Kerry, I too found your mail very interesting (and certainly inspiring!),
so please don't cut your mails down! I love to read what other Oly users
are up to, and some of the novel ways they use their gear to solve
particular problems/situations. I'm sure many others on the list do too.
I can second the comments about Benbos being good in mud and wet. I have
one of the big ones (Benbo Mk II I think?) and I can stand it in about
18-24" of mud or water without any problems. It is very weird until you get
used to it though, and I don't think it is ideal for normal upright use
with say a 300mm+lens.
It is great with a medium ball head (I have a Bogen/Manfrotto - still
saving for an Arca Swiss B1 and RRS plates) teamed with a focus rail for
natural light shots. It allows great flexibility in positioining,
especially around the banks of creeks/streams, under fallen tree trunks for
things like fungi, insects. My big benbo can also go to about 8 feet high
(with no centre post extension), which has come in handy when I want a high
viewpoint - I can stand on a rock or log or rock ledge, and have the
camera still at eye level even though the tripod legs don't fit on whatever
it is I'm standing on. It is pretty heavy though (but very stable) -
definitely the kind of beast I wouldn't carry on a three day hike - one day
with it and you know you've been carrying it!
For use in the jungle etc I'd tend to lean (no pun intended!!) towards the
smaller versions if you were looking at getting a benbo.
>Great stuff Kerry, very interesting. I learn't some things about
>orchids I never knew in one post. Dont bother with trying to shorten
>your posts.
>
>Giles
>
>snip
>>
>> I'd be happy to answer any questions, anytime.. but you'll notice I tend to
>> long posts. I'll try to cut them down. I also have taught Field
>> Photography several times at the University of Panama and Universtiy of
>> Costa Rica.. mostly about how to make do when something breaks down. I"m
>> really good at that.
>>
>> Hope this is what you wanted?
>>
>> Kerry
>
>
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