"PTRAVEL" <ptravel88-usenet@yahoo.com>

wrote in message news:brldel$4ok0h$1@ID-101118.news.uni-berlin.de...

> "David McCall" <david.mccall@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:bqoDb.58208$8y1.229078@attbi_s52...

> <snip>

>

> > > Incidently, I noticed another peculiarity of the VX2000. I usually

> shoot

> > > with an Optex .65 wide angle adapter in place. Because it rained a lot,

> I

> > > was used an Ewa raincape, which doesn't permit use of the adapter. I

> > > noticed that the VX2000's optical steady shot was a lot more effective

> > > without the wide angle adapter than with. I can't think of any reason

> why

> > > this should be so, but the difference was clearly visible -- with the

> camera

> > > on the widest setting, without the adapter, steady shot eliminated

> almost

> > > all visible shake. With the adapter, the image was steadier than

> without,

> > > but still quite shaky. Has anyone else noticed this?

> > This wouldn't be surprising. The steady shot works as an integral function

> > of the lens itself. The fact that it can't work as well once you alter the

> optical

> > characteristics of the lens should not be much of a surprise.

> When you put it like that, it makes perfect sense.

>

> I do have a good monopod (one from Adorama), and it helps, though I'm still

> left with wobble instead of shake. I may try a shoulder brace, but I think

> I'm going to try and wean myself of my WA adapter dependency. For the kind

> of stuff that I do, it's a lot easier to "get the shot" with the adapter on

> than off, but perhaps improving my skillset will be an adequate substitute.

I've never found monopods much use. For the VX2000, in order of

effectiveness for me: tripod (but, yuck! ;-), belt-pod + side-handle,

shoulder-brace (but only if anchored in the rear so it doesn't pop off),

large side-handle, and monopod. Adding a VERY wide lens converter

helps, too, since the subject magnification is lowered (especially with

fisheyes away from image center) - though these usually work better

with the stabilizer off. Favorite for me for many things: WA + side-handle,

with stabilizer on. BTW, some VX2000 add-ons are shown at:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/VX2000_odds.htm ...

--

David Ruether