Lowest shutter speed you can hand hold...

[Ara Ghajanian]

One of the overwhelming reasons I bought a Leica is because of its ability to be shot at lower shutter speeds without perceived camera shake. I know the old rule of thumb is "lowest shutter speed = lens focal length", but what seems to be your personal experience with this and a Leica? I shoot alot of available darkness and so far have had no problems with a 50mm 'cron at 1/30th, although I was using Fuji Superia 1600 and it was difficult to judge sharpness (see examples in my link below). Has anybody had success shooting at 1/15 or 1/8? I gots to know.
Ara

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

1/15 is the lowest I can go consistently.

1/8 I get lucky with 50/50 return.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

of course nothing wrong with shutter speed bokeh, sometimes it gives great ambience that otherwise would not exist in a perfectly sharp shot 😉

 

[mpt600]

I think the shutter speed=focal length rule was invented for slr's with that mirror slapping up and down. 1/30th with a rangefinder doesn't worry me. 1/15th and I'll have to really concentrate or lean against a wall. 1/8th is beyond me, but then I don't use Leica's, I have a Zorki 4k, an Olympus XA and a Petri 7s at present.

 

[szekiat]

done 1.5s on an SLR while leaning against a lamp post and about 1/2 for my leica shooting a 12mm lens.

 

[jody]

I can get 1/15 while holding breath.

 

[Keith]

After my second cup of coffee ... anything below 125 is frought with danger! 😀

 

[dcsang]

1/4 second - I've posted the shot here on the forum (not in the gallery I think)...

Dave

 

[merciful]

I'm confident with 1/4 sec. with a 35mm, 1/8 with a 50mm.

 

[Kyle]

I've gotten some good results with speeds as low as 1/15 but those are few and far between. For the most part I don't like to go lower than 1/30 and prefer 1/60 if possible.

 

[Ash]

No Leica M in my hands, but usually 1/20 easy, 1/10 most of the time

 

[f8&go]

of course nothing wrong with shutter speed bokeh, sometimes it gives great ambience that otherwise would not exist in a perfectly sharp shot 😉

Flyfisher,

'Shutter speed bokeh' : wish I'd thought of that. 🙂

An entirely correct observation, too.

 

[pizzahut88]

1/15

1/15

I can do 1/15 without a problem most of the time, except when I am using the 90mm.

 

[Athena]

I can get 1/15 while holding breath.

Hmmm...that's interesting.

I was always taught to "fire on the exhale" when you're body is relaxing rather than tensing.

 

[Kyle]

Hmmm...that's interesting.

I was always taught to "fire on the exhale" when you're body is relaxing rather than tensing.

Thats usually how I do it.

 

[colyn]

I have had good results handholding my M3 at 1/8th but prefer not to go below 1/15th.

 

[telenous]

1/4s with 35mm and 1/8s with 50mm have not been impossible. I feel a bit more confident with an one stop slower speed though.

 

[kshapero]

I can get 1/15 while holding breath.

I have gotten 1/4 by exhaling slowly.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Hmmm...that's interesting.

I was always taught to "fire on the exhale" when you're body is relaxing rather than tensing.

You know what's interesting? Have you read "Zen and the Art of Archery"? The whole premise has to do with breathing consciously and releasing the arrow on the exhale. If that technique works with archery, then it must be more than adequate for photography.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

By the way, do you think shooting distance has anything to do with an acceptable shutter speed. You know how you're always supposed to use a tripod for macro shots?