Darshan
Well-known
Hi all,
I have now shot a few rolls through my M4 and I really like the RF experience. I have noticed that I am getting reasonably sharp pics up to about 1/15 but shots slower than that are mostly blurred. Now, I am not saying that I routinely shoot at 1/15 or slower, but there are times when I wish I am able to do that considering the max aperture and film as limiting factors. If I mimic the same shooting experience with my GF1 (using the same settings), I do get blurry shots but I can quickly remedy it by shooting another frame; hard to do that with film
. Please, I am not trying to start flame wars between FvD but trying to get your opinions to enhance my photo-taking experience.
I have come up with the following options to the best of my knowledge, please feel free to add your comments even if they differ from these options.
1. Tripod-simple way to get the slowest shutter speeds, but shooting my kids in poorly lit rooms with a tripod is impractical (even if they stay still for the time being).
2. Softie-this is a cheap option too, but does it really help?
3. Half-case
4. "I am steady as a rock and can hand hold with whatever shutter speeds I want to!!" Well, not me...
5. "You are crazy to think you can go slow!!" I promise I will not be offended.
Now, please take the reference point of a slow shutter speed relative to your experience, I know some people can routinely hand hold with 1/8 or 1/4, but then your answer should be based on speeds even slower than that.
I have now shot a few rolls through my M4 and I really like the RF experience. I have noticed that I am getting reasonably sharp pics up to about 1/15 but shots slower than that are mostly blurred. Now, I am not saying that I routinely shoot at 1/15 or slower, but there are times when I wish I am able to do that considering the max aperture and film as limiting factors. If I mimic the same shooting experience with my GF1 (using the same settings), I do get blurry shots but I can quickly remedy it by shooting another frame; hard to do that with film
. Please, I am not trying to start flame wars between FvD but trying to get your opinions to enhance my photo-taking experience. I have come up with the following options to the best of my knowledge, please feel free to add your comments even if they differ from these options.
1. Tripod-simple way to get the slowest shutter speeds, but shooting my kids in poorly lit rooms with a tripod is impractical (even if they stay still for the time being).
2. Softie-this is a cheap option too, but does it really help?
3. Half-case
4. "I am steady as a rock and can hand hold with whatever shutter speeds I want to!!" Well, not me...
5. "You are crazy to think you can go slow!!" I promise I will not be offended
.Now, please take the reference point of a slow shutter speed relative to your experience, I know some people can routinely hand hold with 1/8 or 1/4, but then your answer should be based on speeds even slower than that.
Alpacaman
keen bean
I find taking the shot when I have just finished breathing out, and not quite breathed in yet, makes it a lot steadier. It may be partially placebo, but it works.
segedi
RFicianado
I just use faster film to keep the shutter happily above 1/60th. ISO 400 is my staple. And an ND filter to deal with my Leica's 1/1000th top speed. Like the Bessa R4A for AP and it's 1/2000th shutter.
Darshan
Well-known
This is a pretty common technique floating on the internet and I have tried it too, but somehow it does not work for me. On the other hand, I am still having trouble mastering my breathing during a swim...after all those years. :bang:
Darshan
Well-known
I appreciate your response, but what do you do if you already have a slower film loaded in your machine?
ferider
Veteran
This works for me: slow down your heart rate by breathing in deep a couple of times, slowly breathing out and shooting while you breathe out. Elbow against chest, if possible. For example, this was at 1/4 or so:
http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/PAW-2010/0810-C/Scan-100831-0049/990403969_RkzqW-L.jpg
Wide angles make it easier.
I advise against soft releases. I had them on all my Leicas, until I bent a release shaft accidentally - this is frequent I was told by my repair man.
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Darshan
Well-known
samuelphoto
Established
Alpacaman
keen bean
Darshan
Well-known
You rifle shooters are making me envious now.
Sylvaticus
Established
Ancient wisdom says shutter speed number larger than lens focal length. 50mm and minimum 1/50s, 135mm and 1/150s, and so on. Just how solid a rock you are varies individually and crumbles with age.
oftheherd
Veteran
When I was I was being trained to be a good shot, I was told to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, breath out and back in just a little, then hold it. That was for the rifle team. Things you can do in the field (and with a camera), brace the camera on something, brace the camera tight against your head and your head against something, or your shoulder and have your elbows tight against your body (always a good idea anyway if you can), sit down, brace your elbows against your knees, and all the above with the aforementioned breathing technique. When I was younger and in better shape, I could get down to as low as 1/2 or even 1 second using a combination of those techniques. Especially the bracing my head against something and the camera tight against my head.
Try all those things to see what works best for you.
Try all those things to see what works best for you.
Darshan
Well-known
Darshan
Well-known
On a different note...
I can shoot with both my eyes but prefer to shoot with the right eye as it keeps my left eye free and I can advance the film faster after a shot. People who can shoot with both eyes, have you noticed any difference in stability by shooting with the left eye? Theoretically, it should get you a slower shutter speed as the camera is anchored against a larger surface area of your face.
Your thoughts...
I can shoot with both my eyes but prefer to shoot with the right eye as it keeps my left eye free and I can advance the film faster after a shot. People who can shoot with both eyes, have you noticed any difference in stability by shooting with the left eye? Theoretically, it should get you a slower shutter speed as the camera is anchored against a larger surface area of your face.
Your thoughts...
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Usually turning the dial on the top of the camera to a lower number gets you a slower shutter speed. At B you can hold the shutter button down and count.
Alpacaman
keen bean
Really? Up until now I have had a piece of string tied to my second shutter curtain, and I hold the shutter open with it for slow speeds :angel:
I will have to try this... dial.
Darshan
Well-known
ROFLMAO!!!
Depends on the lens in use as well.
The steadiest that I've used is tripod with the camera triggered using the self-timer.
The steadiest that I've used is tripod with the camera triggered using the self-timer.
kxl
Social Documentary
A Gorillapod works very well and can be used in different ways:
1) As a small tripod - put it on a table and use a cable release or self-timer.
2) Wrap the legs around something to hold it up.
3) Brace the legs against your chest and/or shoulders.
1) As a small tripod - put it on a table and use a cable release or self-timer.
2) Wrap the legs around something to hold it up.
3) Brace the legs against your chest and/or shoulders.
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Brian Legge
Veteran
A habit I picked up using an SLR was to brace the camera against my shoulder and not use my arms to support it when I really needed the extra speed. This worked surprisingly well for me.
I haven't really gotten in the habit of it with rangefinders though as I tend to the smaller ones where this would be trick. Putting a 35RC on your shoulder just feels odd.
I haven't really gotten in the habit of it with rangefinders though as I tend to the smaller ones where this would be trick. Putting a 35RC on your shoulder just feels odd.