Hand-held MF with longer lenses?

[ssmc]

Hi,

For those who use manual-focus "legacy" lenses (I assume most of those here!), what's the longest FL you find you can comfortably use hand-held? I tried MF on the 16mm kit lens and found that when using the 7x and 14x magnify function the image was jittering all over the place (but I did get sharp shots). The adapter hasn't arrived yet, so I can only wonder what 50mm and longer MF lenses will be like... any input on this would be appreciated!

Thanks
Scott

 

[douglasf13]

With the NEX, holding it at chest level with the screen tilted up and arms to your side will improve stabilization quite a bit. Also, ever since I made this, I don't even need magnification most of the time, and it stabilizes the camera against my face. See here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&thread=38124924

 

[Nokton48]

400mm F5 Leitz Telyt with Visoflex II on Nex-3 Body.

400mm F5 Leitz Telyt with Visoflex II on Nex-3 Body.

what's the longest FL you find you can comfortably use hand-held?

This actually -is- hand-holdable

FUN to use.

 

[ddutchison]

This actually -is- hand-holdable

FUN to use.

I do believe you have solved the problem of the Nex's missing EVF !

 

[Nokton48]

Indeed!

I do believe you have solved the problem of the Nex's missing EVF !

 

[paulinventome]

I can MF up to 50 no problem but i have nothing longer than that right now.

I don't generally use the zoom though, i find the LCD itself pretty good without magnification.

The best news is the new NEX firmware will have peaking in it. This will add a colour outline to the edges that are in focus and i'd been harping on about doing that for ages (from the video camera world this is very common)

I think if the peaking is implemented properly it will be a game changer for MF on NEX.

cheers
paul

 

[taskoni]

This actually -is- hand-holdable

FUN to use.

Tell me about it

P.S.

Note I didn't say it is very comfortable

Regards,
b.

 

[douglasf13]

...
I think if the peaking is implemented properly it will be a game changer for MF on NEX.

cheers
paul

+1 Peaking would be a game changer, and I'm excited for the new firmware.

 

[remegius]

+1 Peaking would be a game changer, and I'm excited for the new firmware.

...and how is it that we know that there are going to be any up coming firmware changes?

 

[douglasf13]

...and how is it that we know that there are going to be any up coming firmware changes?

A PDF was leaked a couple of days ago. This has happened before with Sony cameras, and it usually ends up being accurate, but we'll see. Check it out: http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/AE1T100111.pdf

 

[ampguy]

I've hand held it with a couple of nikon zooms, up to 70-300 with no VR, it's all about keeping the lens steady, just as if an F3, or D40 body were attached. Use the 1/FL rule for shutter speed, and you should be fine. The NEX has a sensor like the D90, generations ahead of m4/3, so going to 800 or 1600 will still allow a nice huge print.

 

[remegius]

A PDF was leaked a couple of days ago. This has happened before with Sony cameras, and it usually ends up being accurate, but we'll see. Check it out: http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/AE1T100111.pdf

Excellent! Thanks for the heads up.

Cheers...

Rem

 

[ddutchison]

...The NEX has a sensor like the D90, ... so going to 800 or 1600 will still allow a nice huge print.

Good point