At what speed would we need Cable Release/Remote Switch?

[DaisyHead]

8) First post here:

How slow of a shutter speed can we 'finger release' until we have to 'cable release'? Say for a 10D. Thanks.

[robertwgross]

There is no rule.

It depends on how steady the tripod is that you use. It depends on how much shake your hand has. I nearly always use a cable by the time I get to a large fraction of a second, but I hardly every shoot anything longer than ten seconds.

---Bob Gross---

[Jesper]

If you don't have a remote control, you can also use the following trick (from the sticky Top Tips thread) - this was posted by iwatkins:

Not got a remote cable release and you do long exposures with a tripod ?

Use Custom Functions to lockup the mirror and set the drive from single shot/mutil shot to self timer. If mirror lockup is enabled the self timer is changed from 10 seconds to 2 seconds. This gives time for the tripod to stop shaking after you have pushed the shutter release down and you should get shake free long exposures. (Well, barring any wind shake etc.)

Cheers

Ian

[nosquare2003]

If you don't have a remote control, you can also use the following trick (from the sticky Top Tips thread) - this was posted by iwatkins:

Not got a remote cable release and you do long exposures with a tripod ?

Use Custom Functions to lockup the mirror and set the drive from single shot/mutil shot to self timer. If mirror lockup is enabled the self timer is changed from 10 seconds to 2 seconds. This gives time for the tripod to stop shaking after you have pushed the shutter release down and you should get shake free long exposures. (Well, barring any wind shake etc.)

Cheers

Ian


So the answer to the original question is 30 seconds.

[PacAce]

8) First post here:

How slow of a shutter speed can we 'finger release' until we have to 'cable release'? Say for a 10D. Thanks.

I try to use the cable release whenever I have the camera on a tripod but I definitely use it when the shutter speed goes below 1/30 of a second.

How slow you can finger release tte shutter depends on the individual. Some can do it at 1/30 or slower. Others need a shutter speed of faster than 1/60 to keep the image from blurring. And, of course, it also depends on the focal length of the lens. The speeds I was referring to are for "standard" lenses.

[Scottes]

I do remember seeing something talking about the effects of mirror slap being most prominent between 1/30" and 1/8".

But I often use the Mirror Lockup & Timer trick, but I'll use the remote when I know that I'm going to do several shots and/or feel like taking the remote out of the bag.

[Jim]

I do remember seeing something talking about the effects of mirror slap being most prominent between 1/30" and 1/8".
That rings a bell. If memory serves, I think John Shaw mentions 1/15 and 1/8 being the shutter speeds to be aware of when using longer focal lengths or high magnification.

[DaisyHead]

Thanks for all the responses.

[robertwgross]

So the answer to the original question is 30 seconds.

That's not funny.

---Bob Gross---

[CyberDyneSystems]

If i'm using anything thing longer than 200mm... I will be looking for a cable release if I drop below even 1/60th.. so focal length plays a factor as well...

[Jim_T]

If i'm using anything thing longer than 200mm... I will be looking for a cable release if I drop below even 1/60th.. so focal length plays a factor as well...

I agree.. Focal length is a very important consideration.

Shake is FAR more noticeable at 500mm than it is at 50mm.

[G3]

If i'm using anything thing longer than 200mm... I will be looking for a cable release if I drop below even 1/60th.. so focal length plays a factor as well...

I agree.. Focal length is a very important consideration.

Shake is FAR more noticeable at 500mm than it is at 50mm.

Unless the 50mm happens to be doing 1:1 Macro without flash. :)