OP Article Title “Thoughts and Thanks” & More on the Lens Align Mark II

OP Article Title “Thoughts and Thanks”

Thanks a stack for the record number of comments suggesting titles for my Outdoor Photographer article on getting low with big lenses. There were lots of great ideas and lots of the suggestions put a big smile on my face. My favorite was Paul Mckenzie’s “Low and Behold.” I just e-mailed the article to OP’s editor Chris Robinson with Paul’s title in place. I will let you know how it goes. Magazines will often come up with improved titles but I doubt that they can do better than “Low and Behold.”

More on the Lens Align Mark II

I wanted everyone to know that sales of the new Lens Align unit have gone through the roof. Thanks to those of you who ordered; all of the Lens Align Mark IIs will ship on either Monday or Tuesday as the big storm in Memphis the other day delayed a parts shipment to the manufacturer. (We did ship the first 14 on Thursday :))

I added the image below to the original tutorial here to illustrate this major point in the text:

“Then I return to the camera set up and aim the lens and adjust and tighten the the tripod head so that the central AF sensor is on the center of the focusing target on the left side of the Lens Align Mark II device. Then I hit the rear button to focus while looking through the viewfinder. Getting the central sensor to rest precisely on the center of the target once you let go of your rig is actually more difficult than it seems and will usually require several attempts.”

Here is an exchange with Joerg Rockenberger based on his January 12, 2011 at 10:47 am comment:

JR: Absolutely excellent tutorial on the LensAlign MII. And perfect timing. I just received mine last week and was still pondering the best strategy about how to use it. Your tutorial is certainly most helpful. A few comments/suggestions if you allow.

AM: Thanks for your kind words. You and lots of others who commented appreciated the clarity of the instructions. I worked on the tutorial for about 16 hours…. And I learned a ton while experimenting.

JR: It came to me as a bit of a surprise that the LAMII came only with a 1/4-20 thread. I wish Michael Tapas had emphasized this more on his website and clarified that it should be used in conjunction with a camera/lens base plate. Your readers might benefit from such info.

AM: Now they know 🙂 I will let Michael know of your concern via e-mail and add that info to the original tutorial. Done!

JR: I think that using a remote shutter release (wired or wireless) may possibly be a better alternative to touching the camera. It autofocuses with a “half-press” – at least with the 40D

AM: Lately I have gone to rear button focus. That turns out to be quite convenient for making a Lens Alignment. As for using a cable release there are several issues: 1-I have never been able to make a sharp image at a slow shutter speed with a cable release. Ever. It is not just a matter of mirror slap. Big lenses just do not stay still unless you have your hands on them. 2: Once I press the shutter button to activate IS I steady the lens as I normally do and wait for everything to calm down and then gently depress the shutter button. I would encourage folks to try both methods and let me know how they do.

JR: Furthermore, you should be able to defocus as well as trigger the shutter from your laptop via the EOS utility reducing the need to touch the carefully aligned camera/lens setup.

AM: I believe that you are correct but as above I am a hands on type of guy….

JR: Shooting from the inside of a house to the outside may be impacted by the temperature difference just like with photographing from a car. Maybe less of a problem in Florida this time of the year.

AM: I am not exactly sure where you are going with that; please explain.

JR- Aligning the camera/lens/LAMII may benefit from an assistant – especially with the long distances involved with big glass.

AM: As I said in the tutorial the aiming process was actually very simple. As long as I took care when aiming the LAMII I nailed the red circle in the center every time.

JR: At least with the 40D the USB cable between the camera and a computer was part of the package so it’s not necessarily an extra purchase. That cable worked for me also in downloading images from a 1DMkIV when I forgot to bring my card reader. So, I presume it works also for tethering a 1DMkIV to a computer.

AM: Thanks for that. How long is the cable? I am pretty sure that it will work. Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Shopper’s Guide

Below is a list of the gear that I used to create the images above. Thanks a stack to all who have used the Shopper’s Guide links to purchase their gear as a thank you for all the free information that we bring you on the Blog and in the Bulletins.

Canon 800mm f/5.L IS lens Right now this is my all time favorite super-telephoto lens.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital camera body And this is the very best professional digital camera body that I have even used.

And from the BAA On-line Store:

Gitzo 3530 LS Tripod This one will last you a lifetime.
Mongoose M3.6 Tripod Head Right now this is the best tripod head around for use with lenses that weigh less than 9 pounds. For heavier lenses, check out the Wimberley V2 head.
Double Bubble Level You will find one in my camera’s hot shoe whenever I am not using flash.
Delkin 32gb e-Film Pro Compact Flash Card Fast and dependable.

If you are considering the purchase of a major piece of photographic gear be it a new camera, a long lens, a tripod or a head, or some accessories be sure to check out our complete Shopper’s Guide.