You think you have a steady hand? You don't!

[James]

"If you think schlepping a tripod along with your DSLR isn't worth it because you're convinced you can get a clean shot if you just concentrate hard enough, we have to ask... how's that working out for ya? To demonstrate the destructive power of shaky hands, Camera Technica attached a laser to the hotshoe of a Canon 7D, with the light reflecting off a wall 20 feet away. The lesson: it's challenging enough to get a crisp shot with a tripod -- let alone without. In the video below, the laser point wobbles erratically when the photographer gingerly presses the shutter with his finger. In the second clip he uses a remote release, which visibly cuts, but doesn't eliminate, the shake. Only when he locks up the mirror and resorts to a remote release does the shaking drop to a minimum. Need some more vivid evidence?"

Link for the video and source

 

[koffiejunkie]

Does it matter? That's why we control the shutter time...

 

[Logo]

"If you think schlepping a tripod along with your DSLR isn't worth it because you're convinced you can get a clean shot if you just concentrate hard enough, we have to ask... how's that working out for ya? To demonstrate the destructive power of shaky hands, Camera Technica attached a laser to the hotshoe of a Canon 7D, with the light reflecting off a wall 20 feet away. The lesson: it's challenging enough to get a crisp shot with a tripod -- let alone without. In the video below, the laser point wobbles erratically when the photographer gingerly presses the shutter with his finger. In the second clip he uses a remote release, which visibly cuts, but doesn't eliminate, the shake. Only when he locks up the mirror and resorts to a remote release does the shaking drop to a minimum. Need some more vivid evidence?"

Link for the video and source

This really doesn't prove anything. Anybody who has taken a fair number of photos will know this. That is why all camera manufacturers have image stabilization built in to their lenses or camera bodies, to reduce this effect on the image.

Also when shooting under normal conditions the shutter speeds are usually fast enough to freeze the action and thereby eliminate the majority of this shaking, the remainder will be eliminated by the IS systems used in the cameras.

 

[Wyzak]

I know I don't have a steady hand, way too much coffee in my system

Yes Logo that is why the lenses have camera stability, but the camera stability isn't perfect. Using a tripod is far better than using vibration reduction and holding it in your hand... It's quite technical though.

 

[bwana]

Thanks - I'll keep this in mind next time I'm taking photos of laser dots on a wall.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Thanks - I'll keep this in mind next time I'm taking photos of laser dots on a wall.

[Seeing that the laser is on the hotshoe, the camera should actually follow the laser dot even though it's moving ]

 

[Ghost29]

Pity you look like a tool carrying around a tripod. My sister brought hers to my graduation, I wanted to die.

 

[moklet]

Well I definitely not going to carry a tripod with me all the time

 

[RanzB]

Thanks - I'll keep this in mind next time I'm taking photos of laser dots on a wall.

Haha, I was about to 'like' that until I remembered we're not on FB.

 

[Logo]

I know I don't have a steady hand, way too much coffee in my system

Yes Logo that is why the lenses have camera stability, but the camera stability isn't perfect. Using a tripod is far better than using vibration reduction and holding it in your hand... It's quite technical though.

I don't know hey, let's say I am using a short, fast lens like a 50mm 1,4 that coupled with IS or VR and a normal fast shutter speed and ISO 200 or even 400 I seriously doubt that a tripod will improve the quality or crispness of the image much, even with much more movement than the normal hand shaking.

And yes I am talking from experience here. I recently spent a lot of time shooting photos from a moving truck on extremely bad dirt roads and IS coupled with with higher shutter speeds and fast lenses really gave me very crisp shots.

 

[Dolby]

My sister brought hers to my graduation, I wanted to die.

lol

 

[mfumbesi]

Thanks - I'll keep this in mind next time I'm taking photos of laser dots on a wall.

LOL.
I think anyone who has taken any amout of photos is aware of the SHAKE.
You can always compensate (shutter speed, ISO, etc).

 

[koffiejunkie]

...I am using a short, fast lens like a 50mm 1,4 that coupled with IS or VR...

I want one!

 

[bwana]

Pity you look like a tool carrying around a tripod. My sister brought hers to my graduation, I wanted to die.

Tripods are for sissies.

I want one!

I think you'd have to switch to one of the brands with in camera stabilisation?

 

[dabbler]

Use a monopod.. and easier to setup.

 

[hilton]

Use a monopod.. and easier to setup.

I've been thinking about this myself. Seems to be a good compromise between portability and the convenience of have something to rest the camera on. It won't take up a lot of space in a bag and in our local context it doubles as a mugger intimidation stick.

The question is which one. Quick release seems to be a no brainer and you get those that automatically slide out and stop so there's no twisting needed but I suspect this is to be avoided.

 

[bwana]

I've been thinking about this myself. Seems to be a good compromise between portability and the convenience of have something to rest the camera on. It won't take up a lot of space in a bag and in our local context it doubles as a mugger intimidation stick.

The question is which one. Quick release seems to be a no brainer and you get those that automatically slide out and stop so there's no twisting needed but I suspect this is to be avoided.

I've got the Manfrotto - possibly the 680B. I wasn't going to spend a fortune on a stick and it gets the job done. I only use it for cricket to support a heavy lens though.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Most monopods just have the same screw as a tripod, so you can stick a tripod head onto it.

My complaint with monopods are that my biggest problem is horizontal movement, which the monopod doesn't really help me with. In fact, anchoring it vertically seems to worsen the horizontal shake. Maybe I should drink less coffee...

 

[hilton]

My complaint with monopods are that my biggest problem is horizontal movement, which the monopod doesn't really help me with. In fact, anchoring it vertically seems to worsen the horizontal shake. (

What about standing with your body shifted to the left and then anchor the monopod against your right knee or the other way round whichever is easier. Would this work?

 

[koffiejunkie]

What about standing with your body shifted to the left and then anchor the monopod against your right knee or the other way round whichever is easier. Would this work?

Doesn't prevent it from rotating?