Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Sharpness and handholding (was leica report 70-180)
From: "Gareth Jolly" <garethjolly@bigpond.com>
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 17:02:23 +1000

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    Erwin Puts said of the 70-180 zoom:
   =20
    >... this lens is difficult to hold handheld and to maximise its =
potential a tripod is a must.=20
    >I shot hundreds of pictures at a range of shutterspeeds from 1/60 =
to 1/8000. Statistically it is not >possible to get fine imagery below =
1/250 (big chance factor is involved when shooting that slow). At >1/250 =
to 1/500 the chances of a good quality picture are higher but it is not =
secure. Above 1/1000 and >certainly at speeds of 1/2000 and 1/4000 the =
true image potential can be enjoyed. And then it is simply >stunning.
   =20
    This reminds me of a question I've always been meaning to ask.
   =20
    Most of my shots with my M6 are handheld.  When I can, I apply the =
rule of 1/ the focal length of the lens to get a minimum shutter speed =
for handholding (so the minimum speed for a 50mm lens is 1/60s).  If =
possible, I shoot one shutter speed faster (so for a 50mm lens 1/125 =
second).
   =20
    Of course, this is designed to eliminate as far as possible the =
subtle effects of camera shake.  Presumably this only works up to a =
particular print size, though.
   =20
    Logic says there will be some camera shake even at 1/1000 second.  =
Perhaps though, the camera shake is so slight that it is not recordable =
on the film.  Or, if it is, it will only be visible with very large =
enlargements.
   =20
    Theoretically I suppose you should try and use the fastest possible =
shutter speed in every situation (subject to depth of field =
requirements, of course).  But the law of diminishing returns must =
apply.  Somewhere along the line the increased shutter speed simply =
mustn't matter much or at all.
   =20
    Can anyone comment on all this?  Is there a value, for example, in =
shooting using a 50mm lens at 1/250 second minimum?  At want point in =
using faster shutter speeds does the law of diminishing returns mean =
that any camera shake will be so subtle as to be imperceptible?
   =20
    Thanks
    Gareth Jolly
   =20
    Sydney, Australia
    http://www.users.bigpond.com/garethjolly/


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    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Erwin Puts said of the 70-180=20
zoom:</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV>&gt;... this lens is difficult to hold handheld and to maximise =
its=20
    potential a tripod is a must. <BR>&gt;I shot hundreds of pictures at =
a range=20
    of shutterspeeds from 1/60 to 1/8000. Statistically it is not =
&gt;possible=20
    to get fine imagery below 1/250 (big chance factor is involved when =
shooting=20
    that slow). At &gt;1/250 to 1/500 the chances of a good quality =
picture are=20
    higher but it is not secure. Above 1/1000 and &gt;certainly at =
speeds of=20
    1/2000 and 1/4000 the true image potential can be enjoyed. And then =
it is=20
    simply &gt;stunning.</DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>This reminds me of a question =
I've always=20
    been meaning to ask.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Most of my shots with my M6 are=20
    handheld.&nbsp; When I can, I apply the rule of 1/ the focal length =
of the=20
    lens to get a minimum shutter speed for handholding (so the minimum =
speed=20
    for a 50mm lens is 1/60s).&nbsp; If possible, I shoot one shutter =
speed=20
    faster (so for a 50mm lens 1/125 second).</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Of course, this is designed to eliminate as far =
as=20
    possible the subtle effects of camera shake.&nbsp; Presumably this =
only=20
    works up to a particular print size, though.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Logic says there will be some camera shake even =
at 1/1000=20
    second.&nbsp; Perhaps though, the camera shake is so slight that it =
is not=20
    recordable on the film.&nbsp; Or, if it is, it will only be visible =
with=20
    very large enlargements.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Theoretically I suppose you =
should try and=20
    use the fastest possible shutter speed in every situation (subject =
to depth=20
    of field requirements, of course).&nbsp; But the law of diminishing =
returns=20
    must apply.&nbsp; Somewhere along the line the increased shutter =
speed=20
    simply mustn't matter much or at all.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Can anyone comment on all this?&nbsp; Is there a =
value,=20
    for example, in shooting using a 50mm lens at 1/250 second =
minimum?&nbsp; At=20
    want point in using faster shutter speeds does the law of =
diminishing=20
    returns mean that any camera shake will be so subtle as to be=20
    imperceptible?</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Thanks</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Gareth Jolly</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Sydney,=20
    Australia</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2><A=20
    =
href=3D"http://www.users.bigpond.com/garethjolly/">http://www.users.bigpo=
nd.com/garethjolly/</A></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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