hand hold with slower speeds

[nzeeman]

i always ask myself what slow speed one can effectively hand hold and get decent photos (with normal 50mm lens). i can only 1/30 but from time to time i see that some people claim they can hand hold 1/8? so tel me what you can and maybe share some advices. we also can put some of our available light handheld photos in this topic. that also would be very helpful for other members i think.

 

[reub2000]

Can you really handhold at those speeds?

A lot of it depends on the way you photograph something, and the acceptable amount of motion blur. If I tuck in my elbows, 1/50 second isn't that hard. However, if I'm running around trying to get a shot, 1/125 second, or even 1/200 second can be needed.

 

[Sparrow]

I’ll risk 1/15 by composing myself and taking 3 or 4 shots as backups I get lucky most times, a leaf or vertical shutter should put less vibration into the body than a horizontal one.

 

[Twigs]

My results at 1/8s are not good, but it still beats no getting a shot at all. (1/15s is pretty acceptable)

This is what I do when I have to shoot at speeds such 1/8 and 1/15s:

Stand up straight, camera in front of chest, loosen up the shoulders, elbows and wrists, feet slightly apart with one foot ahead of the other, inhale normally, exhale halfway, take the shot, and finish. (phew)

 

[Sparrow]

With a wide angle the subject’s movement becomes more of a problem than camera shake is

 

[J. Borger]

Let's put it this way ... people shooting RF cameras tend to overestimate their handholding capacities. I prefer to stay within the general rule of 1/focal length. Very litle moments/ situations are so unique that i settle for a blurry picture instead of no picture ... blurry/ soft pictures due to camerashake or misfocus end in the trash-can sooner or later .. so make no sense for me !

 

[Gid]

Epson RD-1. 1/6th, 1/13th

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=33956&cat=500&ppuser=1433

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=28747&cat=500&ppuser=1433

 

[Sparrow]

Let's put it this way ... people shooting RF cameras tend to overestimate their handholding capacities. I prefer to stay within the general rule of 1/focal length. Very litle moments/ situations are so unique that i settle for a blurry picture instead of no picture ... blurry/ soft pictures due to camerashake or misfocus end in the trash-can sooner or later .. so make no sense for me !

Some push the envelope, some don’t, maybe

 

[thurows]

A good trick is to put the camera on a table top tripod and then brace the tripod to your upper torso, shoulder. That'll help you get a couple of shutter speeds slower.

 

[ddutchison]

Using the camera strap for extra bracing can help. I carry my camera on my shoulder with the strap adjusted so that it's quite snug when I bring the camera up to my eye.

I generally feel confident about getting sharp pics at 1/60 or above (sharp in this case means "looks good in 8X10"). At 1/30 I still expect the results to be sharp if I've made a special effort to hold the camera steadily and the subject is relatively still. Definitely at 1/30, it's subject movement more than camera movement that results in unsharp pics. At 1/15th I expect unsharp pics but am often surprised, the results can be very good. By 1/8th for me, for sure, the picture won't be sharp, not that that'll stop me from shooting.

 

[Kyle]

I don't usually have the best luck with really slow shutter speeds, but sometimes I get something I like.

Zeiss Ikon with Canon 50/1.2, 1/15s at 1.2, XP2. The lighting was terrible (this was at a concert hall, light on the subject was light being reflected off the stage).

 

[SalmanA]

I am using a mini soft-release on my R2A and have gotten a couple of very good shots at 1/15s. Still have to try 1/8s and slower...

 

[Spyderman]

With a rangefinder and standard lens everyone should be able to handhold 1/30. For SLR 1/60.

Everything longer depends on shutter "kick", camera mass, photographer position (e.g. elbows on table, standing...) and definitely the number of cofee cups the photographer had that day 😀

For example Bessa has kick-ier shutter than Canonet, but I doubt I could use slower shutter speed with the Canonet, because it is just so much lighter.

Here is a couple of examples from my gallery:
Bessa R + Jupiter 8 50mm, 1/15 @ f/2, standing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ondrej_p/242393095/

Bessa R + Jupiter 8, 1/8 or 1/15 @ f/2, sitting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ondrej_p/260764624/

Bessa R + Jupiter 8, 1/8 @ f/2, sitting, elbow on table

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ondrej_p/260102828/

 

[leica M2 fan]

Excellent photos and handholding abilities

Excellent photos and handholding abilities

I've had good results with RF cams at 1/15s but not below this. I once did 1/15s with a Nikon 8008 and 50mm lens at night, a purely grab shot that to this day I'm really proud of. 😀

 

[leica M2 fan]

Spyderman

Spyderman

Those are terrific efforts at handheld shots, I especially like the last one, it is such a good photo !! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Spyderman]

Leica M2 fan: Thanks 😉
The little girl is my goddaughter. And the photo was just a snapshot.

PS: just noticed the different color tint of every picture in my previous post 😀 blue, yellow, orange ;!

 

[BrianShaw]

Let's put it this way ... people shooting RF cameras tend to overestimate their handholding capacities. I prefer to stay within the general rule of 1/focal length.

It's ironic that this topic comes up... I've been thinking about it lately. I tend to agree with the above quote... but realize that some folks actually can hanhold a slower speeds than this "rule" in a reliable manner. The other day I was having breakfast with on old (75 years old, at least) former boss. He was showing me some pics he took and bragging htat he can handhold a camera at 1/2 sec. When I asked him if he's still faster than a sppeding bullet, can jump over large buildings in a single bound, and is stronger than a freight train he answered 'yes' to all of the questions. I'm sure he's telling the truth... isn't he?

 

[Trius]

I'm generally not good at handheld when standing as I really only have one good leg. But when sitting (which theoretically should be easier anyway, what with a broader centre of gravity 😉 ) I have done a decent job at 1/8s

and 1/4s

The second one shows grain due to underexposure and limited DOF, of course, but I was pretty surprised by the sharpness. I think the secret was the half pint of Guiness I'd consumed as a calming agent. 😀 Hey... it was an Irish jam!

 

[VinceC]

It seems like I'm always at 1/8th of a second with my 35/1.8 lens.
A peace rally in Seoul, South Korea, in 2003.

My youngest daughter at a New Year's party this past Dec. 31. (The kids celebrated at 8 p.m., so we got two New Year's in one night).

 

[thurows]

Some pulitzer prize winning photos are the shakiest things on earth so do what you gotta do.