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homerjhandley
13-04-2006, 10:30
Recall someone saying there is a general rule to follow when shooting handheld with lenses.

I was playing with my new 90-300 lens (from belly on here) and found that it was VERY difficult to take a still shot. However the light wasnt amazing (dull outside) which probably didnt help on the light.

So any tips on using lenses like this? what are the best shutter speeds to aim for?
puddleduck
13-04-2006, 10:45
The rule of thumb for digital is to take your focal length, multiple it by 1.5 and aim for shutter speed over or above.

So for 90mm about 1/120, and for 300mm about 1/450.

Depends on your technique though, I can shoot a lot lower than that, some folks need 2x the focal length.
sideshowbob
13-04-2006, 10:47
Well, the old rule of thumb was to select a shutter speed at least equal to the focal length, so at 300mm you'd want about 1/300s. I'm not convinced you need to add the extra .5. You'd adjust the aperture and ISO to try and obtain that. However, with a decent long lens technique you might not be constrained by always following the rule.

There are also instances when you might want to select a slower speed to give an impression of speed when panning with a moving target.

One of the problems with shooting in the camera's program modes (aperture or shutter speed) is that if you, for example, select 1/300s as your shutter speed in low light, it might select a ridiculously large aperture and that might give you problems with depth of field. It might also just come out dark, unless you've got your camera in Auto ISO mode.
belly
13-04-2006, 10:47
the 90-300 is not so quick, unfortunately. hence the price being so low!!!!

i had trouble with the hand held in crappy light also. fine when the light is good though.

also a monopod helps!
homerjhandley
13-04-2006, 11:31
the 90-300 is not so quick, unfortunately. hence the price being so low!!!!

i had trouble with the hand held in crappy light also. fine when the light is good though.

also a monopod helps!
Scammed :D :D ;)

no worries, will keep on trying (hell, i only had it for a few hours!)

ta all
John C
13-04-2006, 12:34
If anyone's after a monopod, digital camera's latest subscriber offer is for a Manfrotto (I think - don't have the mag with me) one with a minimum 12 issue subscription.
PC_Bod
13-04-2006, 19:12
Well, the old rule of thumb was to select a shutter speed at least equal to the focal length, so at 300mm you'd want about 1/300s. I'm not convinced you need to add the extra .5.

The extra .5 is to take into account the crop factor of DSLR's, in my 350's case, being 1.6x. ;)
I only found this out today.
Samiad
13-04-2006, 19:19
It's true, but most of the time I disregard it. The 1/focal length is the 'safe' rule, and as long as you have a reasonably steady hand there's not much need to multiply by 1.6.
JOV
13-04-2006, 20:37
Especially with IS
Samiad
13-04-2006, 23:34
Well yes, typically with IS the 1/focal length rule doesn't apply.
homerjhandley
14-04-2006, 11:05
had a bit lof a play before with the 90-300 and had to up the ISo to get the shutter speed quite quick, but it was through the kitchen window (may be affecting the light?)

anyhow, here is a 1:1 crop of a sparrow on the bird table. this was about 6-10 meters away, i was inside and taking it through the window (which probably affects the quality somewhow!)

F 6.3 (the lens says its a 4.5 to 5.6, is the 6.3 due to the sensor crop or something?), 300mm, 1/320 shutter and ISO 400

http://www.whyyoulittle.co.uk/camera/sparrowcrop.jpg

this is the full image (linked as its 3 meg!)

http://www.whyyoulittle.co.uk/camera/IMG_0646.JPG

Not as sharp as i would expect, any reason for this?

:D
JOV
14-04-2006, 11:55
If anyone's after a monopod, digital camera's latest subscriber offer is for a Manfrotto (I think - don't have the mag with me) one with a minimum 12 issue subscription.

Can't find this on the web site - which issue was it in
belly
14-04-2006, 13:36
it is in the latest issue, aka May

the number is 0870 837 4722 reference P018

or online at

www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/dcm/p018

wish it had been a manfrotto monopod when i subscribed!
kez
14-04-2006, 18:00
yeah, it's in the current issue. mind you, i'm still waiting for my crumpler bag to turn up from my current subscription :(
kez
14-04-2006, 18:11
F 6.3 (the lens says its a 4.5 to 5.6, is the 6.3 due to the sensor crop or something?), 300mm, 1/320 shutter and ISO 400


the 4.5 to 5.6 is the max aperture at each end of the zoom. therefore 5.6 is the MAX aperture at 300mm.

F6.3 just means that that's what the camera had to use to expose the image correctly given a shutter speed of 1/320 and iso400
homerjhandley
14-04-2006, 19:34
ah, i getcha, i thought it was the range of the lens, not the max.

ta
JOV
15-04-2006, 11:32
it is in the latest issue, aka May

the number is 0870 837 4722 reference P018

or online at

www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/dcm/p018

wish it had been a manfrotto monopod when i subscribed!


Careful this is first 400 people only for the free gift - but like most of these companies thay will except you subscription and then tell you 28 days later when the frre gift does not arrive-

Sorry you were not one of the first 400 to subscribe, so no free gift, but thanks for the subscription.
Rusty
16-04-2006, 13:35
I've always got the free gift - 2 so far over the last couple of years.