New Gear

[Second Hand Pat]

Well I did it. New tripod legs (gitzo) and heads (ball (Kirk BH-3) and gimbal (used)) and a new lens for Christmas. I got the Nikon 200-500 and a new tripod collar for the Gimbal head.

[rickztahone]

Nice. That is nice piece of equipment.

[Discus-n00b]

Jealous of the gimbal head!! Those are clutch for panning type shots. Looking forward to you using it Pat! Sounds like a nice christmas

[Phillydubs]

I have no idea what any of that means! But if you are happy so am I!!

Looks like your fellow photog/camera geeks approve so you must have done well!!!

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Ricardo and Matt, here it is all assembled. The camera/lens combo is about seven pounds so rather heavy for me. I can hand hold it for short periods of time.
Pat

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[Second Hand Pat]

While my sweet hubby was setting up his parents Kindles I took the new gear for a spin. I like the gimbal head but what is the best way to carry an intact tripod w gimbal head with camera attached. The carry part was awkward.

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[Discus-n00b]

You are a pro birder Pat, just churning out awesome images.

From what I hear/read, most just lock everything down and throw it on their shoulders and hike it in and out. Some even wrap the top of their tripod legs in foam you'd wrap a pipe in for this purpose. I didn't have a gimbal head but that is how I packed my tripod and camera around at the grand canyon, just tipped it over my shoulder camera and lens attached and carried it. It can be a load all added up, especially if you start messing with long primes or just long glass in general but it seems to be one of the easiest ways. Or you could get a pack, collapse the legs, and strap/clip the tripod to the side and just lock the head down, I'd remove the camera doing this though.

[Jack L]

is that a nutria or rabbit?

[RogueDiscus]

The variety of birds you have available as subjects is just amazing. Always enjoy seeing your pics.

[Discus-n00b]

Looks like a what I'd call Marsh Rabbit to me. A nutria is more beaver like.

[rickztahone]

Word of caution, when throwing your gear over your shoulder, ALWAYS make sure you have the camera strap wrapped around your hand somehow. This is how I dropped my a99 with grip, 70-200 2.8 and flash a couple of years ago. Trust me, you never want to drop your gear in this manner. It will make you cry, and when you didn't insure the gear, it will make you cry even more.

[Discus-n00b]

Good point. I have a small safety cable that I attach to my camera. Can attach it from camera to tripod or to the camera strap, so if for some reason it comes unscrewed (I use a cross body strap that screws into bottom of camera) from the bottom the safety still holds the two together. This is the guide for it, mine is just like that and I have one I can connect to the tripod if needed. Had to make a small mod because of my L bracket but they make me sleep better. Ricardo scared me about ball heads failing too.
http://www.bjphotog.com/?p=296

[Second Hand Pat]

Guys, the tripod collar actually slides into the plate of the base and it has a separate locking mechanism separate from the clamp. I still worry however.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

is that a nutria or rabbit?

Just a Marsh Hare as Matt suggests.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

The variety of birds you have available as subjects is just amazing. Always enjoy seeing your pics.

Thanks Steve