Mono-Cane

Not long ago, I went to the Philadelphia Zoo with my family. Walking has been a problem for me lately due to a very painful knee and I thought that, perhaps, if I used my monopod as a hiking stick it might make it easier for me to get around. I have a 3 Legged Thing monopod (Bob Model) that’s listed as having a 30 lb. weight bearing capacity and it comes with a foam grip and wrist strap. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The monopod had the strength that I needed, but the wrist strap is too short to be comfortable when you flex your wrist to “plant” the walking stick as you ambulate. It also quickly became apparent that, while walking on paved level ground, using it as a walking stick didn’t alleviate the pressure on my knee as I had hoped. What I really needed was a cane, but carrying a cane, my camera and a monopod for my camera was going to be a hassle – juggling three things with only two hands.

That got me to thinking that there must be a way to convert a monopod into a cane, leaving the monopod readily available to mount my camera on when I need it. Then I had a Rube Goldberg moment. I had a Manfrotto 234RC monopod head with quick release mounted on my monopod, and I had an extra mounting plate lying around. I thought, “what if I could mount a cane handle of some sort to the mounting plate? Then I could snap the handle on and off the monopod at will and quickly convert it from a cane to a monopod and back.”

By the time I left the zoo, I had formulated a plan in my head. When I got home I started looking for an inexpensive cane handle I could use, but I came up empty. Then I thought about what I could use as a cane handle and it dawned on me that a gear shift knob would work. The thread on the ends of gear shift sticks are different sizes car by car, but manufacturers of specialty replacement knobs include several different size nylon threaded insert adapters with their products to make them a “universal” product. I found an old school 8 Ball gear shift knob and I also found metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapters for monopod and tripod ball heads. Using the nylon adapter that came with the gear shift knob that was too small for the metal screw adapter (none of them were the right size), I first glued it into the gear shift 8 Ball and further secured it using the set screws that came with the shift knob. Then, using a tap, I created a 3/8” thread in the adapter (after the glue had set).  I then screwed the metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapter on the 1/4" screw of the quick release plate and then screwed the quick release plate snugly into the nylon adapter in the gear shift knob. All that was left was to snap the quick release plate onto the monopod and adjust the length of the monopod to use as a cane.  Please see photos, below.

Now, when I go urban hiking with my camera, I have a cane that converts to a monopod with the flick of a quick release lever. I love Rube Goldberg.

Here is the finished product, standing on a Benro ST1 Hydraulic Universal Three feet Support Stand. I don't use the Benro while the monopod is in "cane Mode", but I find it helpful in steadying the monopod while shooting.

                Metal ¼” to 3/8” screw

                adapter.

Underside of gear shift with threaded nylon insert fastened in place, and monopod quick release plate with metal 1/4” to 3/8” screw adapter attached.

Finished quick release cane head assembly.

Using The Cloud As A Portable Photography "How To" File

How many times have you been out in the field shooting and you can't remember how to pull off a certain kind of shot, or you're trying to think of ways to pose a subject, or even trying to remember how to set your camera for a certain situation. You probably have all this information at home or in your office, but if you store the files on your computer there is a way that you can have access to that information from just about anywhere. Whenever I read an interesting "how-to" article, I'm in the habit of saving it to a file on my hard drive. I also download the user manuals for each piece of my equipment to a file on my computer because I find it easier to find that information on the computer than having to search for the physical manual when I need it. This may facilitate my ability to find information when I need it, but it still doesn't help me if I'm not near my computer. But there is a solution. Most everybody today has access to cloud storage on their smart phones or tablets. Often, there's a fair amount of storage offered for free. I use Google for my e-mail, and they provide 15 G of free cloud storage with their Google Drive app. In Google Drive, I created a folder entitled "Photography" and I have created subfolders, as necessary, and uploaded manuals, how-to articles and other information that I feel I might need occasionally when I'm out shooting. Now I can access this information from my tablet or my smart phone regardless of where I am as long as I have wi-fi available or I'm in range of cell phone service.

Waiting For My Lens

I ordered the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM ( S ) lens from Amazon on Feb. 24. Almost 4 weeks later and they don't even have an estimated arrival time for it. And I can't find anyone to ask at Amazon. Frustrating! We still have snow on the ground here and are supposed to get a few more inches today, so I really don't need it yet, but I'm getting spring fever and very antsy to get out to do some shooting with it.

Follow Up - Tamron 28-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 DI VC PZD

Following up on my previous post about the Tamron 28-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 DI VC PZD lens, I have some good news.  I finally had the chance put this lens through its paces on my Canon 6D full frame camera and the results were quite good. We took a trip through Florida with a stop in Charleston, South Carolina and I had plenty of opportunities to use the Tamron lens in different circumstances. My results were, in my opinion, more than satisfactory and I have gained faith in using the lens as a walk around, all-purpose lens that will give me good results. Here are some examples;

This picture of a white heron was taken at Sharkey's pier in Venice, Florida using the Tamron 28-300 mm lens. ISO 100 300 mm F/14 1/250.

Wood duck taken in Davie, Florida. Tamron 28-300 mm lens. ISO 320 300 mm F/6.3 1/320.

Double Crested Cormorant taken with Tamron 28-300 mm lens. ISO 400 300 mm F/6.3 1/500.

This is an HDR photo taken with the Tamron 28-300 mm lens on the Deerfield Beach Pier.This is a composite of three photos taken with the camera on a monopod.

The picture, below. was taken in Venice, Florida on a dreary, stormy afternoon. It is what I call a faux HDR. In fact, it was a pretty flat, uninteresting photo that was not taken with HDR in mind. However, when I got back to the computer and saw how disappointing the image was, I decided to try something. I brought up the original image in Photoshop and then made two copies of the original image.  I Photoshopped the first two stops below the original and the second, two stops above the original Photo and I saved them. Then I combined them in Photoshop HDR. With a little adjustment I came out with an interesting picture, saving the day.

Original photo, below, taken with the Tamron 28-300 mm lens, ISO 200, 28 mm, F/14, 1/160. This photo was cropped and adjusted minimally in Photoshop before being turned into the picture above.

In the end, I have to give this Tamron lens a thumbs-up. It may not be comparable to my Canon L glass lenses, but as a walk around, all-purpose lens I'm very pleased with my results and will have no qualms in the future about using it to travel light in various circumstances, knowing I will still be able to get quite good results from it.

One thing that became abundantly clear on my journeys is that I need another lens for birding, wildlife and sports. While the Tamron 28-300 mm is a great all-purpose lens, I found that I am not equipped properly for wildlife, so I have ordered the new Sigma 150-600 mm S lens. Sigma is way behind on shipping these lenses, and I don't know how long it's going to take for mine to come in, but right now I'm looking out my window at piles of snow still on the ground and I'm hoping that the lens will come in by the time it's all melted so I can go out and play with it. I'll let you know what I think when I get the chance to use it.