TLR Culture

[Calzone]

I imagine landscape shooters tend to use tripods whenever possible. Is this true.

I also have noticed that some shooters use a cable release, even though they are shooting hand held, even with a Rolleiflex.

Anyone ever try a TA Smoothy on a TLR?

How often do you use your tripod? Do you generally always carry one?

Cal

 

[hanskerensky]

When your shutterspeed starts to be longer then 1/100 sec. it's generally a good idea to use something like a tripod to stabilise the camera. Use of a cable release only (without tripod)IMO gives a benefit only if the triggermovement doesn't tilt the camera.

I have seen handshake tests which were performed in the 1950thies with cameras like the Rolleiflex and these clearly showed that this was one of the main causes for unsharp photos.

For landscapes, still-lives, etc. you generally want to have a deep Depth of Focus Field so you tend to close the diaphragma which then demands longer shutter-times.

With a close-up portrait you often want a shallow DOF and have less problems with long shuttertimes.

When i want to have a 100% perfect photo and time is not of importance i allways use a tripod together with a cable-release.

 

[morback]

I had a soft release on my Rolleiflex. It helps, but then it started jamming the shutter and made me miss some shots. It also kept falling off. I might try it again with my new TA release.

Now I hold the camera differently (my techniques include: pulling down on the straps, tucking against my belly, thumb on the back, ect...all depending on situation and required level of stability) and don't feel the need for a tripod, a cable release or a soft release. The long travel time was something to get used to as well.

I don't like tripods, I prefer to be mobile. The only place I ever felt the need for one was in the Cistern in Istanbul (no place to put my T3). TLRs imho are very stable due to their "stacked" built.

 

[Calzone]

Thanks for the responses. I was looking for the reason for the cable release with hand holding and your explaination makes sense.

I am new to MF and this format is both new and refreshing as I am prmary a 35mm street shooter.

In my past I use to do ENG (Electronic News Gathering) and my editor would always recomend using a tripod whenever possible. Tripod (Shackler), camera (Ikagami) and a one inch deck meant an eighty pound rig that was used to broadcast news on Long Island cable each night.

The boy scout in me makes me want to be prepared, but I have seen some great street shooting using a TLR. Trying to sort it all out for a new growth curve. The quality, control and sharpness are all worth the effort of using a tripod. In 35mm I seldom used one except for the reasons stated above.

Thanks again.

Cal

 

[laurentb]

I shoot the Rolleiflex handheld for about 80% of the time, without too much concerns on sharpness.

I use a cable release only when using the tripod, and carry a table-top tripod almost 100% of the time I carry the Rolleiflex. It made me able to shoot several seconds without any problems.

One of the strengths of the Rolleiflex for me is mobility, and a tripod gets in the way in these cases. But I like landscapes, so I try to use the tripod more often.

 

[dcsang]

*waits for the "TLR Counter Culture" and then the inevitable "TLR Counter Counter Culture" threads* 😉

That said, for me, it's 100% handheld until I have a reason for a tripod.
That reason will usually be for portraiture.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Wahoo]

I also have noticed that some shooters use a cable release, even though they are shooting hand held, even with a Rolleiflex. l

This one was taken at maybe 8mph whilst riding my 753 Martrac racing cycle.

I maybe have used a c/r and tripod but on very rare occasions.

Rollei 3.5f - one hand held .🙂

 

[filmfan]

I can shoot my Rolleiflex 3.5F at 1/15 second shutter speed with sharp results consistently by using a camera strap adjusted to the correct length. I just let the camera hang and it works kind of like a monopod only with support from above instead of below.

 

[D.O'K.]

For me, the best reason for using a Rollei for landscape is that it's almost the only way to get the highest level of MF quality without a tripod. Most other types of MF camera seem far more susceptible to camera shake when hand held below about 1/125.

However I tend to use a short cable release with the Vb as this feels a little less shaky at the slower speeds than when pushing the shutter lever (but that may just be psychological). I never use a cable with my 3.5F.

Regards,
D.

 

[Sanders McNew]

I usually keep a short cable release on my
Rolleiflexes, on or off tripod. It eliminates
the possibility that I might jar the camera
when I trip the shutter. This allows me to
shoot very slow shutter speeds handheld
-- I've shot handheld at 1 second like this.

 

[rolleistef]

The advantage with a Rollei (and many TLR, obviously) is that it's stable enough to get handheld "long exposures". But you have to choose what is "sharp" enough for you.

London, Rolleiflex, 1/8th, HP5 1600iso. (dustman where are you?)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanedennery/4464114173/in/set-72157623565368735/ (bigger)

 

[historicist]

I never use a cable release or a tripod with my Rollei, though a friend of mine uses a short cable all the time with her Rolleicord because the shutter release involves flicking the cocking lever rather than pressing a shutter button.

 

[IgalSc]

Shooting with Lubitel (just got my Yashica) i used to make landscape photos handheld, stretching the strap to reduce shakes
Here are some examples:

(This first one shoot on sunset with Fuji Pro 160c with F/8)

 

[wintoid]

This one was taken at maybe 8mph whilst riding my 753 Martrac racing cycle.

You've posted that photo at least once before, and I never get tired of it 😀

 

[imokruok]

I am new to MF and this format is both new and refreshing as I am prmary a 35mm street shooter.

I'm not sure what it is...the novelty of the less-common format, the square framing, but my 6x6 shots are the best that I take. I find myself looking at the shots from my 124G more than my rangefinders costing many times more. (Or my other medium format 645 for that matter...)

As to the tripod/shutter release, if I'm handholding, I never use a cable just because of the extra hassle. Smaller TLRs are easy to handle and meant to be moved around, and extra parts can be a hindrance. Plus, the really neat thing I find about TLRs is that most people have no idea what they are, so you don't get the stares that some people give when you're aiming a 35mm at them. They look like a piece of surveying equipment.

I also use my TLR for long exposure night cityscapes. Only then does it get the tripod and cable release treatment.

 

[Ronald M]

Wed yourself to a tripod and you miss some great shots.

Learn the proper ways to hold a camera and hand held is ok to 1/250. Small prints to 1/50.

For the ultimate, your Gitso is the best.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For me, the best reason for using a Rollei for landscape is that it's almost the only way to get the highest level of MF quality without a tripod. Most other types of MF camera seem far more susceptible to camera shake when hand held below about 1/125.

However I tend to use a short cable release with the Vb as this feels a little less shaky at the slower speeds than when pushing the shutter lever (but that may just be psychological). I never use a cable with my 3.5F.

Regards,
D.

Only almost. There's always Alpa. Those grips make them amazingly steady. One convincing test I've seen shows 50% higher resolution with the Alpa than with a Hasselblad SW/C (admittedly a hard camera to hold still) with the same lens (38 Biogon).

Cheers,

R.

 

[BillBingham2]

While I'm not shooting hardly any film these days I have a short cable release in every camera bag. I use them for existing darkness on my RF and SLRs while I hold my camera against a chair/tree/wall at speeds longer than 1/4 of a second.

B2 (;->