Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/02/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 09:30 PM 14/02/98 +0100, you wrote: >I don't have the Noctilux, but I have shot with M6 and 35mm Summilux at >1/4 s and got the SHARP pictures. - - I know I can shoot a 50 mm f/1.4 lens on an FM2 at 1/30 second and I can count on a sharp photo of a still subject. >> And my 85 mm f/1.4D Nikkor, which I can reliably hand hold at 1/60 second, [blah blah blah] I suppose it depends on what you mean by SHARP. "Acceptable" perhaps, but not "sharp" is what you could expect with these speeds. If you really think you get SHARP (your emphasis not mine) pictures at 1/30 with a 50 1.4 lens, or 1/60 with an 85 1.4, then perhaps you should try to take a second shot with the same shutter speed on a tripod-mounted camera. I would bet that the difference will be quite noticeable. If you want really sharp images you need higher shutter speeds, or a rock-solid tripod at these slower speeds. A Leica M's lack of mirror slap does provide an advantage for handholding, but not as much as you are suggesting here with reflex cameras. Shooting with an M6 handheld at 1/4 s and getting sharp pictures? C'mon, gimme a break! Often such claims of sharp images handheld at low shutter speeds are not substantiated when the images are scrutinized with care. - -GH