Why would you use a camera upside down?

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by john neal

Roger,

At the risk of straying from the upside-down hardware - in terms of advertising, I would hope that you will only accept that from companies that you consider "sound" (however you choose to construe that). I think you have sufficient integrity not to accept ads just for the money IYSWIM. Otherwise I think you run the risk of diluting an excellent website, to say nothing of your (joint) reputation.

Not a dig, just hope you understand where I'm coming from

Dear John,

Absolutely. I'd rather turn down/lose an advertiser than be under their thumb. But it won't be for a few months yet. MAJOR changes coming on the site.

Cheers,

R.

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Well, here are four reasons for large format users. ...

I thought you were going to tell us this was so you could see the image on the GG the right way up!

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by sahe69

In tried this for some time but eventually it was too uncomfortable, with the blood packing into my head and all the difficulties in keeping myself balanced while composing...

I can understand your problem. Especially at parades, trying to get all those people to lift their feet at the same time.

[Tom A]

Originally Posted by MikeL

Hi Roger,
Occasionally I use my Rolleiflex upside down when I want a higher perspective. I used one over a card game in Chinatown a couple weeks ago.

Commonly known as the "Hail Mary" position. You prayed that what you wanted got into the frame.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by ChrisN

I thought you were going to tell us this was so you could see the image on the GG the right way up!

Dear Chris,

You mean it's upside down in Canberra AS WELL?

There go my emigration plans...

Cheers,

R.

[payasam]

What batterytypehah! said. Also, given location of human forehead.

[Rob-F]

Roger, the astronauts do it all the time on the space shuttle!

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Larry Manuel

I don't know if it's possible to use a Leica RF to re-create Lartique's classic photo of the racing car with forward tilting, elliptical wheels.

http://www.penmachine.com/images/lartigue_car_trip.jpg

If it were possible, one could control which way the wheels leant by inverting the camera [or not]. This could be RFF homework over Easter weekend.

This calls for a slow-moving vertical-run focal plane shutter. Leica M might qualify! But only for a portrait-orientation shot (and a fast-moving vehicle!).

[sepiareverb]

To really get "part of the action" photos of a trapeze act?

[Drambuie]

If shutter speeds on a Barnack run differently with the camera on its end or upside down it's a sure sign that it needs a CLA.

[Muggins]

Whereas if the shutter speeds on a Purma run differently depending on which way up it is, it doesn't need a CLA.

I guess upside down would be same speed as right-way-up, though.

Adrian

[charjohncarter]

You should accept advertising, almost all sites have ads. And the ones that don't, want them. You are a stand up guy, and your reputation is sufficient to make visitors, that come to your site, feel you are not compromised.

[LADP]

When shooting with a HD video camera mounted on a steadicam, it is quicker to just invert the main post of the steadicam (called "Low Mode), and shoot without having to mount the camera in the right side up configuration. With HD, it is as simple as pushing a button in post to flip the image. When shooting film, it isn't as easy to correct the inversion, so you generally take the time to remount and re-balance the camera for low mode.

[sreed2006]

For very similar reasons to LF, it is often better to use 35mm cameras upside down.

When using a tripod, and trying to get shots close to the ground (or the table the tripod is standing on), it is often easier to reverse the post of the tripod, so that it points down instead of up, and to hang the camera upside down. I've used that technique many times because I don't have a tripod that goes almost flat against the ground.

[parsec1]

Dear Roger,
Every 'National Press Photgrapher' carries a lightweight step lader for 'elevation'. We used to be able to claim a 'few quid' on our expenses for it.
Now if possible I use the missus to stand on, after all she stands on me all the time !
Regards
Peter.


PS.....Only been divorced twice......so far.

[dee]

Since this thread , I decided to try it , and could not balance on my head , so I shall stay with standing on my feet , which is a feat for me with dee'spraxia anyway . LOL .
Bit like trying baby sitting which only made it scream and get squashed .

[JohnTF]

When I used my Rolleiflex for journalism, I had three positions, the "normal" look down, the eye level using the sports finder, and the upside down using the camera strap to steady it, though I think it was only a few occasions for the upside down, I do recall the option.

One such effort won an on the spot news award in a contest. I never had a prism for the Rollei for eye level and had to really watch out for parallax.

Regards, John

[buzzardkid]

Upside down?

It is the only New Zealanders and Australians can shoot a picture that isn't upside down for the rest of us.

[nobbylon]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Well, here are four reasons for large format users. I'll try to do one for 35mm users later, though I can't get hold of a Wrayflex prototype to illustrate how to do it properly.

Over the next 6 months or so I'm trying to pump up the site in preparation for selling my soul to the devil and accepting advertising -- any advice or ideas on the latter topic (accepting advertising, especially pricing, rather than selling my soul to the devil) gratefully received. Here's the reference: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subsc...de%20down.html

Cheers,

R.

Roger,
I had an M4 a couple of years ago that would only run the slow speeds upside down! The bearings in the top of the slow speed mech' were obviously less gummed than the lower plate bearings. That's my only reason for upside down picture taking!
regards john