How good is your stabilization?

[tegan]

Some have lens stabilization and others have body stabilization. Irrespective of the approach how slow can you shoot handheld without a tripod or monopod or bracing?

Tegan

[Travis]

what do you mean... with or without IS/VR?

doesn't it kinda depend on your focal length too?

[Travis]

never mind.. misunderstood..

i've shot 1/3 with VRII with 2 outta 5 being very good...

[tomorrowstreasures]

I am a wiggler. and a heavy breather and have no stabilizer either built in to me or the camera. sigh. i am a wanna be steady person though!

[tirediron]

I routinely shoot hand-held down to 1/30, and have shot as low as 1/8 (with lots of body bracing), but as a matter of course, I always try and use a tripod below 1/60 if possible, or with big glass.

[tegan]

I have shot down to 1/4 of a second with good results, handheld with no bracing but I do not like to go below an 1/8 of a second. On film I once successfully shot at 1/8 of a second handheld for a 16" by 20" blow-up.

Tegan

[Marko]

I'll shoot digital at 1/30 handheld and no slower....and even that's rare.
95% of the time I'm at 1/60 or faster handheld.

When I shot film the odd time I'd try 1/15 on a 50mm and it worked.

[Travis]

I'll shoot digital at 1/30 handheld and no slower....and even that's rare.
95% of the time I'm at 1/60 or faster handheld.

When I shot film the odd time I'd try 1/15 on a 50mm and it worked.

but... are you talking about regular shooting... or about shooting with IS / VR?

you should be able to pump out a slower speed with the new technology lenses/bodies...

not that it matters really... the only type of photographer who truly benefits from VR is wedding and some other photojournalism(macro)... VR also really helps for household/vacation snapshots where setting up tripods is impractical... most other professional type work will involve proper setup to reduce vibration..

[Marko]

I should have clarified, I'm talking regular shooting, I don't have any IS or VR lenses.



but... are you talking about regular shooting... or about shooting with IS / VR?

you should be able to pump out a slower speed with the new technology lenses/bodies...

not that it matters really... the only type of photographer who truly benefits from VR is wedding and some other photojournalism(macro)... VR also really helps for household/vacation snapshots where setting up tripods is impractical... most other professional type work will involve proper setup to reduce vibration..

[tegan]

I find setting up a tripod impractical in a lot of situations: almost all photojournalism and public relations shoots, street shooting, shooting in busy or tourist areas, animals, inside buildings, on bridges, on skis, in tight caves and mine shafts etc. Aside from studio, portraits, and product work I often have no place to put a tripod near my camera position.

Tegan

[PaulaLynn]

I have got zip/zilch/zero image stabilization and can't keep the camera steady to save my life. I routinly shoot at 1/200 to 250th with my 70-200 at 85mm and can't get a sharp shot to save my life. Even on my 18-55 I'm normally at 1/200-250 and can't get a sharp shot... Tripods are my life LOL!

[Travis]

I find setting up a tripod impractical in a lot of situations: almost all photojournalism and public relations shoots, street shooting, shooting in busy or tourist areas, animals, inside buildings, on bridges, on skis, in tight caves and mine shafts etc. Aside from studio, portraits, and product work I often have no place to put a tripod near my camera position.

Tegan


I agree.... and you really don't know what your missing until you have it... it's another tool in the photographers war chest for sure... i just find that I pull out the tri/monopod when it comes to portfolio building shots instead of relying on the VR... mostly pertaining to landscapes (where i usually lock up the mirror, use a shutter release and a host of other mechanisms to ensure a quality exposure). You are right though, I have a ton of shots that I wouldn't have got without the VR. I don't even have VR anymore... my new $1800 24-70 2.8 doesn't have it.... but the 70-200 2.8 does... it's my next lens...

[tegan]

I have got zip/zilch/zero image stabilization and can't keep the camera steady to save my life. I routinly shoot at 1/200 to 250th with my 70-200 at 85mm and can't get a sharp shot to save my life. Even on my 18-55 I'm normally at 1/200-250 and can't get a sharp shot... Tripods are my life LOL!

Some cameras show you in the viewfinder, whether you are moving the camera or not, which helps you to keep the camera steadier. Bracing it against a tree or a building can also be helpful.

Tegan