see what I need. I'd like to test the waters of sports photography first before investing in serious equipment.
I'm not sure if I can post a link, but I've put my images up on Facebook, if you're interested in seeing the type of shots I'm going for:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Z-Photography/101526499885825
(I don't know if that link even works, certain sites are banned at work hehe)
Any help would be appreciated! Sorry for the long post.
Cheers
Zaahir
I've recently started to get involved with photography, and begun taking photos of motorsport events. I'm currently using my dad's Nikkormat FT2 film camera and a couple of MF lenses and really enjoying it. After my first proper shoot, I realise the limitations of my current setup and would like to invest in something a bit more.
I almost bought a second hand digital camera. I really don't like the digital look, though. Ugh. Anyway, for experimentation and learning purposes, it would have been ideal to have immediate feedback and access to my images immediately. Currently I can't develop myself, and I send my rolls of film in to a lab - quite limiting, and I hate not completing the process myself.
I really do need a monopod. I've read the sticky on the subject, but the terminlogy gets to me I'm going to use the money that I orignally set aside for a digital to buy a 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS and a 105mm f/2.5 AIS. The 3rd party zoom lens I'm using for on-track shots is difficult to pan with, and I'd guess the 180mm won't be ideal to handhold either for pans. So, the equipment will not be too heavy at all. The photography shops in my area aren't too knowledgable for my liking and I can't find much specific info online, but I'd like to know what would be sufficient for a monopod setup for my needs? Do I need a pan-head or something? What's a QR plate/clamp? :/ I'm going to experiment with panning shots down to 1/2sec I guess.
I've looked around locally, and found some really cheap monopods, and then they have Gitzo. Can I get away with the cheap stuff?
If there's anyone involved in motorsport photography that could help me out with the basics, that would be great. I can't afford a killer fast zoom, hence I'm just going to experiment with certain primes and see what I need. I'd like to test the waters of sports photography first before investing in serious equipment.
I'm not sure if I can post a link, but I've put my images up on Facebook, if you're interested in seeing the type of shots I'm going for:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Z-Photography/101526499885825
(I don't know if that link even works, certain sites are banned at work hehe)
Any help would be appreciated! Sorry for the long post.
Cheers
Zaahir