Shutter Speed Rule

[pizelli]

I am not a professional, just trying to continually improve my pictures. I just read an article in this forum (many many months ago it was posted) and there was a little discussion on shutter speed and focal length.

I may have missed something in my photo learnings, but for some reason, I completely missed this point.

Can some explain or provide and article that will get me up to speed on this topic.

[lucas107]

the greater the focal length the steadier you have to be so if the shutter speed is atleast that of the focal length your slight movements wont cause the picture to blur while if it was lower they would. its just because if your zoomed way in on something a small movement on your end is a big one to what the camera sees.

[pizelli]

Lucas --- thank you - nice job of explaining

[xarqi]

Camera motion causes image blur.
The amount of blur depends on the amount of motion, the focal length, the shutter speed, and the camera format.

As a rule of thumb, for full frame cameras, a shutter speed (in s) of 1 / focal length (in mm) should make the blur acceptable in a typical print.

For example, with a 100 mm lens, a minimum speed of 1/100 s should do the trick.

On smaller formats, such as APS-C, the image must be magnified more to print at the same size, so there is less latitude. The "crop factor" must be applied, and at 100 mm on APS-C, a minimum shutter speed of 1/160 is indicated.

It's a guide only. Different people have better or worse ability to hold a camera still. Image stabilisation changes the equation dramatically also.

[toxic]

Do note that these "rules" are just to combat camera shake. Stopping motion is a different matter entirely.

[bohdank]

And we are not created equal when it comes to how steady we are.

[george m w]

.....and remember, that sometimes you need to "break the rules" when you want to get creative. This shot was was handheld, obviously panning with the motion of the bike, taken with a 400mm lens ( so the "rule" would be to have at least 1/400th second shutter speed )....I shot it at 1/60th second in order to get background blur to give the impression of speed/motion. Rules and guidelines are good....however, don't get so stuck in the rules that you never venture outside the box. Creativity usually starts somewhere beyond the hard and fast rules.....IMO

[jr_senator]

Seriously, use a tripod and use whatever shutter speed with whatever focal length you wish.

[george m w]

Seriously, use a tripod and use whatever shutter speed with whatever focal length you wish.


.....let me see you get the shot I posted above with a tripod....:lol:;)

( not trying to pick a fight with 'ya....it's just that sometimes we gotta use the correct tools for the task at hand. Sometimes it's a tripod....sometimes it's not....)

[alt4852]

.....let me see you get the shot I posted above with a tripod....:lol:;)

with a ballhead, i don't see why not. =)

[John_T]

with a ballhead, i don't see why not. =)
...notice the angle of the pan? Try that with a ballhead. :lol:

Maybe a monopod.

[rral22]

...notice the angle of the pan? Try that with a ballhead. :lol:

Maybe a monopod.

Actually, a ball head allows any angle of panning or camera movement when loosened, and tightens down secure at any angle with the twist of a wrist.

It would be quite possible with a ball head, very difficult with a monopod unless it too had a good ball head.

Hmmm.........

[kitacanon]

...and know that the closer you are to the subject (either physically, or with a telephoto lens) the more a shaky camera will be evident...and it shows up more the larger you make the image (another way of getting closer after taking the shot)...

[John_T]

I've got about four different ball heads and three or four other types of heads. What I'm saying is, even if you set up a tripod/monopod for such a shot, the tripod/monopod/head 'n all are bound to constrict you in one way or tother, whereas free wheeling freehand swinging from the waist is much better for a shot like that.

...doing it constantly for a couple of hours though, your are going to feel it next day...

[Jim Cob]

Many non-professionals follow these threads to learn what we can learn from those professionals who are willing to share their methods. For the novices like me, I try to stablize myself by leaning against a solid object or anything I can to reduce camera movement. Keeping in mind that I am rapidly approaching 70, I find it really helps.
Jim

[birdfromboat]

George, that pic is my new standard for what can be done by a good panner. Excellent!

[george m w]

whereas free wheeling freehand swinging from the waist is much better for a shot like that.

...doing it constantly for a couple of hours though, your are going to feel it next day...

Agree. I find that I get my best panning shots by standing with my legs comfortably apart for good stability, and keeping a nice 'fluid' loosenes in my upper body as I come through the motion and just stroke the shutter release button. As far as the 'feeling it the next day'....what gets me most is the fact that, for instance that day, I was out in the sun and the heat, walking all over the place to different corners of the track, lugging two one series bodies....70-200 on one and the 400 prime on the other. It CAN make for a tiring day...

[george m w]

George, that pic is my new standard for what can be done by a good panner. Excellent!
Thanks for the kinds words ! I was pretty happy with that shot too...and my buddy riding the bike is equally happy. It was a good day....I got lots of keepers that day.

[george m w]

A little further thought and comment on this: my main point in posting what I did about 'breaking the rules' centers around the idea of being creative. I'm afraid that many folks nowadays are overly concerned with making sure their photos are technically perfect ( sharpness, focus, color correct, etc ), which is fine, but there also has to be the element of creativity, or telling the story, etc. Sometimes folks that are new to this hobby get all hung up in the "pixel peeping" to the point they never learn to be creative....never learn to express their own style so to speak. Staying within strict guidelines sometimes is very necessary.....breaking out of those boundaries are sometimes just as important.

It's the beauty of the digital world, where we don't have to pay for film that allows us to experiment endlessly....from those experiments will come many, many failures.....and sometimes from it comes some real sucesses. To the OP, if you are still listening....go out and play a lot....turn your camera at odd angles....get up close....look at the world through your viewfinder in ways that seem out of the ordinary....you'll be surprised what you get.

....off my soapbox now....

[jr_senator]

.....let me see you get the shot I posted above with a tripod....:lol:;)
Obviously a tripod can not always be used. When not possible the mentality can be a factor. Maybe a monopod? Maybe a tabletop tripod? Maybe bracing yourself using a tree, a building, a fence, a rail, etc. Always trying to hold the camera as steady as possible. BTW, I would have no problem taking that shot with a tripod.

[george m w]

BTW, I would have no problem taking that shot with a tripod.

I just normally would not use a tripod in a situation like this because I normally don't find it necessary. I do, however use a monopod a lot....in fact, that day, I had the monopod with me, and at times used it. It really depended on the angle of the bikes as they approached me, as well as the distance. Add in what the speed was as they passed by me. At one particular corner where I shot a lot, they were coming by me at over 100mph, and they were close enough I was at about 135mm ( using the 70-200 ). Times like that, I really prefer to be totally unencumbered by pods....mono or tri !
The photo I posted above however is a fairly 'slow' corner....probably around 60mph....but I had to shoot from far enough back that I was using the 400mm lens. Again....probably could have done it on the monopod, but I chose to be totally handheld.

We all develop our own style for doing this stuff, so for sure, over the years I have tried just about everything I could think of. What works for me may not work for you. It's all good....if the end result comes out how we want !

[LeuceDeuce]

.....let me see you get the shot I posted above with a tripod....:lol:;)

( not trying to pick a fight with 'ya....it's just that sometimes we gotta use the correct tools for the task at hand. Sometimes it's a tripod....sometimes it's not....)

Actually that shouldn't be hard at all. Didn't you claim to rotate the shot by 5 degrees to get the downhill look? That would make it quite simple to use a tripod no?

[george m w]

Didn't you claim to rotate the shot by 5 degrees to get the downhill look? That would make it quite simple to use a tripod no?

I did in fact rotate that photo 5 degrees in photoshop to give it the 'downhill' look....and to make the the top and bottom background areas have a 'triangular' shape.
You guys are better with a tripod than I am..:D:).....I would struggle with a tripod in these situations !