p.1 #1 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Yep, you read that heading right. Tape. IMO, it can be a useful tool for helping new or newer photographers improve their images. How? By taping the zoom of a lens like a 70-200 to 200 and leaving it there. I could go on explaining this concept, but it's in the video! I can say that every photographer I've suggested doing this has reported back that they did appreciate that it forced them to shoot tighter and think about how to shoot tighter.
Thoughts? (And yes, you can tell me I'm crazy and it won't hurt my feelings!)
p.1 #5 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Might be a good learning technique for new action shooters but I've shot a ton of baseball and if I locked my zoom down (70-200/crop sensor ie: ~105-350mm) I'd miss so many shots as guys are coming off the field, high fiving on their way into the dugout etc....
My 2nd body is on a 400 2.8 (toggling in and out of crop/full frame as needed) so I get my share of shooting tight.
p.1 #6 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Caleb Williams wrote:
I have also taped the vertical grip dials on some of my bodies so I don't accident change settings, but can still use the shutter button.
I used to get frustrated with both the main dials and vertical grip dials until I learned I could lock them on the Z8 and Z9 without going into the menu!
p.1 #7 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
VarsIQMedia wrote:
I used to get frustrated with both the main dials and vertical grip dials until I learned I could lock them on the Z8 and Z9 without going into the menu!
Interesting. I don't think such a feature exists on Canon cameras other than the ability to turn all of the controls off.
I had this issue more with the 1Dx series rather than the 1DX series or R3. Perhaps the dials were worn or those bodies have different tolerances.
p.1 #9 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
more pro tip,
tape two pieces of foil to the lens, one to the zoom ring set at 180 and the other piece on the body.
wire to 9volt battery negative to one piece, and the other piece to positive. hot glue the battery to the bottom of your lens.
Dont let the lesson be reactive. make it an active learning situation.
I think the other issue that happens too often is folks are not anticipating properly so they are wide shooting and hoping to crop to success.
p.1 #10 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
When shooting basketball, location can be limited so the photographers ability to shoot tight without cutting off body parts becomes variable. Just something to keep in mind.
p.1 #11 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I feel like this depends on the sport. At some point photographers can just graduate from a 70-200 to a prime of some sort. I think forcing yourself to stick to 200 on the 70-200 Is definitely an exercise you can do, but I don’t know how much that can improve your photography. At that point, just swap it out for a prime. And I wonder if there’s a way to calculate what focal length equivalent you end up cropping into and then you could figure out What the most common set of values is and then you get a prime in that range
p.1 #13 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Sorry, i don't like this idea, i am lucky and not lucky to have 300mm and 70-200mm, unlucky is that i don't have longer than 300mm such as 400mm or 600mm, but lucky to have a prime lens ana a zoom lens, a zoom lens called a zoom for a purpose, and when i want to shoot tight i just simply use my 300mm lens or 135mm prime is i do indoors sometimes in the past, so no thanks, keep that "TAPE" to yourself with all respect
p.1 #15 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
With all due respect to your opinions, I think you are missing the point of Scott's video.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
p.1 #16 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
Caleb Williams wrote:
With all due respect to your opinions, I think you are missing the point of Scott's video.
This is not something photographers will continue to use forever, but it's a tool to help you improve as a sports photographer. In fact, Scott has been highly complimentary of the Canon 200-400mm f/4 with built-in TC.
Wow I had no idea the OP didn’t intend to turn a zoom into a fixed focal length. Thanks!
p.1 #17 · Anyone else use TAPE to improve your images?
I agree with Scott.
We all know the 70-200MM 2.8 is the default “first pro lens” for aspiring sports photographers. And for good reason. It’s fast and extremely versatile.
But my guess is that I’m not the only one who has seen a newer photographer using the 70-200 as something of a “crutch.” The newer – and often tentative – parent photographer stands in one place the entire game zooming in and out. They finish with a gallery of images all taken from the same place and angle but at varying focal lengths. That’s not a knock. We all start somewhere.
But used “improperly” the 70-200mm can lead to some bad habits and lazy pictures by virtue of its sheer versatility: the proverbial double-edged sword. Like many here I can look at a gallery of pictures and fairly confidentially say, “these were taken with a 70-200.”
On occasion, I teach a sports photography for beginners class, and I admonish any student who has a 70-200 as their primary - and a venue that allows them to change positions – to move at least 10 feet (preferably far more) every 10 minutes and/or to a higher or lower position. Do that and the 70-200 becomes a powerful tool.
I'm an old guy who has been at this for quite awhile. My lens kit is built out. And I'm fairly confident in my framing and composition. And by now I have something resembling a personal style. I use prime probably 90% of the time.There are situations and sports where tele zooms are the right answer for sure. But as my limited skills have improved my use of zooms has decreased, for better or worse.
