Tripod Stability Question

[hudub]

I bought a travel tripod (Slik Sprint Pro), not the sturdiest of tripods but then again not the reason I bought it for either. Yesterday I went out and tried to take some night images to experiment using HDR. I used the tripod w/o center column, bracketed my shots and just used my hand to hold down the shutter button. Even with the camera mounted on the tripod, I think I would slightly move the camera when pressing down the shutter button. Is this normal or would a better tripod fix this problem?

The overexposed image would always turn out blurry, due to movement from when I press the shutter button I assume. So I am guessing the only way to correct this is to either use the timer function or get a remote shutter release right? Are there any other tips for getting sharp images?

[kevin_c]

With any tripod, especially a lightweight 'travel' tripod, you should use a remote release, or as you say the self timer, although you have to wait the 10 seconds for it to fire.

There is always a comprimise between rock-steady & heavy and not so steady & lightweight.

[nwa2]

It is very easy to move the camera when presig the shutter. Particularly on these flimsy Tripod heads.

As you have suggested, get yourself a remote release (the unbranded plug in switches are not expensive and work well) or use the timer.

You can hang a weight from the bottom of the centre column to improve stability. Also use the Tripod in it's lowest position (more stable) that meets the needs of your shot. You can also stand upwind if necesary to shield the camera (another source of vibration).

[hudub]

Cool, thanks for the tips guys.. I think I remember being able to set a 2sec or a 10sec timer. I can't seem to find how to set the timer to 2sec though.

[ssim]

I have a really good tripod and even with that on long exposures I will get camera movement with fairly long exposures if I am releasing the shutter on the body itself.

If you do any amount of night work, invest in a remote. I use this and mirror lockup. I would suggest that you try the same thing again with mirror lockup, this can make a big difference.

[howzitboy]

some tripods have a hook u can attach to the bottom of the center column to hang weights to make the tripod more steady.
or buy this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/5400.jpg
u can put rocks in it. buy from b&h (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5400-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3146_3146_Tripod_Utility_Apron.htm l)
$28.95

[Glenn NK]

If you do any amount of night work, invest in a remote. I use this and mirror lockup. I would suggest that you try the same thing again with mirror lockup, this can make a big difference.

I always use mirror lockup and remote when using a tripod.

Vibrations caused by the mirror hitting the stop are the largest, and they occur befor the shutter opens. The mirror comes down and causes more vibrations, but that's after the shutter closes, so it's not an issue unless you're doing multiple shots close together.

There is a site (which I can't find right now) that really gets into the whole vibration thing, but these links are informative too:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/mirror-lock.shtml

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/tripods_&_heads.shtml

[blinktwice]

With any tripod, especially a lightweight 'travel' tripod, you should use a remote release, or as you say the self timer, although you have to wait the 10 seconds for it to fire.

There is always a comprimise between rock-steady & heavy and not so steady & lightweight.

If you want less than 10 seconds with self-timer then you can go to Custom Functions and enable Mirror Lockup it will only take 2 seconds for the shutter to relesea

[Choderboy]

Avoid 2 seconds.It's not long enough on a tripod , especially on a less than solid one.I reckon 3 would be OK , 2 is just too quick. You should be covering the viewfinder to avoid stary light entering so you need some time time to do that also.

[Cubix Rube]

Mirror lock up with the self-timer set gives me a 2 second delay. No mirror lock up, 10 seconds. If there is a way to get 10 seconds with mirror lock up on a 20D, I'd sure like to know...Sometimes I want mirror lock up, and time to run into the scene and join my wife in the pic...

[unferth]

If you want mirror lockup plus x delay, use pocket wizards :)

I've recently done some family shots with PW's and it makes things a TON easier... you can also get some good candids when people don't realize you can take tons of shots without being close to the camera :)

[Cubix Rube]

Oh crap. Another new thing to learn about. :confused: Pocket wizards??