Stabilizing your camera - no tripod.

[14mm 2.8l]

<p>Gear Porn threads are fun to peek in on, I hope the thread continues.</p>

<p>Here's an item I bought last year after reading Maxis Gamez' review of Skimmer II:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/articles/432">http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/articles/432</a></p>

<p>Prior to my purchase I thought $99 was to much to pay for the frisbee~like camera & head support. After getting my hands on Skimmer II, I think right around Black Friday 2010, it's become one of my favorite items!!!<br>

I use two, one for me, one for the wife & sometimes think I need a third one just to keep mint for the display cabinet.</p>

<p> Wimberley WH-200 Gimbal Head with a couple of their Riser blocks stacked makes for an amazing set up. I've loaded 300/2.8, D700, WH-200 on Skimmer II and its a joy to use.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.tripodhead.com/products/wimberley-main.cfm">http://www.tripodhead.com/products/wimberley-main.cfm</a></p>

<p>I find Skimmer II a perfect pairing with Really Right Stuff BH-55 PCL panning head & a couple Riser Blocks. I tried one Riser, decided two work better. This combo is Amazing for low angle perspective images using 14-24mm Nikon lens and this is my most frequent pairing:</p>

<p><a href="http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-55-PCL&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-55-PCL%3a-Full-sized-ballhead-with-PCL&key=it">http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-55-PCL&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-55-PCL%3a-Full-sized-ballhead-with-PCL&key=it</a></p>

<p>I hand it to you Yvon, I've never considered shooting on image off a rural mail box and your item seems perfect for this opportunity, though a simple bean bag is equally effective. Over the years, well a couple decades now I've acquired a couple Linhof Medium Format weight rated tree spike/bench clamp camera mounts. Lovely stainless & grey paint, oozing with 1950's West German Quality. I've spiked trees & fence posts with it. I can mount my BH-55 PCL ball head/panning plate combo on the tree spike too ! Awsome item, bought one early on, 20 years ago locally, then took 15 years to get another. Doubt one can fly thesedays with it's concealed 3" stainless spike, hidden inside it though.</p>

<p> I'll add,</p>

<p>The Leitz image posted above holding the large format camera is ALSO a sweet piece of kit. I've used mine, earlier Leitz version, with 300/2.8 D700, likely a 8 pound combo, though I find Gimbal Head is more fun to use with this pair because Wimberley makes large & heavy glass effortless to use.</p>

<p> </p>

[johan_ingles_le_nobel]

Not really surprising though that people have slightly objected to this post. It does rather read like marketing. Anyhow,

spam/advertising issues aside, some more detailed feedback.

 

It's very much a rock/solid surface accessory, which is only a small part of my photography world. Not really useful on the

beach or on the ground, for example, you need to have something to put it on. When I'm landscaping I can stick my tripod

onto anything - mud, water, beach, rock, whatever, this will never replace that. And too rarely used to supplement it

either. In terms of keeping it on, It looks a bit big and clumsy to keep on there all the time in the bag and I'm not sure if I'd

want a thing with little feet like that on my cam if it's round the neck as it might snag something. Maybe als makes it all

into an awkward shape to actually take a shot? Besides batteries also need changing so I'd still have to keep putting it on

and off. Lastly I can't help but wonder if having to fine adjust 4 threads might not prove a bit of a chore, it looks like the

adjustment is just done through twisting which I could see being a bit fiddly if you've got gloves on.

 

Not sure if it's really a mass market accessory. I've seen bean baggy things with a male thread protruding on sale that are

lighter and quicker to set up into position with the only difference being the level indicator, which is a hotshoe purchase

(or on many tripods/cams already). Those bean baggy things cost less that £10, even at that pricepoint they don's sell by

the millions but that's what you're up against. If I were you I'd go and talk to some outdoorsy and mountainy forums/retail

chains/brands, see what else their users might like on it and then flog it there as a specialised product rather than mass

product. Mass product you'll get no margin, and supply runs of this are likely to be low.