Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Sheep and border collies cavorting in the Virginia hills. I had my hacked GH2 and a Sigma 100-300, Nikon mount, that I'd bought the previous day for $15.

That'll do.

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Very cool Kevin. Nice camera work. Which spaghetti western was the music from, A Few Dollars More?

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Well done, Kevin!

I bet that dog is worth more than a GH2...

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Thanks

Jeff, its from The Good, Bad, Ugly soundtrack, used during the 3-way standoff at the end.

And even though it's worth less, I fortunately never have to pick up the GH2's turds.

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Kevin, very nice as others have noted. I'm curious what gear you used to be able to track the dog so well. Surely it wasn't hand held. Even on a tripod it seems like no mean feat to stay with him esp at such long focal lengths. Curious to hear your technique.

D

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

A small Manfrotto tripod (755, IIRC) with a 701 head used as a monopod since there wasn't enough room to deploy the legs. Obviously I still had quite a time following McPooch when he changed directions and my focus pulls were somewhat lacking. Still practicing so I can grow into a Sigma 50-500.

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Did you use the viewfinder or LCD screen?

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Yes, your camera work was nothing short of amazing to me, I guess with practice... I love the 701 heads, they are my favorites.

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

LCD... having my face to the EVF would have induced way too much vibration

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Yes, very nice work. I've never tried to wrangle a tripod as a monopod as you describe. Interesting.

As far as focus is concerned, would the continuous focus work? Is that available in video mode? I just got my GH2 2 days ago and I'm only now trying to grind my way through the manual.

D

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

On this lens, no. Some lenses work with AFC (14-140, Oly 12/2, for instance), but anything not made for 4/3 or m4/3 is guaranteed to be all manual, all the time.

Using a tripod as a monopod is easy... just extend a few of the legs to desired height and keep 'em straight. In most cases it's pointless, but in stuffed quarters or those odd places in DC that yell at you if you use a tripod but don't give a hoot about monopods, it works OK.

Re: Away To Me - a wee video with a thrifty long lens
 

Aha, yes. I'm learning about the m4/3 lenses and their capabilities.

Thanks.

D