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79 Comments
- judgeFire, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18It can also help to 'squeeze' the camera instead of simply pressing down on the shutter release button.
The way some people hit the button too hard actually ends up moving the camera, right at the moment of exposure. When you apply pressure evenly there's less shake. - keswick, on 10/12/2007, -7/+24Next on digg, how to hold a pencil!
- tobsterius, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21Good. then it wasn't meant for you... there are quite a few people that are new to this "photography" thing, every little bit helps.
- jacuff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Here's a few more things that aren't listed in the article...
Use a shutter speed of a least 1 / focal length. You may need to multiply that focal length by 1.2, 1.3, or 1.6 depending on your particular dSLR. So for example, at 125mm on a Canon 20D, you would want a shutter speed of at least 1/200.
Use a lens that has Image Stabilization or Vibration Reduction. These lenses will typically give you 1 or 2 additional stops before the image would come out blurry. This will differ among lenses.
A tripod is still the best way to go to reduce overall blurriness. A monopod will also help. If those two aren't available to you, the techniques in this article will help you out. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14That's circular logic. "If you need instructions, you're too stupid have one, but you don't need instructions unless you've already got one."
Um, sure. - chaosmachine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8so basically the trick is to use two hands instead of one? great article...
- catfive, on 10/12/2007, -13/+19Something everyone needs to do BEFORE holding a DSLR... take a photo class!
- chicagospur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@jacuff.
All Nikons are 1.5x. - zakool21, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"Something everyone needs to do BEFORE holding a DSLR... take a photo class!"
On the money!
"You may need to multiply that focal length by 1.2, 1.3, or 1.6 depending on your particular dSLR. "
No. The focal length multiplier is actually a crop factor and does not change the actual focal length. 1/focal length is perfectly acceptable.
Taking a deep breath or holding your breath is one of the most useful tricks you can use to take better pictures at slower shutter speeds. As a professional, this is like second nature, but may not be so to starters. - Daniel591992, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"How to Hold a Digital SLR Camera"
Can it possibly be that hard? - StarCrusher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you own a digital camera and don't know to hold it with two hands, I doubt you're a candidate for understanding about squeezing the shutter button rather than hitting it with a beer bottle
- Konquest, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Just to clarify, the rule of thumb is 1 / focal length in the 35mm equivalent. Most cameras come with lenses around 28mm to 100mm. So at the most wide angle setting, you can go up to 1/30 s and 1 / 100 s at the most telephoto setting. The same holds for every camera.
- Lostcosmos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I hold mine between my legs - or sometimes I just set the timer and chuck it up in the air.
- jacuff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Just to clarify on the different dSLRs. Can a Nikon friend help me with the Nikon models?
Canon 1D (and Mark II) - 1.3x
Canon 1Ds (and Mark II) - 1x
Canon 5D - 1x
Canon 10D - 1.6x
Canon 20D - 1.6x
Canon 30D - 1.6x
Canon D30 - 1.6x
Canon D60 - 1.6x
Canon Digital Rebel - 1.6x
Canon Digital Rebel XT - 1.6x - stonebear, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm surprised he left out an important technique: Hold your breath for just a moment as you squeeze the shot off.
- Poco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Just to be clear - the Rebel XT and the 20D have the same size sensor. The 5D has a full frame sensor.
I also agree that the 1/focal length rule needs to be adjusted for sensor size. - BSpolice, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3This all seems to be self-evident. Quite similar to shooting a rifle actually.
- NiLeS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yes.
If you want decent pictures, that is. - Phyrefly, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Behold, the end of IS and VR: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/30/content_603675.htm
- XStatic, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4My 6 year old figured this out on his own...
It might have something to do with the weight of the camera and lens forcing him to do so though... - invader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2the only reason they singled out digitals is because amateurs love to use the LCD as a viewfinder, which means holding the camera farther from the body and becoming less stable.
besides that, the D was completely unnecessary. i find it common that film photographers try to belittle digital photographers, even though cameras these days can produce 35mm-equivalent images. so i guess there was a subtle undertone in the article saying that anyone who uses a DSLR is an amateur and/or blithering idiot
:) - zakool21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"For example, a 18mm lens plugged in front of a Rebel XT will not yield the same result as if you put it in front of a 20D (or any camera that has a 35mm chip)."
You may be mistaking the 20D for the 5D. The 20D is an APS-C sensor, virtually identical to that on the XT. The 5D, 1Ds and 1DsMarkII all have the full frame sensor.
1/focal length is conservative. What I meant is that the actual focal length isn't being changed, but one can still shoot at a speed lower than that of 1/focal length or 1/focal length*multiplier. For example, I can shoot perfectly sharp images at 17mm (on the 20D, equaling 28mm) at 1/4sec. Depends on the person. - mo0o0ocow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I definitely agree with Daniel. I've been into photography for about 5 years. I started out with a simple point and shoot, then moved on to the Rebel (film SLR). But using a dSLR helped my photography a great deal. It's easy to play with different shutter speeds and apertures, and you get instant feedback on what works and what doesn't. That's much better than waiting until you finish a roll and waiting to have it developed.
Also, if you have the motivation, I wouldn't say a course is necessary. There are a lot of resources online for amateur photographers. Reading guides online definitely helped me out. I'd recommend photo-class http://photo-class.deviantart.com/ on deviant art. This is not to say a course wouldn't help (I am very sure it would), but it's just not necessary for everyone. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Keeping both eyes open also helps reduce camera shake.
- Terc, on 10/12/2007, -6/+8Why is catfive's comment being modded down? When purchasing digital slr cameras, you can expect to pay between $500 and $800 for most and easily more depending on what you want. When spending this kind of money to presumably get better pictures it is a VERY good idea to at least take a quick photography course at a local college or art institute. You're very likely to be disappointed if you thought just having an expensive camera would give you great pictures. Learning to use it correctly can yield fantastic results.
- TenebrousX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Two hands! Ingenious!
- DanielKongos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The great thing about digital is that you can just practice and get immediate feedback. No need for a class. I never took a class and my photography has come along relatively well (key word: relatively). I do find though that taking a picture at the end of an exhale helps with stability.
- phatpat88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2this is an abosolute joke... Kill iT!
bettr off hire a pro..
Bottom line, everyone thinks they are a photographer, but they are not! There is more to photography then a Digital Rebel or 20D - izzybomb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ive actually found that when you take the picture instead of just chucking it at people, it turns out better.
- mfratt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is the way I've always held my camera. I have the Sony F717 (not sure if its slr, but it is very high quality), and with the weight of the lens, it is very difficult to hold it any other way.
- Shivatron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2> For digital cameras, just buy a Panasonic...
Wow, why didn't you tell me that earlier! I'm going to go throw out my Canon 1D, 17-40/4, 50/1.4, 135/2, 550EX, et cetera, and buy a Panasonic!
(In case you can't detect my sarcasm: Clearly, this is narrow-minded advice. There are many choices in the digital camera market, and many of them happen to include image stabilization as well as other features you may find useful. You're not limited to Panasonic.) - chicagospur, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Crap article.
Doesn't even show how to hold the camera properly when shooting in portrait mode, which is probably the thing that most people do wrong. - theRIAA, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i have an old sony cybershot. i just pust the button, then i have 2 seconds to hold it still before it takes the picture
- invader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1there is a circle and a slash next to the timestamp. click it to block/report spammers :)
- lancefisher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've subscribed to the RSS feed from this site for a while now, and they constantly post tips which are very helpful for beginner to intermediate photographers like me. I think I originally found this site through Digg.
- Poco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1
That is one I've heard before and is the only advice here that I didn't figure out on my own. That would be worth a Digg if the article had mentioned it.
The article is a bit obvious in the sense that I'm new (1 year) into SLR photography and I figured out that stuff pretty quickly on my own. There is nothing groundbreaking. If possible, I even try to hold the camera against a solid object (or my left hand wedged between it and the object) to get even more stability. - ace87, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I agree, how exactly is this Digg worthy? You just hold it!!!
- invader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i think the multiplier is 1.6 for the digital rebel xt and the 20D to compensate for the sensor size
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Paging Captain. Obvious. Repeat. Paging Captain. Obvious.
What a tool.
Mind showing how to press the shutter too? Oh how about DOF-Preview.
Or how about the proper way to slit your wrists? - BlackPhantom, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Erm. This extremely obvious point has reached front page?! And I think that this applies to all types of handheld cameras actually...
- mattyj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For digital cameras, just buy a Panasonic. It has an image stabalization feature that works really well for me, and I tend to shake a bit.
- rspeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"You just hold it!!!"
I see people holding SLRs wrong ALL the time. There was even a commercial where some kid was holding what appeared to be a Digital Rebel with his left hand on the camera body.
Bad bad bad. - rspeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@mfratt
It's not an SLR. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the viewfinders of SLRs use the main lens through an optical system. In other words, light comes through the main lens and bounces off a series of mirrors and/or prisms into your eye. - ddegner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The mirror can cause camera shake when holding the camera (at least according to the lore of Leica photographers).
Who says camera shake, tilted horizons, or out of focus images are bad? VII photographers are some of the best out there and they use these tools all the time http://www.viiphoto.com/detail-story3.php?news_id=449 . - Shivatron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I agree with EssPii regarding the exposure time claim: Leicas are great cameras, but if you think a reliable (as opposed to once-in-a-lifetime) 1sec handheld exposure with ANY camera is going to be even slightly sharp, perhaps you need new glasses.
Oh, and BTW EssPii: mirror slap does contribute to camera shake. Typically, the average person can handhold a cameras without a reflex mirror (rangefinders, TLR, and optical-tunnel viewfinder cameras) for a bit loger exposure than they can for a camera with a reflex mirror. Having said that, you're right to point out that a claim of a reliable 1sec handheld exposure is BS (unless the handholder is a cyborg). - el_jefe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Actually, anyone who takes a photograph using any type of camera, is by definition...a photographer.
What you meant to say was...
there is more to being a *good* photographer than digital rebel or a 20D. And I would have to agree. Its sad that camera companies are ending poduction of film cameras. There are legions of photographers that will never know how to actually develop film, and to me thats just sad.
On a side note, for those really interested in photography...you should put down the digital and try a medium format or large format camera. The picture quality is leaps and bounds over anything digital today. With one exception...Mamiya ZD. - ace87, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Excellent Comment!!!
- tavisjohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Tripods are not always practle. And most people's hands tremor when you squeese.
My solution: E-Grips! http://www.egrips.com/ They work as good or better than that Anti-Shake featore on some digital cameras.
I never get the "Custom Cut" ones, I just get the Universal pack. I put them on my Digital Camera where my fingers touch it. I just grip it as normal and it does not slip.
I put them on lots of things, my laptop, mouse, PDA, cell phone, remote controlls, portable hard drives, nearly anything that I need to grip. - hppyfngy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2This is News? This is like Camera 101...
- webfiji, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Nikon Types
Nikon D50
Nikon D70(s)
Nikon D2X
Nikon D2Hs
Nikon D200 -
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