P3D Re: Rope tripod?

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mark wrote:
> I plan to be in Philadelphia in the near future, and would dearly
> like to take some shots of the sculptures at Philly's Rodin
> Museum. I checked that it's okay to bring in a camera and shoot, but
> flash and tripod are verboten. I considered trying to bring in a
> monopod, and may still in any case, but it seems I recall, a long
> time ago, someone posting to the list instructions or at least
> recommendations for a sort-of tripod arrangement consisting of rope
> looped around the foot (feet?) and anchored to some sort of eyelet
> screwed into the tripod mount on the camera. When the rope is pulled
> taut, it supposedly makes a reasonably sturdy base from which to
> shoot. Can anyone give me any info on this?
> 

The idea is to take a length of rope and tie it to an eyelet with a
1/4"-20 thread on it.  When you step on the end of the rope and put
tension on it by pulling up on the camera things are suposed to be
steadier.  The concept is similar to using a sling while aiming a
rifle.  Some people use chain found at the hardware store (for key
chains, etc.) instead of rope.

If you use rope, make sure it does not stretch under tension.  If the
rope stretches, you won't really be steadying the camera much.  When I
tried this I used clothesline and there was too much stretch for this
to do much good.

If you cut the rope or chain about as long as you are tall, and don't
tie a loop in the end, you won't have to keep adjusting the loop as
you change position (standing, kneeling, etc.).  Just step on
different parts of the rope.

Museums and such would probably prefer that you used rope because the
chain is likely to scratch the floor.

(Actually museums would probably prefer that you bought postcards and
slides in the gift shop.  :)

-- 
Brian Reynolds     | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx | "Oooh!"
NAR# 54438         |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
                   |       "Dexter's Laboratory"


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