Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/04/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Some photographers may be able to hand hold at shutter speeds lower than other people. There are many variables involved: Focal length of the lens (the longer, the higher the speed should be). Heart rate of the photographer. Steadiness of hand (very calm people can shoot at lower speeds). Healthy inner-ear (controls balance). Wind conditions. My minimum shutter speeds is 1/250 sec. Below that, the results are less that stellar. A slug of vodka (or similar elixir) seems to improve conditions somewhat. But a tripod is far better. Whenever possible I use one. I new a flamboyant Los Angeles photographer who claimed he could hand hold a camera at 1 (one) sec. shutter speed. I challenged him to prove it to me and I lost. It seems that he did "hand hold" the camera while it was resting on a solid support such as a rock, ledge, or against a wall. Speaking of camera supports, I am not able to use a monopod. It seems that when I close one eye and aim with the other, I lose my balance. Maybe one "slug" is not enough. Joe From: "Oliver Bryk" <oliverbryk@attbi.com> To: "Users Group Leica" <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 1:47 PM Subject: [Leica] hand-held exposure rule > Some years ago I tested that rule of thumb with my M6, using the latest > models 90mm Elmarit and the 50mm Summicron. For the test I selected a wire > mesh fence, topped with barbed wire, that surrounds a nearby electric > substation (I wouldn't do this today) because I could not find a textbook > white picket fence. I photographed a segment of fence and barbed wire from a > distance of 10 meters, first with the M6 on a tripod an then hand-held. For > each series I made one exposure on Delta 100 at each shutter speed from > 1/1000 sec to 1/15 sec. I wrote each shutter speed on a sign that I hung on > the fence so that I would be included in the image. > I had the film developed by a custom lab and viewed the frames, projected > onto an easel, with the lab's grain analyzer. I found visible differences in > sharpness between the images from hand-held and tripod-mounted exposures at > all shutter speeds slower than 1/250 sec. I did not repeat the experiment at > smaller magnifications. Your mileage may vary. > Oliver Bryk > > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html