1/Focal Length Rule for handheld shots...

[symes]

Everyone refers to this rule but I just want to get it clearly...

According to the rule:

IF I have a 50mm prime lens does that mean that I should be able to get a shot at a shutter speed of 1/50th?

If I am using he kit lens at 18mm does that mean that I should be able to get a shot at 1/18th or does it apply to length of the lens at 1/50th?

Thank you to the person who clears this up for me...

[kawter2]

it applies to the actual focal length. when you are 18mm 1/20th (your camera don't got no 1/18th. of corse that is a general ule, if you are at 18mm and you are 2cm away from the subject you might want to break the rule and up the shutter speed

[symes]

it applies to the actual focal length. when you are 18mm 1/20th (your camera don't got no 1/18th. of corse that is a general ule, if you are at 18mm and you are 2cm away from the subject you might want to break the rule and up the shutter speed

Perfect just wanted to make sure that I was on the right track...

Cheers...

[cmM]

its not a rule, it's a guideline ;)
Depends how steady your hands are really.

I can take bulb exposures handheld ;) :-P j/k

[Skip Souza]

Is this guidline affected by the crop factor of a digital camera? A 300mm lens has a 35mm equivalent of 480mm. Would I then need a shutter speed of 1/500?

[belmondo]

Is this guidline affected by the crop factor of a digital camera? A 300mm lens has a 35mm equivalent of 480mm. Would I then need a shutter speed of 1/500?

Yes.

[billsh]

1/500th or higher. As mentioned this is a guideline or starting point. I have found with digital, I need to bump up a little higher when hand holding shots than the guideline. With film, I seemed to do fine at or below . I'm not sure why, but it works for me. Shoot a handful of shots at different exposure times with each of your lenses, and you will find what works best.

PS. When shooting outside, the wind can make a big difference. It's always blowing here in Texas.

Bill

[ShadowFlyP]

As others have mentioned the 1/f rule is just a guideline. I've found one thing you can do to go a little bit slower than the rule is to enable mirror lockup (via the custom functions). Don't do this outside because you could potentially damage your sensor, but it works well on a 50mm prime (and others in that range). On my recent trip to Vienna, I was shooting my 50mm f1.4 in many museums that would not allow flash or my monopod (? that bothered me a little). I typically shot ISO 400, f2.2, 1/8 to 1/25th shutter with the mirror lockup. This didn't give SHARP images, but sufficient sharpness for making a travel scrapbook.

Ex. Some Hapsburg Crown (http://gallery.shadowflyp.no-ip.org:8080/Places/Vienna%202005/Unsorted%20%28lots%29/IMG_6607.JPG)
(I don't suggest going 'up' in the directory...There are over 1700 pictures there and I haven't had a chance to sort through them yet)

[symes]

As others have mentioned the 1/f rule is just a guideline. I've found one thing you can do to go a little bit slower than the rule is to enable mirror lockup (via the custom functions). Don't do this outside because you could potentially damage your sensor, but it works well on a 50mm prime (and others in that range). On my recent trip to Vienna, I was shooting my 50mm f1.4 in many museums that would not allow flash or my monopod (? that bothered me a little). I typically shot ISO 400, f2.2, 1/8 to 1/25th shutter with the mirror lockup. This didn't give SHARP images, but sufficient sharpness for making a travel scrapbook.

Ex. Some Hapsburg Crown (http://gallery.shadowflyp.no-ip.org:8080/Places/Vienna%202005/Unsorted%20%28lots%29/IMG_6607.JPG)
(I don't suggest going 'up' in the directory...There are over 1700 pictures there and I haven't had a chance to sort through them yet)

They wouldn't allow your tripod? There was mention of this being a weapon on two other forums but really?

[cmM]

there have been discussions before about the crop factor and 1/focal length. I say NO, it doesn't affect. You can do a search to see the endless debates...

[vcutag]

They wouldn't allow your tripod? There was mention of this being a weapon on two other forums but really?

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts doesn't allow tripods, either... I think this is fairly common in museums. I think it's probably because they don't like the idea of photography in general, so they try to make it difficult to get decent, hi-quality photos... but it could also just be because flashes and tripods are distractions for other patrons.

Or both.

[symes]

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts doesn't allow tripods, either... I think this is fairly common in museums. I think it's probably because they don't like the idea of photography in general, so they try to make it difficult to get decent, hi-quality photos... but it could also just be because flashes and tripods are distractions for other patrons.

Or both.

Sorry I meant Monopod, but I guess the same applies...

[ShadowFlyP]

They wouldn't allow your tripod? There was mention of this being a weapon on two other forums but really?

Yeah, symes. Numerous places had signs that specifically said no cameras. Some had signs that said no flash. Others said cameras were allowed and some said nothing. Any of the ones that allowed cameras (with or without flash) usually told me, as I was going in, "You can have your camera, but you're going to have to check that (pointing to my monopod) in the coatroom." It got to the point where I just stopped carrying my monopod with me. Sucks having to pay .50 euros just to have someone hold onto it and then having to lug it around all day. It seemed like they mostly didn't want me to get GOOD pictures, because they'd rather have us buy postcards at the gift shop.

[symes]

Yeah, symes. Numerous places had signs that specifically said no cameras. Some had signs that said no flash. Others said cameras were allowed and some said nothing. Any of the ones that allowed cameras (with or without flash) usually told me, as I was going in, "You can have your camera, but you're going to have to check that (pointing to my monopod) in the coatroom." It got to the point where I just stopped carrying my monopod with me. Sucks having to pay .50 euros just to have someone hold onto it and then having to lug it around all day. It seemed like they mostly didn't want me to get GOOD pictures, because they'd rather have us buy postcards at the gift shop.

One way of ensuring a profit...