Camera Leitz
Sharper Photos Using A Table Top Tripod As A “Chest Pod”
Most photographers today, both amateur and professional, have a Table Top Tripod in their gadget bag for use when photographing small objects on a “table top,” or for bracing on top of a car, wall, or fence when a full size tripod isn’t available or practical.
There are times, however, when you want the support and vibration stopping of a tripod, but the subject is moving around way too quickly – you just can’t get reoriented fast enough to get the shot: just think about shooting photos of an active child on a playground. But you really do want the steadiness that a tripod affords for sharper photos that can be blown up big and still be eye-catchingly sharp.
Enter the classic table top tripod.
By twisting it around into a novel configuration with the tripod against your chest and the camera to your eye, you can brace the camera to get much of the stabilizing power of a tripod on the floor – but the flexibility to move around quickly with fast moving subjects. It also can be braced on a wall, fence, the side of a house – anything that gives you the stability you need for the sharpest photos.
I have two. First, a classic Leitz Table Top Tripod with Large Ball and Socket Head. I think this is no longer made (mine is over 40 years old – Leica makes good stuff!). It has one disadvantage. You cannot set the ball head for limited or smooth drag. It is either loose or locked. And though it folds flat, it doesn’t fold compact (unless you separate the two parts – which makes it more difficult to set up quickly).
I used this setup several times photographing Indy Type race cars going by at over 200 miles per hour! I was standing about 50 – 60 feet from the track and just panned my whole body, with the chest pod supporting the camera, and released the shutter while I was moving through the pan. Great action shots – and sharp! (Bonus tip – with this technique, you can slow the shutter speed down to 1/60 or 1/125 or so, and when you pan with the car going by, releasing the shutter during the pan, you get a picture that just SHOUTS SPEED!)
And, of course, slowing down a bit, you can use it on hikes to increase the stability and sharpness of your photos while lightening the load you carry. And it sets up more quickly than a full size tripod.
My other, newer model is the Slik Mini-Pro. These folks make many, many tripods in all sizes, weights, materials – you can select just the right one for your needs. The tripod folds up very small, and comes with a typical (though small) pan head. The small pan head is great for basic table tops, but it is somewhat awkward for chest pod use.
Far easier and more effective, I recommend a Kaiser Lightweight Ball & Socket Head to replace the pan head that comes with the tripod (don’t throw the pan head away, you will always find times when you still want to use it). When you are actually using the ball & socket head, you may not want to totally lock up the ball head, just use a slight drag. This gives you much more flexibility to move with the subject, while giving you the extra support for extra sharp photos.
Since the Leitz model is no longer available (unless you find one used), the Slik/Kaiser combination will make a valuable addition to your gadget bag, giving you freedom for photographing fast moving subjects while keeping the camera stable enough to encourage large prints you’ll be proud to display. This is especially true if your camera has image stabilization.
By all means try this valuable technique. It will really help you get more great photos to make really big prints.
About the Author
For an illustrated version of this article, go here
Dan Davenport has been involved in photography for more years than he cares to think about. He taught photography and developed the Minolta School of Photography which evolved into The Maxxum Experience photo education seminars. He wants photographers to take the best photos they can and encourages them to proudly display their work.
Ernst Leitz Optische Werke Wetzlar
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VINTAGE LEITZ WETZLAR BROWN CAMERA CASE $23.90 |
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Leica Leitz M3 Chrome Camera Body in Exc condition – 739 066 $1,095.00 |
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Leica Leitz M3 Chrome Camera Body in Exc+ condition – 746 275 $1,195.00 |
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MID-CENTURY VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA GERMANY E LEITZ WETZLAR LEICA GELB FILTER $22.00 |
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LEITZ WETZLAR GERMANY MICROSCOPE HEAD WITH ADAPTER FOR CAMERA FOR PARTS $9.99 |
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VINTAGE LEICA DRP 35mm CAMERA ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR FILM CAMERA Nr. 634060 $61.00 |
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Leica Leitz 3C Camera #415824 Wetzlar Germany 1946 Refurbished by Seller L@@K $220.00 |
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LEITZ BOX ONLY FOR CAMERA/98451 $125.00 |
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Antique Leica Camera Instruction Book Leitz M1 M2 M3 M4 $9.00 |
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vintage LEICINA SUPER BROCHURE FILM CAMERA LEITZ WETZLAR german ADVERTISEMENT $12.95 |
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Leica/Leitz Wetzlar Leicaflex Camera and various lenses and accessories $255.00 |
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E. LEITZ Microscope Camera & Shutter Assembly $100.00 |
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Leica Leitz Screw Mount Camera Case with 1/4 screw Wetzlar $11.50 |
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LARGE LEITZ PHOTOGRAPHY BALL AND SOCKET HEAD MOD D MINT camera tripod $13.00 |
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Leica Leitz 3G Screw Mount Camera Case with 1/4 screw good condition Wetzlar $28.00 |
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Leica Leitz 3F Camera #598906 Wetzlar Germany 1951 Refurbished see photo L@@K $240.00 |
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AD E. Leitz Leica cameras caight in the act advertising $9.99 |
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LEICA CAMERA LENS by LEITZ LENS QUALITY BROCHURE–from 1977 $9.99 |
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Leica Leitz M Camera Brass Film Cannister from Wetzlar Germany L@@K $12.00 |
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Leitz LEICA M3 Rangefinder camera + 35/3.5cm SUMMARON LENS & SBLOO 35mm finder $1,177.92 |
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LEICA R3 SLR 35mm CAMERA BROCHURE -from 1978–LEICA R3-LEITZ–LEICA R3 $17.99 |
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Leica Leitz R3 35mm SLR Film Camera, Mint Condition 1487442 Wetzlar $240.00 |
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LEICA LENSES BROCHURE PRICE LIST JANUARY 1935 E LEITZ CAMERA $4.95 |
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THE LEICA M3 INSTRUCTION BOOK ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR CAMERA $9.50 |
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HANDBOOK OF THE LEICA-SYSTEM JULY 1982, LEITZ CAMERAS $9.50 |
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LEICA R4-MOT 35mm SLR CAMERA BROCHURE -R4 MOT-LEICA R4-LEITZ–from 1980 $9.99 |
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Leica IIIa camera body with Leitz Leica MOOLY Motor $2,000.00 |
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Vintage LEICA III A CAMERA w/ Leitz MOOLY Motor #hk28574 IIIa 3A $2,270.00 |
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GENUINE ORIGINAL LEICA LEITZ EVEREADY CARRY CASE for SCREW MOUNT LEICA CAMERAS $69.99 |
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Rare Leica Camera Leitz Binocular Pradovit Barnack Berek Magazine 1982 Projector $16.95 |
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Leitz Wetzlar Visoflex Right Angle View Finder Piece Eyecup GREAT++ Film Camera $49.99 |
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Leica Leitz IIIA III-A Rangefinder Camera (1936) LTM Screw Mount w/ Case $249.99 |
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E. Leitz Wetzlar Synch Cord_ for Leica IIIf and cameras of that era_L01 $14.99 |
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1950 Leitz Panphot camera microscope photo vintage print ad $8.49 |
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1977 LEICA R3 35mm Leitz Camera vintage print ad $9.99 |
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Leitz Wetzlar 9cm Brightline Beautiful 1950s Vintage Finder for Leica cameras $205.47 |
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E. Leitz NY “Rack-Over” Macro Unit For Screw Mount Leica Cameras $15.00 |
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screwmount camera body with leitz wetzlar microscope attachment $10.00 |
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LEICA Ic 1951 Updated to IF – RARE Scientific Use Camera Body by LEITZ Wetzlar $628.72 |
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1969 LEICA CAMERA CATALOG BROCHURE -M4-MDa-LEICAFLEX-VISOFLEX-LEICA-LEITZ $17.99 |
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LEICA DRP ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR 35MM CAMERA F=5CM 1:2 LENS LEICAMETER CASE $449.99 |
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Nov. 1955 Leica Product Directory for Leica Cameras and Accessories, E. Leitz $7.50 |
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CHRISTIE’S CAMERA PHOTO Darkroom Aids Co Coll LEITZ LEICA LINHOF ZEISS IKON Cat $44.95 |
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Leica Leitz Motor Drive R 4 Winder Rewinder for Film Camera $79.99 |
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Leicaflex SL Instructions Camera Manual Original Leica Leitz Wetzlar $21.00 |
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LEICA 400MM F5.6 TELYT TELEVIT-R LEITZ WETZLAR CAMERA LENS $829.50 |
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Vintage Leica M3 Camera and Accessories1953 Intro Sales Brochure Booklet Leitz $17.99 |
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Leica Leitz R4 Motor Camera Film Winder Rewinder Black w hand Grip $99.00 |
