Some years ago I had to abandon my Canon T70 and 500 mm mirror lens as my eyes weren’t working well enough (now upgraded via cataract removal). Last year I took over my wife’s digital Panasonic when she upgraded.
It is so light as to be awkward to carry hanging from my fingertips as I did with the Canon; it is also so light that it needs support to steady it at maximum zoom of about 400 mm film equivalent – I have just checked the 500 mm lens to see whether old age has attacked my hands as well as my eyes. It has, but the extra mass of the old camera means the shake is much less – it’s about 3 times as heavy as the digital – about 400 grams compared to 1.3 kg.
I have contemplated finding a piece of steel plate to use as a stabilizer.
Brian Fleming Melbourne ===============================
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In 2000 I spent a bit of time in Finland doing bird migration surveys and some banding. I learnt about Finnsticks then and used them a number of times. They were all made from broken off ski poles with a T piece fitted on the pole. They were either tucked into the belt or on occasions into a specially made pouch fitted to the belt near the buckle. The T piece sat along under the binoculars between the lenses. It was very useful when looking at waders or waterfowl in the distance.
Cheers
Roy Sonnenburg ===============================
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Nah. You could do it on-line too. Even on your lounge, if you have a lappie. You could even put one of those bolt-on motors they use on push-bikes on your lounge. Be good for birding as well.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Good grief. Now you’ve got me all stirred up and having to get off my b/s and go have a look. It’s all just too too much !
Tony
Peter,
That is a new definition of Finnstick on me. The Finnsticks I have always known are an adjustable type of walking stick. The design is based on ski poles and the were supposedly developed in Finland as a training aid for cross-country skiers for use in the summer. No hiker in Europe seems to think they are properly dressed when out walking, unless they have a pair. They certainly help with walking, taking some load off the legs and giving exercise to the upper arms. They are also known as hiking, walking or trekking poles.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
So the ones you’ve seen reach the ground? From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnstick : “A finnstick is the name given by birdwatchers to a stick used to support a binoculars. The one end of the stick is steadily attached to the binocular while the other end rests against the belly.”
It sounds like there are several types.
Peter Shute
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Good grief. Now you’ve got me all stirred up and having to get off my b/s and go have a look. It’s all just too too much !
Tony
So the ones you’ve seen reach the ground? From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnstick: “A finnstick is the name given by birdwatchers to a stick used to support a binoculars. The one end of the stick is steadily attached to the binocular while the other end rests against the belly.”
It sounds like there are several types.
Peter Shute
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Peter,
Finnsticks can be found at outdoor and camping suppliers, monopods and the trekking type monopods can be found at a good photographic retailers. I suggest that you go along to one or more of each and do a comparison. Much easier than trying to explain to you. Sorry I can’t suggest such suppliers in Melbourne, as I have not been there for over 40 years. Too difficult to get a Mexican visa.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
I might be wrong, but I thought a Finnstick was much shorter than a monopod, and that the bottom is supposed to clip onto your belt if you’re standing up, or rest on your lap if you’re sitting down. If that’s correct then it would have the advantage of being easier to pan with, as well as being half the weight. I’m not sure if you actually screw the binoculars onto the top, or if you simply rest them on a cross piece.
Peter Shute
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That depends on the brand. Gitzos, like all their kit are not cheap, but are very solidly built. The same goes for Finnsticks. What you pay for is what you get.
Carl Clifford
It’s probably a lot cheaper and maybe lighter.
Tony
Colin,
They are a Finnstick (a collapsible walking stick) monopod hybrid. Admittedly, monopods can be used as walking sticks, but they are heavier than the hybrids. These devices try to give the best of both and nearly do it. they are great for travel or if you want to go out and do a bit of birding or photography and dont want to carry the weight of a tripod or full scale M/pod.
Here is a link to Gitzo’s monotrek range. http://www.gitzo.com/product_list/72038.71891.82461.0.0/monotrek_monopods BH Photovideo and Adorama carry a fair range amongst their monopods, including some which are modelled after thumbsticks (walking sticks with a Y shaped top, which wold be more suitable for cameras and scopes and have the advantage that you do not have to screw a ball- head onto the base-plate of your camera.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Hey Guys
How is this different from a monopod?
Colin
On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:32 +1100, “Carl Clifford” wrote:
I might be wrong, but I thought a Finnstick was much shorter than a monopod, and that the bottom is supposed to clip onto your belt if you’re standing up, or rest on your lap if you’re sitting down. If that’s correct then it would have the advantage of being easier to pan with, as well as being half the weight. I’m not sure if you actually screw the binoculars onto the top, or if you simply rest them on a cross piece.
Peter Shute
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It’s probably a lot cheaper and maybe lighter.
Tony
Hey Guys
How is this different from a monopod?
Colin
On Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:32 +1100, “Carl Clifford” wrote:
Tony,
Finnsticks are regularly used by bushwalkers & trekkers widely (particularly handy if you have knees named Dicky and Dodgy, like mine). There are even models produced with lightweight ball heads or with just 1/4″ UNF screws on the top to mount your camera or scope on. All are adjustable. Mighty handy for old crocks.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Apparently the Finns use a thing called a Finnstuck, which is a light slender stick with a flat platform on the top. Good for steadying binos. Thought I might try making one up with a height adjustment to get the level right for viewing.
Tony
Apparently the Finns use a thing called a Finnstuck, which is a light slender stick with a flat platform on the top. Good for steadying binos. Thought I might try making one up with a height adjustment to get the level right for viewing.
Tony
Brian,
You might like to look at a Stedistock http://www.stedistock.com/ I have used one for a while and found it quite good for lighter camera & lens combination. It is like a light, plastic rifle stock, with a hand- grip on the front end. If I remember rightly, it costs around USD30.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Some years ago I had to abandon my Canon T70 and 500 mm mirror lens as my eyes weren’t working well enough (now upgraded via cataract removal). Last year I took over my wife’s digital Panasonic when she upgraded.
It is so light as to be awkward to carry hanging from my fingertips as I did with the Canon; it is also so light that it needs support to steady it at maximum zoom of about 400 mm film equivalent – I have just checked the 500 mm lens to see whether old age has attacked my hands as well as my eyes. It has, but the extra mass of the old camera means the shake is much less – it’s about 3 times as heavy as the digital – about 400 grams compared to 1.3 kg.
I have contemplated finding a piece of steel plate to use as a stabilizer.
Brian Fleming Melbourne ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
===============================
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