Holding the camera

[Claire]

I'm still getting used to my 300D and had some prints made the other day from it. Either I've moved the camera slightly, or the portrait mode automatically softens the lines.

Anyway, as I'm new at photography, can someone give a hint how I best hold the camera for steady shooting? I'm the type who enjoys to take snapshots and candids.

/Claire

[nosquare2003]

A standard question, "What shutter speed did you use?"

[Scottes]

The best advice I can give for holding a camera is "tuck your elbows in." Keeping your elbows tucked to your body keeps them a lot steadier.

I take my left arm, tuck the elbow to the side of my stomach and place my hand palm up, fingers away from. Don't make it uncomfortable, which makes it less steady - you have to be comfortable. But the idea is to make the heel of your left hand into a platform that the camera can rest on. I then place the camera on the heel of my hand and then curl my fingers around the camera bit.

The right hand gets placed on the camera grip, then I pull that elbow in until it's against my body tightly. I then pull the camera into my face a bit, basically using my face as another support point.

Try to keep as much of your arms in contact with your body as possible, but don't contort into an uncomfortable position.

See this:
http://bj.canon.co.jp/english/photoshooting/technihsc/howtophotograph/howtophotograph01.html
DON'T do it like that. Press your arms in. Support the weight with your left hand.

[PhotosGuy]

Keep in the back of your mind the "rule" on shutter speeds vs. lens focal length, too, which is that most people can hand hold at 1/focal length.
20mm lens = 1/20 sec.
1000mm lens = 1/1000 sec

As they say in the ads, "Your results may vary"!

[msvadi]

Keep in the back of your mind the "rule" on shutter speeds vs. lens focal length, too, which is that most people can hand hold at 1/focal length.
20mm lens = 1/20 sec.
1000mm lens = 1/1000 sec

As they say in the ads, "Your results may vary"!

I would add that it should be the 35mm equivalent focal length. with a DRebel you should multiply lens focal length by 1.6. the results still may vary ;)

[PhotosGuy]

I would add that it should be the 35mm equivalent focal length. with a DRebel you should multiply lens focal length by 1.6.

OOOooops!
:lol:

[Belmondo]

Claire:
Did you do any post-processing (specifically sharpening)? That can help sometimes.

One thing I always look for when shooting handheld is something to brace myself with (lean against). A wall, a tree, a car, etc.., can all be very helpful. (Make sure the car isn't running.....even a smoothly idling motor causes very subtle vibrations that can show up as camera shake.)