Monopod or Tripod - DPChallenge Forums

02/28/2013 09:40:48 PM · #51

Originally posted by mike_311:

back to your OP, im going to suggest to not get a 650D, you are already used to a 60D and you are going to be giving up a great control layout, basically you will be downgrading. but the body is your choice get wiwhat world for your budget and style.

I see where you are coming from on this one, Mike.

Yesterday I took my nephews 60D into the camera shop and placed it alongside the 650D. It was like chalk and cheese. The 650D seemed so cheap and nasty in comparison, so too did the kit lenses. I left the shop apprehensively.

The bottom line is that my budget in the first instance of purchase on equipment is $2,000.

Given that the cheap and nasty 650D will cost $1040 and the tripod & head around $400, there's not a lot left for the remaining accessories.

I'd lean towards the kit lenses and just getting familiarized with the whole premise and camera to begin with and increasing your setup once you know where you're going with it. according to

spiritualspatula

Mike, I know you have a different approach, but I do need a long and short lens, and even though the 650D kit lenses may not be up to scratch, the kit is, at least, within my budget.
As I write this I am discovering that you are probably right.

I really have to start, somewhere, and if the first DSLR that I purchase is cheap and nasty, so be it. It is, at least, within my budget.

Thank you kindly for your input.

The good thing about this site is that you all have different views on what to recommend, and all views have their merits.
The hard thing is making the decision.

02/28/2013 09:50:37 PM · #52

the 60D comes with a kit 18-135, will that work for you on the long end?

in fact you could buy that kid and turn around and sell the lens a make a few bucks on it. i sold mine for about $250 USD when it only cost me about $200 in the kit and i used it for a year.

02/28/2013 10:15:15 PM · #53

Wow,

The 60D and that lens is probably enough, even though it is not as long. This needs some thought time by me.

Thanks Mike.

Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra

03/02/2013 11:31:45 PM · #54

On Friday I purchased:

Canon EOS 650D
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS 11 Lens
EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS 11 Lens

I thank you all for your support and helpfulness.

Tiberius

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

03/03/2013 12:04:57 AM · #55

I would say awesome decision. Congratulations and enjoy it and most importantly share a bit with us. I had a chance to handle a bit the 650D and was very nice, but I am Canon biased anyway. I started with the kit lens years ago with the 350D and, with care, produced some awesome results.

When you outgrow the lenses you have you can consider others

mrchhas

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

03/03/2013 06:36:27 AM · #56

i recently purchased the Manfrotto 055XPROB,498RC2 Ball head Kit and love it. it's a bit heavy but very sturdy, and for my needs it's perfect. have fun with the new camera

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/03/2013 07:50:43 AM · #57

I have the 055xprob as well. Different head but that tripod is rock solid, plus its very tall unextended.

PGerst

Canon EOS-20D

03/03/2013 08:38:06 PM · #58

I know I'm late getting to this, and will all due respect, if you are asking whether you should get a tripod or a monopod then you haven't experienced enough to really decide. You can get a lot of opinions but until you have used both, and not just at one instance but over the course of a longer period of time, then you can't really know what works best.

Let me give you an example.

I once thought I would never need a monopod. Until I bought a $75 (something like that) Quantaray tripod with built in monopod. Then, I found myself using the monopod in situations I never thought of. I've learned by using both what the cheaper equipment could do better in. But, it suits me just fine and higher expensive equipment encroaches the luxury.

I was at a boat parade, at night. It was very crowded on the pier and absolutely no room for a tripod. Since the monopod had absolutely no footprint it held steady very nicely. Next to me was someone with a tripod (taking up a lot of room). I got shots they couldn't because I had so much more flexibility than they did.

In another case I needed the camera steady, a monopod would not work.

Opinions are worth $ 0.25, but experience is worth the whole buck.

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

From this general consensus, I have decided to purchase a tripod.

Message edited by author 2013-03-03 20:41:45.

03/03/2013 08:49:07 PM · #59

Originally posted by PGerst:

yep, we pretty much covered all that :P

03/04/2013 03:04:50 AM · #60

In reviewing the post by

PGerst I use the post by

Skip as this reflects the images that I shoot.

Originally posted by Skip:

I typically use my tripod to shoot things that aren't moving

and my monopod
1) when i'm shooting things that are moving, but there's not enough light to get it sharp enough hand-held, and/or
2) when i'm using a heavy lens for an extended period of time.

enjoy your new gear!

Great comment by

Skip and well noted by me.

Thanks also for your comment

PGerst but I will be able to get away with NOT having a Monopod, because when I shoot moving images, like the one you see here

I can do it hand held. Based on the above quote by Skip, the long lens is not heavy and I usually have enough light, because zoomed in, on the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS 11 Lens I would be closer to the f/5.6 end of the scale

I will on the other hand require a tripod for images like this that I shoot.

mike_311 suggests we have covered this, but I thank you for your input.

My next immediate purchase will be a tripod and head. I quite fancy the Cullmann 528Q

I shall now research the Manfrotto 055X PROB as suggested by

mike_311 and

mrchhas

Message edited by author 2013-03-04 23:18:09.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/09/2013 07:54:50 AM · #61

john, how's the 650?

03/11/2013 01:34:52 AM · #62

Thanks for you concern

FourPointX the 650 is absolutely fantastic.

Sometimes it's good being a novice because you can get away with purchasing light equipment, like the 650 and still get reasonable images.

One of the good things about the 650D is that it is modern technology, whereas the technology in the 60D, the more upmarket camera, is two years old.

I know that it has a cropped sensor and the kit lenses are plastic, but they are doing the trick for me right now.

I am very happy with the camera and with the lenses and am experimenting every day. I purchased a Remote Controller for about $30 which I used yesterday for a self-portrait and it works like a gem.

My big problem now is deciding on a head. I placed a new thread on it today.

Thank you for your interest.

03/11/2013 05:23:51 AM · #63

Joe, I really took heed of what you said

Originally posted by FourPointX:

I would get the 18-55 kit lens to have at least some measure of wide angle and a little zoom capability, and it's really not expensive when bundled with the body.

I think the best advice is not to overcommit initially, maybe just get the 18-55 and shoot the hell out of it, see what's lacking, you find yourself wanting more zoom? or wider angle? or a faster lens?

The bottom line is get your body, get a kit lens, and see what you like and how you want to expand before dropping a lot of cash initially.

I've had the 650D with the twin lens kit for 9 days now and I'm learning everyday.

Thanks for your advice.

03/11/2013 08:56:06 AM · #64

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

One of the good things about the 650D is that it is modern technology, whereas the technology in the 60D, the more upmarket camera, is two years old.

i have to disagree with you. i sold my 60D and went with the even older 5Dii, and some would say the even older 5dc is even leaps and bounds over the 60d. obviously its apples and oranges. my point is newer isn't always better, keep that in mind if you get serious and want to upgrade in the future.

a look at the 6D and 5dii the 6dis much newer, but its not leaps and bounds better, some would even argue its only slightly better and a step back in some regards.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/11/2013 09:59:28 PM · #65

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

I am very happy with the camera and with the lenses and am experimenting every day.

great to hear. i have a friend looking into the 650 vs. the 60d, most comparisons i've read have them dead even. it's good to hear a first hand review....enjoy it! look forward to seeing what images come from it.

03/11/2013 10:07:45 PM · #66

Originally posted by mike_311:

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

One of the good things about the 650D is that it is modern technology

Newer isn't always better, keep that in mind if you get serious and want to upgrade in the future.

Thanks Mike, great point and great advice.

So many things nowadays are not a patch on the originals, so that's good advice for the future.

03/11/2013 10:26:36 PM · #67

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

I am very happy with the camera and with the lenses and am experimenting every day.

great to hear. i have a friend looking into the 650 vs. the 60d, most comparisons i've read have them dead even. it's good to hear a first hand review....enjoy it! look forward to seeing what images come from it.

you aren't going to notice anything as far as IQ goes, the choice come down to price, size and features of the body.

03/11/2013 10:29:18 PM · #68

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by johnbrennan:

I am very happy with the camera and with the lenses and am experimenting every day.

great to hear. I have a friend looking into the 650 vs. the 60d, most comparisons i've read have them dead even. it's good to hear a first hand review....enjoy it! look forward to seeing what images come from it.

I had been using my Nephew's 60D and became quite familiar with it. When I went into the camera shop, to purchase a 650D, I took the 60D with me and compared it. The 650D seemed cheap and nasty. Very light, in comparison to the 60D. So I went home confused.

Many months earlier before I had trialled my Nephew's Camera, I saw a lady in the bush who had a Canon, with a moderately long lens probably about 200mm at the zoomed in end. Not sure whether she had 60D or a more upmarket camera than than the 60D. I asked her how it faired for her.

"It's a bit heavy" was the condensed reply. She too was relatively new to the game.

I weighed it up [no pun intended] and decided on the so called cheap and nasty camera, that of the 650D.

Since the purchase, 2 weeks on Friday, I know that I made the right decision.

I am able to shoot the hell out of this with it's plastic lenses and will do so for the next 2 years. If I discover that I want more out of the equipment, I can always upgrade.

For a little over $1,000, I got the 650D with 2 lenses.

Hope this helps.

Message edited by author 2013-03-11 22:36:00.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/12/2013 07:04:03 AM · #69

it does help john, thanks, i pointed her in this direction to read your thoughts.

glad you're comfortable with your decision. let's see those images!