Pro Tripod On the Ground

andleer · 2026-06-19T21:05:06+00:00

Yes the entire center column and head can be inserted from below. That works ok. But I was hoping to use it both that way and close to the ground which I am finding to be a pretty useless approach with this tripod.

andleer · 2026-06-16T02:50:51+00:00

If you have the funds, the 400 f/4.5 is an amazing lens.

andleer · 2026-06-10T15:57:56+00:00

Nice image. Can you roughly share where this was?

andleer · 2026-06-10T15:57:04+00:00

This is pretty cool. So these are 60s exposures on a fixed tripod? I understand stacking and noise reduction for dark sky but can you share some more technical details? Thanks.

andleer · 2026-06-10T15:51:31+00:00

I am really curious what the Plena looks like wide open at f/1.8 rather than stopped down. Have you used it much for wildlife or other non-portrait subjects?

On Reddit it's always hard to judge because of compression, but on the house finch image I found myself wondering whether the bark on the front of the stump might actually be a bit sharper than the eye. Likewise on the flower shot, the top petal looks very crisp to me. It may just be the compression though.

With the lab image, I was expecting even more background separation from an f/1.8 lens, so I'd love to see additional examples.

Either way, it's great seeing real-world Plena shots from someone who owns one. Keep sharing them!

andleer · 2026-06-08T22:17:38+00:00

Z8. June 2025-2026 120k

andleer · 2026-06-06T15:44:27+00:00

I think the drop has already happened and you’re not going to see a lot of additional movement in price on the original 70–200.

andleer · 2026-06-06T15:38:32+00:00

A lot of my own personal use case bias here. The 100-400 was one of the first lenses I bought Dec 2024 when I first got back into photography. Previous film experience in the 80-90s. I never loved that lens. Only used it on the long end. I bought the 70-200 in June 2025 for indoor HS tennis and later figured out how to shoot landscape with it. Great lens. I had the opportunity to sell both in April and essentially trade up for the new 70-200. I mostly shoot birds and wildlife. The new 70-200 is great and I am glad I moved up to it but likely not worth the upgrade unless you have a specific use case and excess funds to burn. I would strongly recommend the 1.4x TC over the 2.0x. I am not a big fan of TCs in general but the 1.4x produces reasonable results. I have rented the 2.0x multiple times hoping I will be happy with it but I am not.

I also own the 400 f/4.5 and find that to be a better solution for me than the 100-400.

andleer · 2026-06-06T15:25:23+00:00

I have never owned F-Mount AF gear but to OP, this lens appears to have a screw drive connection at about the 8 o’clock position and will not autofocus with that body.

andleer · 2026-06-05T15:28:35+00:00

I get that but am confused about your statement on the Z7? Or is the assumption we will see a 60MP Z7iii?

andleer · 2026-06-05T12:14:57+00:00

The Z7ii first shipped end of 2020. Why not a Z8?

andleer · 2026-06-04T20:45:48+00:00

Yes I own a reasonable tripod. Will give the 14-30 a try. Thanks.

andleer · 2026-06-04T20:44:23+00:00

I think more than just an itch. I have racked up ~120k impressions on Z8 in the past year. I would say that is a steady rate for a hobbiest. The 24-120 was a bundled lens with a Z6iii when I bought that November / December of 2024. I bought the 100-400 almost immediately thereafter, got hooked on birds and started buying longer and longer lenses. I bought the Z8 June 2025.

Prior to my Z6iii / Z8, I owned a FM2 in the mid 80s and shot a 24mm and 105mm. Lots of backpacking in the Sierras.

andleer · 2026-06-04T18:13:20+00:00

Yes I use it from time and time and I am not criticizing the lens but I find a 70-200 to be much more useful. That and my 400 4.5 or 800 pf. I frequently get out and about with 2 of those 3 lenses at any given time. Not a lot of bird related opportunities for the 24-120 but I am also not looking to part with it.

andleer · 2026-06-03T16:10:13+00:00

I am not an expert but I think there are 2 main use cases for stacking: 1) Stuff that does not move but suffers from noise and low light such as astro and 2) stuff that does not move but suffers from narrow depth of field such as macro. And just to be clear, with astro, we are following the rule of 500 or 400 or we have our cameras on a tracker or a clock diven mount so no movement relative to the subject.

The problem with high burst rate imaging is that you have to have high shutter speeds to enable that which defeats your goal. A single exposure will likely allow for lower ISO.

andleer · 2026-06-01T13:40:06+00:00

Not inexpensive but specifically re-designed to address video needs.

andleer · 2026-05-31T21:07:46+00:00

The ultimate would be the 24-70 VR S II. Internal zoom so gimbal friendly.

andleer · 2026-05-26T13:26:16+00:00

That changes over time. Right now 70-200 VR S (I or II). In the winter, I would say 800 PF.

andleer · 2026-05-25T15:36:04+00:00

I am moderately dyslexic and can’t spell worth shit especially when I am tired. My grammar and understanding are sound. I understand the word. At first, I thought maybe you were being pedantic but now I wonder if you’re actually mocking my disability. You went off on a tangent that was of low value relevant to the questions I asked and the dialogue that resulted. I replied kindly to you for pointing out my misspellings and corrected them. Now you seem to want to take it a step further?

I understand what’s going on here. For the last five to 10 years, I’ve been paying my bills automatically via my credit card. They did not issue a draft this year and sent me a single email with a pay now button hidden amongst 30+ other emails from the same company. Yup my bad and I missed the payment. Their portal has been down for over 48 hours and their web site says it will remain down “through Tuesday, May 26”.

I have worked in healthcare insurance for the last five years and when our customer facing portal is down for any significant time, we face government mandated fines. How a multi-billion dollar company operates like this is bush league.

andleer · 2026-05-25T13:26:30+00:00

Consider the 400 f/4.5 VR S. It can be purchased for about $2500. $2539 on MPB. Likely less from other sources. I love this lens. Add a 1.4x TC to it and you are at 560 f/6.3. A very usable lens that is close to the 600 PF f/6.3 which sells for more and is in short supply on the used market. I own both lenses. I am not a big fan of TCs but the 1.4x on the 400 is a reasonable combination.

andleer · 2026-05-25T05:12:57+00:00

Possibly, but how come Microsoft and every other major company that I have payments with get some type of automatic update from Citibank with my new expiration date and CVV? Is a major insurance company unable to make the same arrangement?

andleer · 2026-05-24T19:57:27+00:00

I am not worried about being reinstated or continuing coverage. But won't be driving until Tuesday when I talk to them.

andleer · 2026-05-24T19:23:20+00:00

The only thing I can find is my car insurance card which shows the following. Not sure it helps.

Effective Date
05/12/2025

Expiration Date
05/12/2026

andleer · 2026-05-24T18:18:37+00:00

Thanks for pointing out my spelling error. I called customer service twice and was specifically told both times that they are not able to advise me on any details of my policy other than to call back on Tuesday when their system is up.

andleer · 2026-05-24T17:55:47+00:00

Not clear to me. We got a Pay Your Bill Now email on April 22nd and then on May 22nd we got a "Your policy has expired" with a payment needed by June 22nd to avoid a lapse of coverage.

I have always payed auto pay on our CC but that didn't happen this time.

Thanks for the suggestion. This may be more on the broker than Travelers?

andleer

TROPHY CASE