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View Full Version : ruined photo - is it camera shake?

chiefster69
17-09-2007, 11:49
The foreground seems to be sharp enough but the islands on the horizon have a sort of double border. I was using a nasty cheap tripod I bought in singapore for £5 (I have since broken it and upgraded). Is this just camera shake from the long exposure or something else?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9892477@N08/1395935169/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/1395935169_88bc43d576.jpg" width="500" height="355" alt="last glimmer of light" /></a>

Shot with a D50 and kit lens at 18mm 200 ISO 4sec exposure f/3.5 (too low I know but the damn D50 doesn't have a top lit screen it was dark and mosquitos seem to love me)
puddleduck
17-09-2007, 12:28
I think this is caused by the initial mirror slap from the shutter activation.

Mirror lock up really helps here (which the D50 doesn't have unfortunately)

Its also possible you tripod drooped somewhat during the exposure, I used the be plague by droop (fnarr! fnarr!) until I got a better tripod.
Boink!
17-09-2007, 12:36
Yeah, I'd say it was an initial jog of the camera as the shutter was tripped, possibly mirror slap, though more likely you didn't use the self timer and it's the pressure on the shutter by your finger that causes the shake. The darker parts are (seem) unaffected as they needed the longer exposure to bring out the detail.
chiefster69
17-09-2007, 12:53
must be the mirror slap as I was using a 2sec timer to prevent my clumsy fingers from causing camera shake
In the future is there anything I can do to minimise this or anyway of "fixing" it?
Highlander
17-09-2007, 12:58
You could try putting a piece of black card in front of the lens, when you release the shutter, and then remove it after a second or 2. Obviously, you'll have to increase exposure to compensate for this. That should minimise shutter slap, if you haven't got MLU on your camera.
chiefster69
17-09-2007, 14:29
You could try putting a piece of black card in front of the lens, when you release the shutter, and then remove it after a second or 2. Obviously, you'll have to increase exposure to compensate for this. That should minimise shutter slap, if you haven't got MLU on your camera.

That is the most ingenious idea I have heard in a long time and is very much appreciated. Now all I have to do is save up to buy a piece of black card....oh and another holiday :(
Dno
17-09-2007, 14:42
I like the idea of that card thing.. As far as I'm aware the D80 doesn't have MLU either, and I'm off landscaping in the near future...

I presume any piece of matt black card/plastic will do?
raymondlin
17-09-2007, 14:53
I like the idea of that card thing.. As far as I'm aware the D80 doesn't have MLU either, and I'm off landscaping in the near future...

I presume any piece of matt black card/plastic will do?

Or just use the lens cap, but that would mean touching the camera too. So yes, any black card would do. Hold it up against the lens to minimise any light in.
still average joe
17-09-2007, 15:29
Its also possible you tripod drooped somewhat during the exposure, I used the be plague by droop (fnarr! fnarr!) until I got a better tripod.


I think that looks more likely. The double vision line looks quite dark, darker than I would expect from shutter shake on a 4 sec exposure. Looks like the camera dropped after about a second or so.
downhillbiker
17-09-2007, 16:35
It looks like droop to me... the movement seems to be only in the vertical axis?
RobDickinson
17-09-2007, 20:31
It looks like droop to me... the movement seems to be only in the vertical axis?

Which is also the direction the mirror moves...
downhillbiker
17-09-2007, 20:34
But surely vibration caused by mirror slap, on a cheap tripod, would just cause the camera to wiggle, rather than only (as far as I can see) moving up/down.
FuFu
17-09-2007, 20:51
I say unstable tripod not mirror slap personally. That's too much of a movement to be mirror slap.
still average joe
17-09-2007, 21:42
And mirror vibration would affect a fraction of a second of the 4 second exposure.
RobDickinson
17-09-2007, 21:51
I'm more inclinded to believe its the dodgy tripod than anything else.

IMO it should be fixable in photoshop anyhow.
DeadKenny
17-09-2007, 23:14
I'm more inclinded to believe its the dodgy tripod than anything else.
Agreed. Spent money on a cheap tripod before and I got what I paid for. Mind you I've spent a lot more and still could do with a more stable one, just that my current one is a compromise for portability.

IMO it should be fixable in photoshop anyhow.
Was about to say that. Then it's a stunner.
emeyedeejay
18-09-2007, 09:16
I like the idea of that card thing.. As far as I'm aware the D80 doesn't have MLU either, and I'm off landscaping in the near future...

I presume any piece of matt black card/plastic will do?

The D80 does not have true MLU but it does have a "delayed shutter release" mode (I forget exactly what it's called) - the shutter is delayed for 0.4 of a second after the mirror swings out of the way ...

I forget where it's set but it's there ... :D
chiefster69
18-09-2007, 09:22
had a play with the old pixels in photoshop. I must remember to ruin more photos and buy more cheap gear, its the only way I`ll learn :)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9892477@N08/1400620329/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/1400620329_e3c95d9e30.jpg" width="500" height="355" alt="last glimmer of light2" /></a>


Thanks for all the help guys, I`m sure I`ll find more problems as I process this batch
emeyedeejay
18-09-2007, 09:23
nice repair job
1966
18-09-2007, 10:14
Yup, glad to see you've fixed it up, cos it's a stunning shot :thumbs:
Dno
18-09-2007, 12:57
The D80 does not have true MLU but it does have a "delayed shutter release" mode (I forget exactly what it's called) - the shutter is delayed for 0.4 of a second after the mirror swings out of the way ...

I forget where it's set but it's there ... :D

I'll look into that - cheers.
puddleduck
18-09-2007, 13:21
0.4 seconds isn't long enough. Try an exposure at 1/15th of a second with a 300mm lens...

Nikon increased this delay to 1 second in the D300. (The D200 also has the 0.4 second delay, but also proper mirror lockup)
Dno
18-09-2007, 13:32
0.4 seconds isn't long enough. Try an exposure at 1/15th of a second with a 300mm lens...

Nikon increased this delay to 1 second in the D300. (The D200 also has the 0.4 second delay, but also proper mirror lockup)

That's something of an extreme isn't it though?..

When we're talking 12 to ~50mm surely 0.4s is better than nothing?
puddleduck
18-09-2007, 13:40
probably, I have done some long exposures though for landscape at about 280mm though!

Its not something I would rely on in the danger zone though, and no substitute for proper M-Up.
Dno
18-09-2007, 13:47
Its not something I would rely on in the danger zone though, and no substitute for proper M-Up.

Well indeed. But if you don't have it.... :)