How to handle two camera/lens combos pitchside

nigpd

nigpd

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Yesterday was my first time pitchside at a footy match with two cameras. One body had a 400 f2.8 on a monopod and the other body had a 70-200 f2.8 on an Optech strap.

I was sat on a foldable stool trying to juggle the two cameras depending on how far away the action was. Due to the narrow area off the end of the pitch, I had to sit very close to the bye line.

I found it easier to use the 400 on the monopod for middle distance action, but when the action approached the goal area, switching to the 70-200 and maintaining control and hold on my shoulder of the 400 was a nitemare.

How to you guys do it? I kept a foot in front of the monopod base to avoid it slipping forward while resting the 400 on my shoulder, or trying to anyways, and then tried to follow the action with the 70-200 as best I could. It wasn't easy.

Do you have any tips as to how to best perform with two cameras.

Thanks in advance for any advice and tips
 
Key it to adjust the monopod so its at the right height for shooting and should then be the right height for dropping on your shoulder. Many tho' just lay it accross their lap or rest on the advert hoardings just a personal preferance. I find its more comftable to drop my bigger lens on my left shoulder but harder if I have to use my right.
 
I found this issue when I had a go with two cameras. Meant to search for a double head for monopods

Has anyone tried that?
 
It's a difficult juggling act. I have my short camera most often in my lap or sometimes on my peli case, grip uppermost, on my right side. That way I can pick it up quickly and easily without looking.

The 400 on the monopod goes into the crook of my elbow with my left hand on the zoom ring of the 70-200.

When I started, I'd often **** myself on my head with the long camera as it lolls about. This is fairly painful. Or the monopod foot would slip on the floor and everything goes haywire.

The best approach I've developed is to wedge the long camera against the side of my head whilst shooting with the short, and that way as I turn to follow the subject the long gets out of the way.

I wouldn't recommend a double-headed monopod as often with the short camera you'll be needing to move up or down rapidly or left & right rapidly and it would just be a major hinderance.
 
Cheers Andrew. Won't look for a double head then :lol:
 
Depends where I am

If its at a ground where I am behind the boards I lean it on there but rest my leg against monopod to avoid it sliding or falling

If its without boards I use mono for the 300 and shoot with that next to my right foot, when action approaches I drop it over my left leg, right foot then mo es over base of monopod to a lid it slipping. 70-200 is either on lap if wiring. If not then I keep it around my neck. When wiring I put the camera from lap down next to me, can pick it up quickly if something happens
 
I swing the 400mm down to the left so the monopod is under my right knee and over my left knee and it then supports itself, i then have both hands free to grab the 70-200 from off my peli case to my right side and use both hands to control the 70-200mm, some other methods only leave you with the one hand to use/control the second camera or the 400mm can get in the way if swinging quickly to the left, if you also use the "keeping the 400mm upright" method theres a big risk it can block the eyeline of other photographers on your left side.
 
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions to cure what was a pretty stressful time!

There are no advertising hoardings at the ground so I cant prop the 400 up against them unfortunately.

I have however been practicing the Gary Coyle method in the privacy of my own home :D and I must report that it does seem the most intuitive way of keeping the 400 under control while using the 70-200, so thanks for the tip Gary :thumbs:

I ought to get a Peli I guess, so I dont have to reach down too far to pick up the 70-200. Is there a best one to get, or is it just a case of getting one that fits my stuff and that a body with 70-200 can sit on?
 
Chap yesterday was doing that, looked most uncomfortable but he'd obviously mastered it. Second half, he sat near me behind the goal. I moved after a while and then shortly after, two players came barrelling off the pitch after the ball and landed right on him. Ouch. I saw him put the long lens/monopod away. Dunno if it got damaged.
 
nigpd said:
I have however been practicing the Gary Coyle method in the privacy of my own home :D
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Will that be the '50 shades of Coyle' method then :lol::lol:
 
nigpd said:
Just ordered a Peli 1610 to keep the 7D/70-200 on next to me pitchside..... oh and also to keep my kit in :D
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I use the Peli 1610, excellent but a bloody big b****r

i get in

1 x Nikon 400mm AF-S f/2.8 with hood and 1.4x converter attached
2 x Nikon D3S
1 x Nikon D700 with grip attached
4 x spare Nikon EN-EL4 batteries
1 x Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
1 x Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR
1 x Tamron 28-74mm f/2.8
1 x Dell E6500 Latitude laptop
2 x Spare 9 cell laptop batteries
1 x Seat (not the tripod type)
1 x Manfrotto 681B monopod
1 x Set of RS double straps
1 x Think tank 400mm f/2.8 lens and body waterproof cover
1 x Waterproof trousers
1 x waterproof coat
1 x bag full of spare memory cards, dongle, mouse, mouse mat etc, etc

The Peli also doubles up as an extra seat if your stool isnt tall enough for the likes of Old Trafford

And theres still bags of room for other stuff, even more if you reverse the 400mm hoods.
 
Gary Coyle said:
I use the Peli 1610, excellent but a bloody big b****r

i get in

1 x Nikon 400mm AF-S f/2.8 with hood and 1.4x converter attached
2 x Nikon D3S
1 x Nikon D700 with grip attached
4 x spare Nikon EN-EL4 batteries
1 x Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
1 x Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR
1 x Tamron 28-74mm f/2.8
1 x Dell E6500 Latitude laptop
2 x Spare 9 cell laptop batteries
1 x Seat (not the tripod type)
1 x Manfrotto 681B monopod
1 x Set of RS double straps
1 x Think tank 400mm f/2.8 lens and body waterproof cover
1 x Waterproof trousers
1 x waterproof coat
1 x bag full of spare memory cards, dongle, mouse, mouse mat etc, etc

The Peli also doubles up as an extra seat if your stool isnt tall enough for the likes of Old Trafford

And theres still bags of room for other stuff, even more if you reverse the 400mm hoods.
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I saw your kit list on an earlier thread Gary so that's what made me choose the 1610 rather than the 1510. I want to be able to put everything in it without faffing around carrying other stuff.

And more importantly, I want to put everything in it when I have the half time cup of tea in the Chairman's boardroom. No danger of condensation on the kit and I won't need to mess around reversing any lens hoods. Not needing to do that gives me an extra couple of minutes to enjoy a nice piece of victoria sponge as well :D
 
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nigpd said:
I want to put everything in it when I have the half time cup of tea in the Chairman's boardroom.
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Get a scone with yer tea as well? :)
 
Ooops missed that.

Sounds all very cosy - good on you.
 
I use a 1560 which holds 300/400 f2.8, 70-200f2.8, 24-70 or 16-35f2.8, 1.4x TC, 2x bodies, rain covers, 2x towels and in the lid memory cards, waterproof trousers and spare batteries. If you dont use a 400f2.8 the smaller 1510 would do.
 
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I've looked at upgrading but get the following kit in the 1510

2 x gripped bodies
1 x 300mm f2.8
1 x 70-200mm
1 x 17-55mm
1 x 12-24mm

In the lid I get my 15" Macbook Pro as I went of rht elaptop overnight style lid with charger plus memory cards . card readers / dongles in the side pounch

I have a folding stoll which has a bag attached that I carry in. in there is waterproofs for camera and me should they be needed
 
I see most with a 1560 .. absoloutly love mine.. 70-200 attached to 1d body, 400mm attached to 1d body.. various smaller lens and extenders.. monopod, have the lid tidy with cards and bits'bats .. have the rain covers and spare hat/gloves

carry a small backpack with rain/over pants and bigger rain over jacket (thin) and laptop.. in summer i just use a laptop case when required..

also have the truck mentioned in other threads for the peli when having to go furthur distances from car to ground..
 
The beauty of the Peli is it also acts as a three height seat or a nice support for your laptop if you also bring a stool :thumbs:
 
I also keep a couple of 50gm sachets of dehumidifier crystals in the case as well, just for those miserable wet days when you just throw everything back in the case, nothing worse than getting home only to find all your lenses misted internally because your rain cover, lens covers etc, etc were wet through when you packed them away, the moisture crystals soak everything up so your kit is nice and dry.

Stick the damp sachets on the radiator to dry out and youre good to go again.
 
Gary Coyle said:
I also keep a couple of 50gm sachets of dehumidifier crystals in the case as well, just for those miserable wet days when you just throw everything back in the case, nothing worse than getting home only to find all your lenses misted internally because your rain cover, lens covers etc, etc were wet through when you packed them away, the moisture crystals soak everything up so your kit is nice and dry.

Stick the damp sachets on the radiator to dry out and youre good to go again.
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Cracking idea :thumbs:
 
Was at Old Trafford 2 years ago shooting during the rain and just threw everything into the bag i was using at the time (KatA HB-207) at the end of the game, didnt take some of the the kit out until 3 days after and the moisture got in a 70-200mm and an old D700 i had at the time.

Ended up getting a favour done from a camerashop who used a drying oven to get all the moisture out, its basically a large oven which only runs at low temperatures and also has pro grade crystal bags built into the side walls, the gear was in it for 2 days solid and did the job, 100% saved my gear from the scrap heap or at the least a very expensive repair by Nikon.

Ever since then ive used the crystal sachets and they work a treat, they only cost a couple of quid for a decent sized sachet and can be dried out about a hundred or so times, the ones ive got have a colour poatch on them which gets paler as the effectiveness wears off.
 
I got them from Mitchells camping and caravanning which has now been taken over by "Go Outdoors" and dont know if they stock them anymore, and Caravan dealers will have them as will Ebay.
 
i dont know how expensive they are, but most places that have "caravan" in the title its like "wedding" are more expensive.

You can get them also from tesco as i get them to put in my car (has a moisture problem) you can get 2 sachets from tesco for 50p or a pound i forget, or you can get bigger ones that come in like an airfreshener case/box for £1 but you only get 1.

There in the like odds and sods cheapo isle where they do random things like, scissors, magnifying glasses, washing lines and everything.
 
meatcandy89 said:
i dont know how expensive they are, but most places that have "caravan" in the title its like "wedding" are more expensive.

You can get them also from tesco as i get them to put in my car (has a moisture problem) you can get 2 sachets from tesco for 50p or a pound i forget, or you can get bigger ones that come in like an airfreshener case/box for £1 but you only get 1.

There in the like odds and sods cheapo isle where they do random things like, scissors, magnifying glasses, washing lines and everything.
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tesco 5 minutes walk away..ebay right in front of me.. hmm :) thanks for the info.. will probably go tesco ahaha not that lazy..
 
treeman said:
Slight thread hijack, but I've just got a Peli 1560, and I'm surprised at how flexible and flimsy the pull out handle seems to be.

Anyone broken one?
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got my 1560 second hand.. had it a few yrs.. it gets used and abused.. picked up by the pull out handle.. sat on the pull out... still works perfect..
 
Into a Peli 1510 I get two 1D bodies, a wide and a tele and my 400mm with hood. In the lid I keep cards, dongle, reader etc. Snug fit.

I have a sealed tray of dessicant in the lid too, but I would still never mix wet clothes or towels in this airtight case. That kind of stuff goes in a bag on my shoulder with laptop, a flask and fags. Because they're all important too.
 
All together it looks like this:

jpegdump


(There is a 70-200mm packed underneath that 24-70 too).
 
dafphotographer said:
Into a Peli 1510 I get two 1D bodies, a wide and a tele and my 400mm with hood. In the lid I keep cards, dongle, reader etc. Snug fit.

I have a sealed tray of dessicant in the lid too, but I would still never mix wet clothes or towels in this airtight case. That kind of stuff goes in a bag on my shoulder with laptop, a flask and fags. Because they're all important too.
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Hmmmm good point about the wet stuff.

My Peli 1610 arrives today and I want to load all my gear in to it, including waterproofs, laptop and folding seat. I just want one thing to lug about and know that everything I need will be in there. If it rains and waterproofs get wet, I am thinking I could either put them in a plastic bag inside the Peli or as a worse compromise, carry the plastic bag separately :shrug:
 
For the amount I spend on gear its wellbeing is my priority - i'm quite happy to carry one extra bag, no big deal.

That extra bag also houses laptop plug, laptop waterproofs (necessary),flash and batteries (you never know), and is a convenient carrier for monopod too.
 
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