Digital P&S for trembling hands?

[dbarnes]

A relative of mine has the "essential tremor" malady that affects many people. The symptoms are trembling hands. To help you gauge the effect, she finds it very helpful to hold a drinking glass with two hands. She's not a serious photographer but she's finding it hard to make even simple snapshots because she can't hold her camera steady. Perhaps a conversation here might surface some tips for her and others in that same boat?

She's found that even when using a tripod, pressing the shutter release on the camera can result in shaking of the camera. A remote release might help with that.

I've read some other suggestions:

1) Use a camera with good high-ISO performance and a fast lens, then use a high shutter speed.
2) Use a camera that has a "best of three" feature that shoots a burst of three photos and automatically keeps just the sharpest one.
3) In that same vein, just shoot a burst of three photos and manually pick the sharpest one.
4) Use flash to stop action.
5) Use a monopod (it's easier to schlep and set up than a tripod).

Do you have experience with this issue? Suggestions for digital P&S cameras that might suit these strategies? Other suggestions?

Thank you.

 

[Murchu]

No experience, but suggest fast lens (f2/ f2.8), good high iso, and image stabilisation. Getting all three in a compact should not be too much of an issue these days.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Olympus E-P5 or E-M5 and 17/1.8

The 5 axis IS can work wonders.
High ISO performance is great.

A smaller camera with less mass or grip might have too little dampening.

 

[TXForester]

If a remote for the point and shoot is not an option, see if the camera has a delay function. Often they are two second and ten second delay.

If the tripod is too much to carry, but the monopod isn't enough stabilization, some monopods come with small tripod legs.

 

[Scrambler]

Completely off topic, but as a doctor this is hard for me to go past without wondering whether she has considered medication? There is effective medication for essential tremor, though not without the risk of other side effects so necessary to seek medical advice herself.

Everyone has an essential tremor, some are just more pronounced than others. It's why heavy tripods with remote releases are a good idea for everyone wanting a truly stable picture.

 

[GaryLH]

I would say take her to a local camera shot with your own sd card, so you can take some pictures w/ it and c what might work. Take a look on your computer away from the influence of the sales people.

Some things to think about..

- Most p&s are so light, that if she has bad shaking, I not sure even a fast shutter speed is going to help. Mass may help dampen the effects of the shaking.
- a tripod will definitely help, but instead of a remote which can be lost, find a camera that has timer delay. Use that instead.
- a camera that can do flash fill even in sunlight may help when shutter speed goes below say 125th a second, since the flash duration is extremely short
-- a leaf shutter camera like the Fuji x100s you are able to do flash fill at just about any shutter speed plus it has auto-iso w/ selectable min. Shutter speed.
- maintaining high shutter speed means finding a camera that can
-- support real high iso
-- shutter priority capability or a camera w/ auto-iso w/ min. Shutter speed
- one with a real good image stability system may be good enough that u don't need a tripod.
-- the best ones are 6 axis like the Olympus omd-em5 or new Panasonic gx7 that was recently announced.
- camera that is capable of burst of 7 or more frames per second could help, selecting the sharpest one idea.
-- the Nikon One actually has a mode where u press the shutter release once and it takes a burst of I think 10-20 shots and has a algo to figure out the best of the bunch

The way I see it is that most of the traditional p&s are so light that you will need the tripod approach.. The other cameras mention can double as a p&s and may do it without need for the tripod.. Which is why I mentioned going to the camera store at the start.

Right now.. I think maybe the Nikon one w/ the burst and pick best shot trick may work followed by x100s with the flash fill and high shutter speed approach. As much as I like the omd and its image stabilization system, it is not a camera for a casual shooter.

Good luck with your quest
Gary

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Completely off topic, but as a doctor this is hard for me to go past without wondering whether she has considered medication? There is effective medication for essential tremor, though not without the risk of other side effects so necessary to seek medical advice herself.

Everyone has an essential tremor, some are just more pronounced than others. It's why heavy tripods with remote releases are a good idea for everyone wanting a truly stable picture.

I won't argue with a doctor and I believe you when you say that everyone has an essential tremor in some sense, it is a fact however that despite that a lot of people are deadly still from any practical point of view, go to any sohoting range and you will see.

Changing topic, I would not advice the monopod with small legs, they are stables as monopods but I have seen accidents due to the fact that after a while, since they kind of stand by themselves, one tends to forget that they are essentially monopods and trust their stability just a bit too much, if even pushing the button moves the camera too much I'd go with a proper tripod and a remote.

GLF

 

[peterm1]

Not a P and S but there is an option I am aware of. The other day I met a chap who had tremours in his hands - quite severe ones from my observations and my (uneducated) guess at the time was it might be due to Parkinsons Disease as he was of a "certain age". But it could have been essential tremour now that I think back on it as the tremour did seem to become more pronounced when he used his hands).

We did not discuss this but I did note that he was using an Olympus OM-D which he swears by for the results he gets with it. He did mention its superb vibration reduction / image stabilisation (what IS the difference between these terms - I am not sure) as being factor in his appreciation for the camera. I must assume the two are connected. Like I say, I was too polite to ask. Olympus advertise their IS as being "5 dimensional" or "5 axis " in that it senses and compensates for all kinds of movement that normal systems are not designed to cope with.

Some discussion of the technology here:

http://petapixel.com/2013/06/05/oly...tion-may-soon-arrive-on-sony-a-mount-cameras/

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/olympus-om-d-e-m5-five-axis-sensor-shift-image-stabilization-han/

 

[GaryLH]

Not a P and S but there is an option I am aware of. The other day I met a chap who had tremours in his hands - quite severe ones from my observations and my (uneducated) guess at the time was it might be due to Parkinsons Disease as he was of a "certain age". But it could have been essential tremour now that I think back on it as the tremour did seem to become more pronounced when he used his hands).

We did not discuss this but I did note that he was using an Olympus OM-D which he swears by for the results he gets with it. He did mention its superb vibration reduction / image stabilisation (what IS the difference between these terms - I am not sure) as being factor in his appreciation for the camera. I must assume the two are connected. Like I say, I was too polite to ask. Olympus advertise their IS as being "5 dimensional" or "5 axis " in that it senses and compensates for all kinds of movement that normal systems are not designed to cope with.

Some discussion of the technology here:

http://petapixel.com/2013/06/05/oly...tion-may-soon-arrive-on-sony-a-mount-cameras/

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/olympus-om-d-e-m5-five-axis-sensor-shift-image-stabilization-han/

Your right my bad 5 axis not 6.. Caulk another one up for bad memory.

Gary

 

[Mark Schretlen]

Perhaps Google Glass might work for her.

 

[Scrambler]

I won't argue with a doctor and I believe you when you say that everyone has an essential tremor in some sense, it is a fact however that despite that a lot of people are deadly still from any practical point of view, go to any sohoting range and you will see.

[snip]

GLF

Check what drugs are banned in shooting competitions, and you will find effective medication for essential tremor.

I'll now return you to your usual program 🙂

 

[ssmc]

I would think that some kind of IS/VR might be very helpful (though not knowing the magnitude of the tremor it's hard to say). Also a fast lens and a high shutter speed. Panasonic's LX7 comes to mind - I don't own one but the implementation of lens stabilization in their M43 zooms is really excellent, and the LX7 lens is fast. You can also put an EVF on it so it can be held up to the face rather than away from the body. Not sure if this would help or not but I know I can hold a camera more stably that way. The Oly XZ-2 is similarly specced.

Depending how compact it has to be, an alternative might be one of the recently-superseded M43 models with a built-in EVF and a stabilized zoom (like the G5). You can get these for less than some high-end compacts and the IQ at high ISOs (which you'd need to get a high shutter speed) is much better than any 1/1.7" or 1/2.3" sensor compact.

Weight is another issue altogether. I agree that a heavier camera is going to be more stable but most P&S / compacts are pretty light nowadays.

Personally (and this is just my opinion...) using a tripod for a P&S seems a bit pointless (though you could always use the self-timer if it doesn't have a remote release). The main reason I say this is because the triopd is so much bigger than the camera you might as well put a small DSLR on it; even carrying an APS-C DSLR with a stabilized 18-55 kit zoom is going to be less hassle than lugging around and setting up a tripod, and your high-ISO worries are over even with entry-level models. I can't see a monopod helping much as you still need to hold it (thus transferring the shake)

Best of luck with whatever route you decide to go

 

[Ranchu]

Flash on all the time seems like the best solution to me, I've noticed that better (G10) Canon digital ps's have a different profile in their jpeg processing when flash is on so skin tones look quite good. Other brands may have this too. There was a tiny flat sony camera a few years ago that took a series of shots and then picked the sharpest one all by itself, I forget what it was though. One of those flat ones with the prism system in the optics to make it compact. A camera that has shutter priority seems like a good place to start..

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Check what drugs are banned in shooting competitions, and you will find effective medication for essential tremor.

I'll now return you to your usual program 🙂

Are you trying to tell me that I can blame anyone who is stiller and/or more precise than me of being doped? Just as I do with anyone who run, cycle, swim, whatever faster than me after the Armstrong's scandal. Great time for excuse but sad one for sports... 🙁

GLF

 

[nparsons13]

There are some excellent suggestions here, including the doctor's suggestion about medication. I suffer from the same condition, but one of my blood pressure meds has the additional effect of almost totally calming my essential tremor, and most of the time I can handle a camera--at least up through 135mm--without any problem. I think it's usually wise to use either a monopod or a tripod with long telephotos, though. She definitely should talk to her own doctor about her tremor.

 

[nikonosguy]

beta blockers ---- incidentally, archers in the olympics can not use beta blockers as it is perceived to give them an unfair advantage

 

[alienmeatsack]

I don't have tremors, but I do tend to have a slightly shaky hand as well as having issues with some cameras with pressing the shutter and the camera moving as a result.

I find that some cameras work great for me, others I have to brace my arms against me and the camera against my face (when they have a viewdfinder) or chest (when they dont).

One thing that helps me with some cameras is a cheap "rope monopod" that is a long piece of cord with a loop for my foot on one end and a eye hook on the end that screws into the tripod mount. I put my foot into the loop, the pull the camera upwards until it's taught with the cord and then have a pretty steady platform to shoot from. I haven't done this in a while but it's how I learned to shoot some of my plastic cameras that tend to move really bad when clicking the shutter.

I also squat down a lot, bracing my arms against my knees. This helps.

I own the Panasonic LX7 and it has pretty good vibration reduction and a good fast shutter speed and high ISO and works nicely for me when I am on shaky days. It was also recommended above.

I don't know if this helps. But it's my input. I also agree with the above comment about trying different cameras to see which do work well and stabilize the image well for your friend.

I hope they find one that they fall in love with!

 

[DougFord]

Does her torso move in sympathy with the tremors?
Perhaps a weighted lanyard with one of those Sony qx10/100 units attached. Viewing/shutter/zoom activation would still be done by hand via smart phone though.

 

[konicaman]

Canon Powershot G-series, from G12 onward as far as I recall, has a very advanced type on vibration control. I am (without tremors admittedly) able to shoot handheld as low a 1/5 and still get sharp images (with my G12). I surely can't do that with other cameras. Could be worth a try?

 

[CactusJuice]

A relative of mine has the "essential tremor" malady that affects many people. The symptoms are trembling hands. To help you gauge the effect, she finds it very helpful to hold a drinking glass with two hands. She's not a serious photographer but she's finding it hard to make even simple snapshots because she can't hold her camera steady. Perhaps a conversation here might surface some tips for her and others in that same boat?

She's found that even when using a tripod, pressing the shutter release on the camera can result in shaking of the camera. A remote release might help with that.

I've read some other suggestions:

1) Use a camera with good high-ISO performance and a fast lens, then use a high shutter speed.
2) Use a camera that has a "best of three" feature that shoots a burst of three photos and automatically keeps just the sharpest one.
3) In that same vein, just shoot a burst of three photos and manually pick the sharpest one.
4) Use flash to stop action.
5) Use a monopod (it's easier to schlep and set up than a tripod).

Do you have experience with this issue? Suggestions for digital P&S cameras that might suit these strategies? Other suggestions?

Thank you.

I would try something in the Canon PowerShot line, plus a Gorillapod. I like the S series, such S100 but any will do. Depending on the size of her bag she might even leave the camera continuously mounted. Use the 2-second timer as others have suggested.