What gets you a slower shutter speed?

[Darshan]

Whoa, I get the dreaded vote (option 5). :angel:

 

[nikon_sam]

Depends on the lens in use as well.

The steadiest that I've used is tripod with the camera triggered using the self-timer.

And if you're using a SLR lock the mirror up too...

Tripod, cable release or self timer...choose and use your tools wisely...😀

 

[bwcolor]

Also picked up technique from long range rifle. Also, look to rest against something, but if you want a big print, you probably need a tripod, or higher E.I.. .. or at least I do.

 

[Richard G]

Another help is depressing the shutter button short of the bottom of its travel, squeezing it with a rolling motion of the index finger. This is easier with non-metered Ms, still OK with the M5 and quite hard with the M6, as the shutter won't fire until the button is almost to the end of its descent. I always take the M2 and maybe now my recently acquired M5 for low light occasions. I think the half case helps too.

 

[damien.murphy]

A smallish, bean bag that could be screwed into the cameras tripod mount worked for me in the days when I shot with a dslr. This allowed me to get down to 1/8 and 1/15 sec, a gain of a stop or a stop and a half, with a 35mm lens (50mm fov equivalent).

Have not had cause to try the same with my M's, where with a little bracing outdoors 1/15 sec is not usually a problem with a 50mm mounted.

 

[Ezzie]

An old trick is a piece of string stretched between your foot and a bolt screwed into the tripod mount. Cheap monopod.

 

[erik]

If you are taking pics of people doing stuff the limit won't be your steadiness on the shutter, it will be their motion. A bounced flash can be helpful sometimes.

 

[former member]

And if you're using a SLR lock the mirror up too...

Tripod, cable release or self timer...choose and use your tools wisely...😀

That is the other side-effect of the self-timer on several cameras, the mirror flips up and aperture closes down with the shutter release, the exposure is made when the self-timer expires. The Nikkormat series and others work like this.

 

[thegman]

If you are taking pics of people doing stuff the limit won't be your steadiness on the shutter, it will be their motion. A bounced flash can be helpful sometimes.

Agreed, I used to be one of those people who *never* used a flash, and then I found myself indoors at a party, and it becomes critical. From now on, I'll stop going on about "available light".

 

[oftheherd]

Holy Christ...😱😱😱

Well, there were a few of us who almost made it a contest to work on slow speeds. I was younger, in better shape, and practiced. I also used as many of the methods as possible together, such as sitting braced against a wall, arms tucked in, camera held against my face, and then breathing properly. Some of us got pretty good at it, especially at 1/2 second. 1 second could be a crap shoot, and sometimes required smaller enlargements than say a projected screen fully covered.

But if you make it a goal and spend time in practice, you'd be surprised what you can achieve. Obviously however, a tripod with mirror lockup and self timer or shutter release cable will give you the best results.

 

[Ezzie]

That is the other side-effect of the self-timer on several cameras, the mirror flips up and aperture closes down with the shutter release, the exposure is made when the self-timer expires. The Nikkormat series and others work like this.

My Kowa does that, even recommended by manufacturer as a substitute for the lack of an MLU button.

 

[randomm]

You're missing "a really heavy body" as an option 🙂

Robot Royal weights a ton.

 

[Darshan]

Those are some interesting comments and I expected softie/half-case to get more votes but surprised to see that good technique really does the trick for you. I never before thought that doing certain things can get you a slower shutter speed. Now I need to slow down my photo taking process and learn how to hold the camera properly and HOW TO BREATHE PROPERLY. :bang:

 

[Guaranteed]

Another vote for the breathing technique.

 

[Rob-F]

1. Stand with feet about 15" apart.

2. Support the camera firmly cradled in the palms of your hands.

3. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, relaxing the body and mind. Use any yoga training you may have had.

4. With the breath let out about halfway, attach the camera to a tripod or monopod and take the picture. I have gotten excellent results with this method.

 

[oftheherd]

1. Stand with feet about 15" apart.

2. Support the camera firmly cradled in the palms of your hands.

3. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, relaxing the body and mind. Use any yoga training you may have had.

4. With the breath let out about halfway, attach the camera to a tripod or monopod and take the picture. I have gotten excellent results with this method.

I hope you have a quick release on your tripod. 😀

 

[DNG]

I'll go down to 1/30s with my 50mm and 1/15s with my 28mm...
But, I may take a few captures to make sure I have a sharp enough one. (If the subject is stable)
I will stand with a my legs spread out a bit (front to back), and put my elbows against my chest for a human "Tripod" effect, and hold my breath as I fire away. And I think the soft release helps because of the wide top.

 

[Darshan]

Strangely, there is not a single vote for a half-case.

 

[Guaranteed]

1. Stand with feet about 15" apart.

2. Support the camera firmly cradled in the palms of your hands.

3. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, relaxing the body and mind. Use any yoga training you may have had.

4. With the breath let out about halfway, attach the camera to a tripod or monopod and take the picture. I have gotten excellent results with this method.

Lol, to funny!