Handholding rangefinder

[Nachkebia]

Hello! I am a new rangefinder user (I still don`t have camera yet) my Zeiss ikon is comming soon, so.. I was wondering what is the limit of handholding RF camera? lets say on SLR when you have 50mm you shutter should be at least 1/60, well for optimal performance it should be at least double so how this rule applies to rangefinder?
My english is awfull so thank you in advance 🙂))

 

[Richard Black]

First, welcome and your English is fine. I am able to hold an rf at 1/15 if I brace myself and hold my breathe. Try it, you'll find you can hold your camera steady at slower speeds.🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Because there's no mirror there's much less vibration. 1/15 is possible. When your camera arrives try it and see.

 

[Nachkebia]

So on 50mm you are saying that handholding at 1/15 without super powers is possible? 🙂

 

[Carrotblog]

Hello,

I have very small paws and find handholding very difficult most the time!

My Bessa doesn't manage 1/30s even up to 1/2 the time. I think it must be rabbit-shake. Especially out in the streets where people and strangers are walking
by so fast. 1/125 is more like it. In fields of carrots, I can manage anything with a tripod unless the wind blows through the rye, causing subject-shake.

xoxoxox

Miffy

http://carrotblog.livejournal.com

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Breathe in and hold it, lock your forearm muscles tight, and squeeze the shutter gently.

Perfectly possible.

By the way, you've chosen a great camera.

 

[Nachkebia]

well, my question is not about what can one do, I am asking what is the rule of thumb for RF.. is it like for 50mm optimal shutter speed would be 1/20? half of the mm? (or I need to go and get some sleep?) 🙂

 

[ChrisN]

well, my question is not about what can one do, I am asking what is the rule of thumb for RF.. is it like for 50mm optimal shutter speed would be 1/20? half of the mm? (or I need to go and get some sleep?) 🙂

Yes. 🙂

 

[furcafe]

There's no universal rule of thumb that I know of because people's abilities vary so much. I would take whatever minimum speed you can handle w/an SLR & subtract a couple stops.

well, my question is not about what can one do, I am asking what is the rule of thumb for RF.. is it like for 50mm optimal shutter speed would be 1/20? half of the mm? (or I need to go and get some sleep?) 🙂

 

[Nachkebia]

Yes. 🙂

Yes I need to get some sleep?

furcafe : Thank you

 

[simonankor]

I find it's best not to hold your breath, or lock your forearm muscles tight. Tensing muscles causes slight tremors in them. I get better results from relaxing, so take a deep breath, breathe out and squeeze the shutter about 1/3 into your outward breath. Stay relaxed, don't drink too much coffee and squeeze the shutter gently, don't jab at it.

With a 50mm lens I can get acceptable results at 1/8 and quite good at 1/15. 🙂 Practice makes perfect!

 

[Rich Silfver]

I find it's best not to hold your breath, or lock your forearm muscles tight. Tensing muscles causes slight tremors in them. I get better results from relaxing, so take a deep breath, breathe out and squeeze the shutter about 1/3 into your outward breath. Stay relaxed, don't drink too much coffee and squeeze the shutter gently, don't jab at it.

I would agree. Holding your breath and locking your arms/muscles is not the way to go. Deep breath and squeeze the trigger as you breathe out.

 

[back alley]

do you drink coffee?

 

[Toby]

I think it really depends on what your shooting. Once you get down even as far as 1/60 your subject's movement can be as problematic as camera shake. If I'm shooting something static 1/15 is OK if I'm shooting people I don't like going below 1/125 unless I really have to

 

[dmr]

I've found that with the rangefinder and the normal lens, I can always do 1/60 easily, usually do 1/30, and sometimes do 1/15. If I do 1/15 and I want to be sure I get it, I'll take several frames to be sure.

 

[ray_g]

I think you should not confuse "limit" with "rule of thumb." With a rangefinder, I can shoot ACCEPTABLE photos at slow speeds like many people here. But for OPTIMUM (wrt sharpness) results, I would still stick to the rule of thumb for SLR's. In fact, Gunther Osterloh (Leica M: The Advanced School of Photography), IIRC, recommended shooting at even faster speeds (unless you desire a particular effect). I am not sure how many of those 1/15 sec shots would look sharp at 8x10 or larger, but I am sure that ALL of them would have been sharper at 1/60. Bottom line is, it would be better to go with a faster lens and faster film than making a habit of shooting at slow speeds.

One other advantage of RF's is the availability of lenses that give you excellent wide-open performance.

 

[Socke]

If it comes to rules against blur I stick to only one, use a tripod.

Since I can't use one most of the time I try to relax and press the shutter as lightly as possible. For stationary subjects 1/30th is fast enough for 8x12 and 1/15th for 5x7, sometimes more.
I shot a ballet with a 90/2.8 at speeds down to 1/30th where you see motion blur from the dancers but stationary objects are pretty sharp.

 

[BrianShaw]

do you drink coffee?

... or caffinated cola beverages?

 

[wyk_penguin]

With modern SLRs, going 1/15 with a 50mm isn't as hard as it used to be. The new ones seems to have less mirror slap.
Just like SLRs, some RFs shake more and some shake less. I find the Bessa shaky with its twin metal shutters. Since the ZM is basically an upgraded Bessa, IMHO you are into a slightly shaky ride. Leica still holds the title for silent shutter, mind you. 😛 The kings and queens are of course leaf shutters which have no shake at all.

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

I was wondering what is the limit of handholding RF camera?

best you try it all out yourself and find your own limit. The physical and technical abilities of the photogs are pretty different, and so are the ideas of what a sharp photo is.
A soft release can help, much blur can come from a camera shake caused by
moving the camrea while pressing the shutter button.

Fitzi