[Kendigitize]

I'll be staying at The Paris resort in Vegas next week and plan to put my K-30 to work. I havn't done much night time, bright neon light, shooting before. I searched the threads and found some info and made note of the exif data on shots I liked. So I think I have some good starting points.
My question is tripod, monopod, or nothing? I know you can't go in casinos etc. and a crowded sidewalk isn't going to work for a tripod. My monopod looks more like a weapon, so I'm thinking nothing. I do want to get some long exp (6sec) shots of the cars going down the strip. Maybe several quick shots, stacked later in processing? Any tips would be helpfull. I'm thinking I could get some early am shots as the sun comes up, when the crowds are low on the sidewalks without much problem.

The lenses I plan on taking are a 18-135 (the forcast is rain the first night), DA35 2.4, FA50 1.4, and my 100mm 2.8 & A135mm 2.8 manual lenses for flowers and such.

Any tips on settings or sample shots would be appreciated.

[JimJohnson]

Consider using the Scene modes for night time shots and shoot RAW+. The scene mode will get your camera close and if the jpegs aren't quite what you expected, the RAW images are easily tweaked.

I can't speak for you, but I would take my monopod. It seconds as a walking stick. I have a small ball-head (used only to switch to portrait mode) and quick release on top. I use the electronic level in the viewfinder and SR in low light. (unlike a tripod, a monopod is not rock steady, so SR still helps).

You are correct that casinos frown on anyone taking interior photos that show anyone, but if you are very discrete with a small P&S camera, you might be able to get a shot or two if you aren't specifically shooting at the gaming.

From inside the Paris and from the balcony of Dan Akroid's club at the top of Mandaly Bay several years ago.

[Bman]

I was in Vegas with my K-r in the winter of this year. There were quite a few people with cameras and a few with tripods. Saw a guy with one of those mini tripods and he was setting it up creatively on walls and other structures. I stuck with hand held shooting on the strip because i had a beer in my hand so couldn't easily carry a tripod.

The good news with the K-r and K-30 is that high iso noise is quite low, so dont be afraid to use high iso settings.

I shoot everything in raw and put all my pics through dxo software. The high iso shots do get softened up, but any high iso noise gets cleaned up nicely.

18mm 1/8s f4.5 iso3200


18mm 1/13s f8 iso1600


18mm 1/30s f5.6 iso3200


DA55-300 @ 70mm with tripod 15s f8 iso100

[MrApollinax]

Here is a link to a previous post about this. We had several people chime in (including me) with tips and tricks for shooting pictures on the strip.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-technique/105577-any-info-ab...ml#post1097118

[Kerrowdown]

Shooting the Vegas Strip - any tips?

I was gonna say keep out of the casinos, while you still have money in your pockets.

[GaryH]

My last trip to Vegas I had a Kx and Tamron 18-250mm. The lens did a very good job at being a do it all solution. Even at night I was able to get some nice shots.
Redrock Canyon early in the morning is nice for sunrise shots and quick to get to.

[MPrince]

You might consider making a chain monopod. Just attach a 6 foot or so length of chain (depending on how tall you are) to a 1/4-20 bolt and screw the bolt into the tripod socket. Drop the chain on the ground, bring the camera viewfinder to your eye, and step on the chain. Between that and shake reduction, you should be fine, and the chain monopod is very unobtrusive.

[dunerunner]

Don't forget the people shots Vegas is a great place very wide lenses.

[SpecialK]

Something wider, perhaps. At golden hour or even blue hour you can get by hand holding. Perhaps get a little table top tripod you can brace against a pole, etc.

ISO 200, f3.5, 1/60, 18mm

[Buschmaster]

Wow there are some awesome pics in this thread!!

[rbefly]

Hi Ken,
Sounds like you'll have fun in Vegas, I've never been, but do have some experience shooting night scenes and street/walkaround photography in low light.
I find the monopod an essential tool when a tripod is too bulky, heavy or could be a hazard to other folks. It's much less intimidating if you follow one general rule; Leave the camera on it! People automatically notice that it's a photo device, not a stick or weapon.
With a few tricks, you can get down to shutter speeds of 1/3s without shake.
First off, set your M/P up for walkaround. Velcro or rubber band a strap (tie) near the top for a cable release, with the switch hanging down at a comfortable height for your 'trigger' hand/finger. Your hand should be able to find the shutter remote without moving your eye from the viewfinder. Leave enough slack in the cable (above the tie strap) so you can tilt or swivel the camera without pulling out the plug-in camera pin. Assuming it's a 3-section M/P, the bottom section always gets raised/lowered first for kneeling, squatting, etc. The upper section is for fine adjustments. Say you're kneeling for a shot and the M/P is fully retracted; As you get up, unlock the bottom section, stand up, lock the bottom part, unlock the top. That's your fine adjustment, made without squatting back down to open the bottom part.
If you practice this a few times, it will be easier to understand. I'm a lefty, so I always keep the latches on the left side of the M/P. Opposite side for righties. Again, you don't have to look, fumble or twist the M/P for adjustments, much easier and faster.
Sorry if this sounds over-simplistic, I don't know how much M/P experience you have, just trying to be thorough!
Now that you and your monopod are good buddies and it knows who the boss is, time to use it for some shutter speeds that are too slow for hand-holding, but fast enough (with some help) to not require a tripod. Another general rule;
The monopod has one base (foot), you're adding another base (your feet and body)...add a third.
Always be looking for that third base or support. What you want is a solid object, that's slightly lower than the height you want to have the camera. See that newspaper box? Stand right behind it, M/P pushed tightly against the top of the box. The box, your legs, the M/P base; Three legs. Mailbox, trash container, hey, I've used parked cars! Generally my own, but not always. Be creative.
Last, here's some shots of Downtown Denver, night, shutter speeds between 1/3s to 1/30s. On a couple I could have (either) raised ISO or opened f/stop, but didn't need to, because I used a supported monopod.
Good Luck!
Ron

[Kendigitize]

Thanks for the great pix and tips. I forgot I had a small tabletop tripod. I think with that and the lightwieght DA35 lens, I may be able to get some of the shots I'm looking for. Good idea about the trigger release on the monopod too.

[bdery]

My question is tripod, monopod, or nothing? I know you can't go in casinos etc. and a crowded sidewalk isn't going to work for a tripod.

It will be entirely possible to use your tripod, I did it often when I was there (at the Paris also, I loved it). The sidewalks are crowded but not overly so. For night shots I really suggest you bring it and use it. Otherwise, get yourself some sort of bean bag or gorrillapod and prop your camera on a ramp somewhere (there are lots of those).

If you really like your monopod, I don'T see why you couldn't bring it, but it won't cut it for 6s exposure.