High Sierra Topix

sdhiker wrote:Has anyone used the Rokinon 14mm ultra wide lens http://www.amazon.com/Rokinon-FE14M-E-U ... B00HAF167Y, and if so what was your impression of it, especially if using it on a Sony A7 series.

Hi, pretty late in replying here, but just thought I would mention I have the Rokinon as my backup lens. I use the Sigma f/1.8 20 mm as my main lens, but I like the Rokinon too. Wider and it takes nice photos. For some reason, I like the Sigma better, but not really sure why. I think it's a bit lighter for backpacking and I seem to be able to focus it better, but that might just be because I use it more and have a better feel for it.

Anyhow, for the price, I don't think you can go too wrong with the Rokinon. It's all manual, but not really a drawback for night sky, which is usually all manual anyhow.

My 4th of July fireworks this summer, close to the Silver Divide at my favorite lake. The small "Trailpix" tripod replacement gizmo does work quite well, even with a heavy DSLR


4th of July night in the High Sierra

Really nice shot. Looks like the trailpix is stable. I assume you used 3 poles ? Two hiking poles + ?

three hiking poles. I wasn't alone. I did buy a third-party ballhead that is slightly stronger than the big one they offer. Same brand as their little one. My camera with lens is quite heavy, as I also carry the battery grip and it has a big old RRS plate on it. So my ballhead with Arca clamp mount is more weight than the trailpix plate itself, but all combined still 2 pounds less than the carbon tripod.

As for usability - it's a hassle to set up compared to a dedicated tripod. Also, anything but full pole elevation means you need to mess around with the poles, which even with the flip lock poles is somewhat of a pain, as your setup will collapse the moment you mess with the first leg. It is totally usable if you take the time, but if you want to quickly get a shot of a stream with ND1000 filter while your hiking partner is standing their rolling his eyes ("another freaking waterfall shot?"), you just go try to find a rock to put the camera on and leave the trailpix plate pack. I only used the plate at night, everything else I shot without it. When I carried the full tripod, I used it during the day, too, as it only took 30 seconds to get off the pack and set up.

fishmonger wrote:three hiking poles. I wasn't alone. I did buy a third-party ballhead that is slightly stronger than the big one they offer. Same brand as their little one. My camera with lens is quite heavy, as I also carry the battery grip and it has a big old RRS plate on it. So my ballhead with Arca clamp mount is more weight than the trailpix plate itself, but all combined still 2 pounds less than the carbon tripod.

As for usability - it's a hassle to set up compared to a dedicated tripod. Also, anything but full pole elevation means you need to mess around with the poles, which even with the flip lock poles is somewhat of a pain, as your setup will collapse the moment you mess with the first leg. It is totally usable if you take the time, but if you want to quickly get a shot of a stream with ND1000 filter while your hiking partner is standing their rolling his eyes ("another freaking waterfall shot?"), you just go try to find a rock to put the camera on and leave the trailpix plate pack. I only used the plate at night, everything else I shot without it. When I carried the full tripod, I used it during the day, too, as it only took 30 seconds to get off the pack and set up.

Thanks for the follow up

And something that could also go into the camp photo thread


Spirits in the Sierra night

and a quick photo of the Trailpix setup I used, here with the larger ball head and Swiss Arca clamp on three of our hiking poles


Trailpix tripod rig

Here are a few shots I took this past July while backpacking Section 1 of the SHR.

Celebrating the 4th of July on Windy Ridge with the Milky Way


The Milky Way and star trails from Upper Basin, the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kings River

Not off in the mountains, and this photo is a bit old, but thought we could use some more Milky Way posts. This was shot on the road going around Tenaya Lake. I always wanted to get a shot of the Milky Way 'floating' above a long straight away, and it ended up working out rather well for this shot. I used a fill light at 100% power to illuminate the road. I did it by just flashing it on the road as quickly as I could.

Fun little back story. I bought the Rokinon 14mm. It came in around 7pm and I immediately left for Yosemite. Got up to the high country around 10:30ish I think, and shot until about 2:30 in the morning. At one point by the lake I heard a noise along the shoreline, turned my headlamp on and just saw two eyes staring back at me, probably 20ft away. Almost pissed myself. Ended up being a deer, but geez.

July 16, 2017 near Duck Lake


Aligned with the universe