RE: [Leica] Sharpness and handholding (was leica report 70-180)

["Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" <peterk@lucent.com>]

That was an SLR if I remember, and largely attributed to the mirror.  Ansel
did use a Hasselblad later in his lifetime and used it quite extensively,
surprised he did not find a problem with the mirror there? Oh well...moot
point.

Peter K

> ----------
> From: 	Dan S[SMTP:dstate1@hotmail.com]
> Reply To: 	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Sent: 	Saturday, May 15, 1999 1:14 PM
> To: 	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: 	Re: [Leica] Sharpness and handholding (was leica report
> 70-180)
> 
> Quite right about the use of wide apertures!  Unless you need the depth of
> 
> field odds are your image sharpness will be better served by high shutter 
> speeds than stopping the lens down to its optimum aperture.
> 
> Ansel Adams wrote of an experiment he did with a 35mm camera.  In his
> tests 
> he could see evidence of camera shake all the way up to 1-250th of a
> second, 
> with just a 50mm lens.
> 
> Certainly this was with a really jumbo enlargement, way behond most of our
> 
> normal needs, but hey, if your going to chase the holy grail of sharpness 
> speed is the only way to go. (and just to head off a fire fight, no, 
> sharpness is not everything)
> 
> It is certainly an advantage to most Leica lenses that their wide aperture
> 
> performance allows for high quality results without stopping down.
> 
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >
> >Garth Jolly wrote:
> >
> ><<<<This reminds me of a question I've always been meaning to ask. 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).   (cut)
> >
> >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?  >>>>>>
> >
> >Hi Garth,
> >
> >A very simple method of shutter speed and aperture that I have used for
> >years and one doesn't need to remember technical aspects as it works
> >effectivelly in situations where one doesn't require a great depth of
> >field. Which is the case in many photo situations.
> >
> >I always try to work at the widest possible aperture and the highest
> >possible shutter speed.  In this manner the combination might be 1000 at
> >f1.4 on a 180mm  f2.8 or with the R8 1/8000 at 2.8.
> >
> >If you work in this manner and learning to make it work effectively, it
> >eliminates much unwanted distracting backgrounds by becoming an enhancing
> >mush of colour or B&W gradations. And assists in cutting camera
> vibration.
> >I might clarify, "not always" as there is a limit to how steady any human
> >can hand hold a camera at slow shutter speeds.
> >
> >Yep and I bet there will be some who say "I can hand hold at 1 second."
> >Well I don't doubt it as I've squeezed a few of them myself and they have
> >worked. But lots of times? Nope! These occur when it's a complete "Hail
> >Mary" hoping you are going to get an image no one else has made.  Would
> >they stand-up to 16X20 enlargements? Some might, but the chances are most
> >wouldn't.
> >
> >One thing, going wide and high in some cases that combination might be an
> >aperture of 1,0 at 1/15th with 3200 available darkness film due to
> lighting
> >conditions. However, at the slower shutter speeds one merely uses greater
> >care in squeezing the soft release shutter button, controlling breathing
> >and or leaning / bracing oneself against something for supoort.
> >
> >Sure there are lenses, "long-heavy" that without question the ratio of
> >sharp images increases with the use of a tripod. At one time I could hand
> >hold some pretty long glass and every image was as sharp as though it
> were
> >off a tripod.  But old father time comes to play along with miscalculated
> >parachute jumping injuries and the strength goes out of the right
> shoulder
> >and upper arm.
> >
> >In your mind you think you can do it, but in reality it is best to use
> the
> >tripod or in the case of sports where tripods are not allowed, the
> monopod
> >is most effective.
> >
> >So think wide aperture and high shutter speeds and this will always or
> >should be on your side in eliminating the "shakies!"
> >
> >Ted Grant
> >This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
> >http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
> >
> >
> 
> 
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