Handholding technique of a lens is just as important as your AF setup and exposure. out in the field I see so many people that hold their lenses in the least efficient way, ways that work against them. When the light is dropping, you have no choice but to reduce your shutter speed, and your hand holding technique is critical.
Here is a male tiger, his face is lacerated and bloodied from a fight with another male. The sun was dropping, and yes I know with the R1 i can push that camera to the limits with high iso, but with a good hand holding technique, you don't have to do that until it gets really dark.
It isn’t the sharp photos that only count…but the one’s that did not make the cut because of the slower shutter speed. I have no issues with increasing the shutter slightly to ensure the image is sharp with today’s sensors and software.
There is a line somewhere on how far noise reduction will go.
The first image at 1/100 i got plenty of sharp photos.
The second shot was basically in the dark. i did get a decent number of "sharp" photos at 1/20.
Software is one thing, technique is everything.
chez wrote:
It isn’t the sharp photos that only count…but the one’s that did not make the cut because of the slower shutter speed. I have no issues with increasing the shutter slightly to ensure the image is sharp with today’s sensors and software.
In low light my left elbow is pressed against myself mid-torso and my right elbow is tacked against my side. Less flailing around and I can get into the 1/50 shutter speed range.
For big teles on safari vehicles I usually use a beanbag or monopod, then hand hold as a last resort. I am likely to brace on the vehicle to help support and also to improve composition accuracy. ES mode along with a high framing rate also helps in really marginal conditions. The more you shoot the greater the chances if only a small percentage are free from subject movement and have the DOF at low speeds.
The combination of lens IS and IBID has improved handholdability quite a bit in the MILS era.
Though I usually try to avoid getting overwhelmed by the number of shots, but in low light I up the fps as far as it goes with the shutterspeeds available. Often there is a lucky one or two in a series.
I guess rifle shooting techniques helps some too, sync with breathing and hearbeat, shoot when steady.
How to test your hand-holding ability, or lack thereof.
With a 400-500mm lens attached, set your camera to Spot AF, pick a small target in the distance, and see how steady you can hold the Spot AF square on the target with no movement.
Sy Sez wrote:
How to test your hand-holding ability, or lack thereof.
With a 400-500mm lens attached, set your camera to Spot AF, pick a small target in the distance, and see how steady you can hold the Spot AF square on the target with no movement.
That measures the compostion. You could use a resolution chart to check for IS/IBID effectiveness.
Sy Sez wrote:
How to test your hand-holding ability, or lack thereof.
With a 400-500mm lens attached, set your camera to Spot AF, pick a small target in the distance, and see how steady you can hold the Spot AF square on the target with no movement.
AND press the magnification button twice for maximum EVF magnification. I did this yesterday with the 70-200/2.8 Z at 200mm with maximum magnification to view some things very far away. For example, an airliner on approach probably several km away filled the entire 'square' of the magnified focus point. Once IS/IBIS stabilized it was possible to keep it within the square but did require some concentration to minimize vibrations/movement. So far, the 70-200Z is the best IS/IBIS stabilization combo I've yet tried for RF mount.
I definitely rely on IS/IBIS. My other system does not use it and I very much miss it when I use that system!
I managed to take a few 1/4 second shots of the most recent eclipse a couple of months back with my R5 and the 200-800 lens. I was around 500 mm and was able to get 'some' good shots. I cheated and leaned on the back of the Applebee's restaurant building that was out in front of my hotel.
I couldn't hold steady enough at the full 800 mm focal length, but was able to do reasonably well at 500.
