Camera + Lens too heavy

[Winter Ivy]

OK, so I guess I am a girly weakling :) I am having trouble getting sharp hand held images from my T1i especially with the Tamron 28-70 lens on it. I have come to realize that it is due to camera shake because the camera + lens are just too heavy for me to hold comfortably. My big strong husband has NO trouble whatsoever, as he can get hand held pictures that look almost as if he were using a tripod. I primarily take pictures of our 3-year-old daughter and it is not always feasible to use a tripod when following her around the yard, etc... Even photographing landscapes and other still subjects in good light I have trouble. I have read that battery grips help balance out the camera making it easier to hand-hold.

I guess my question is this: do you think that a grip would help me be able to handle the camera better, or do you think that it would just be added weight that would compound my problem?

Any thoughts or suggestions...or should I just stick to tripod photography or the kit lens which has IS, lol? :p Thanks in advance.

-Diana

[dmccabe]

Have you ever tried using a monopod?

[sonofjesse]

I almost can't imagine your not strong enough......are you using good form?

If your having weight issues do NOT add a grip.

Whats the shutter speed thats making blurry pics? Using the 28-75. Try not to let the shutter get below 160th.....and don't be afraid to bump up the ISO if your handholding it.

Good luck and always post up a pic so we can help troubleshoot.

[SnlpeR]

how are you holding your camera + lens?

[jgrussell]

I guess my question is this: do you think that a grip would help me be able to handle the camera better, or do you think that it would just be added weight that would compound my problem?Purely added weight to compound the problem. Get a monopod or a tripod, don't add weight to the package.

[Jon]

I almost can't imagine your not strong enough......are you using good form?

If your having weight issues do NOT add a grip.

Whats the shutter speed thats making blurry pics? Using the 28-75. Try not to let the shutter get below 160th.....and don't be afraid to bump up the ISO if your handholding it.

Good luck and always post up a pic so we can help troubleshoot.

how are you holding your camera + lens?
I agree with what both of these people asked. For best results, don't use the camera like you would a point and shoot, hanging onto the body and holding the camera out to view the LCD. You'll do much better if you support the camera and lens with your left hand positioned under the lens and both elbows tucked into your body. Your right hand, on the misleadingly-named "grip" should really only steer the camera, not hold it up. If you try to hold the camera with your right hand and also press the shutter button with it, you'll increase your chances of shaking the camera. Press smoothly on the shutter release button, don't "punch" or "jab" it. Breathe slowly, and if you can, exhale before you take the picture.

[ylimehajile]

I don't suspect weight is the issue so I would highly recommend a grip. At least for me it significantly helps with the overall balance and feel of the camera. As others have said, check your form. See if your husband holds the camera differently than you do.

[snyderman]

agree you definitely don't want to use the live view feature if you camera has this. Your face actually acts as a stablizing mechanism as well.

I shoot sports mainly and see women shooting cheerleaders and occasionally game action. Not a single one of them (have seen three) hand holds the gear. All use monopods!

Whatever it takes!

dave

[Duncan Frenz]

As others have pointed out, I think this is less of a weight issue and one more of technique. You might want to consider adding a hand strap. You would need a grip to add the Canon E-1, but there are others that mount to the tripod mount also and adapters for the E-1.

[JWright]

How about technique picture?

WRONG:

http://johnwright.smugmug.com/photos/216361314_mCNeL-L-1.jpg

RIGHT:

http://johnwright.smugmug.com/photos/216361289_KHmzX-L-1.jpg

[Jon]

Exactly!

[nwa2]

If your husband can hold the camera with his big shovelly man hands, you can certainly hold it with your girly hands - no need to get a grip.

[AB8ND]

[QUOTE=JWright;8126948]How about technique picture?

WRONG:

How many people have you seen holding the camera this way - way too many I'll bet.
Remember the thing isn't trying to run away or do you need to choke it to death with the left hand. Relax and hold it relaxed. Or something like that from my Drill Instructor talking about holding a rifle.
The camera isn't any different, holding to tight builds tension in the muscles and that leads to shake. Try to watch a press photographer sometime, a good one will rest the camera in the palm of their hand and just gently rotate the focus ring or zoom. Just like Johns 2d photo.
Also some of the same techniques as shooting apply, take a breath, hold it then gently squeeze or press the shutter button.
And as others have said - forget the live view use the view finder.

jack

[Winter Ivy]

Wow!!! Thank you all for your extremely helpful input. JWright, thank you SO so much for posting those photos. I definitely need to work on my technique and see where that lands me. I do have a monopod, and I need to get comfortable using it, I think.

Your right hand, on the misleadingly-named "grip" should really only steer the camera, not hold it up. If you try to hold the camera with your right hand and also press the shutter button with it, you'll increase your chances of shaking the camera.

I think this could be a key thing for me, I picked up my camera and realized that I am trying to hold the majority of the camera's weight with my right hand and also trying to press the shutter release at the same time. My left hand was being held up above to mess with the zoom ring. It's gonna take some practice, but I will definitely implement all of these suggestions.

Many of you mentioned not using the live view, and ironically, I have only used the live view while I had it on the tripod, lol. It is a PITA to mess w/ the live view while hand-holding on this camera.

Thanks again! :D :D :D

-Diana

[yokotas13]

try hadnholding a 1dmk3 and a 300 2.8

just do it more, you will get used to it

[Jannie]

Also Jon hit upon a very important thing that can make a huge difference; practice squeezing the shutter, you can drape your finger across it and get used to the feel so that when you want the shutter to work, you're barely moving your finger at all, just squeezing into it and it'll go off. When I get in a hurry, even with all the practice I have, I can sometimes blow it by jumping on the shutter too fast. It's also important to be ready because having the shutter button partially squeezed down, activates the auto focus and exposure as well as turning on the IS if you have it, it keeps the camera ready to shoot and from there it's just a faint squeeze and you've got the shot.

Sometimes I practice this around my home in the evenings if I haven't been shooting low light stuff in a while. Develop good habits and then you don't even have to think about it anymore.

[Duncan Frenz]

Wow!!! Thank you all for your extremely helpful input. JWright, thank you SO so much for posting those photos. I definitely need to work on my technique and see where that lands me. I do have a monopod, and I need to get comfortable using it, I think.

I think this could be a key thing for me, I picked up my camera and realized that I am trying to hold the majority of the camera's weight with my right hand and also trying to press the shutter release at the same time. My left hand was being held up above to mess with the zoom ring. It's gonna take some practice, but I will definitely implement all of these suggestions.

Many of you mentioned not using the live view, and ironically, I have only used the live view while I had it on the tripod, lol. It is a PITA to mess w/ the live view while hand-holding on this camera.

Thanks again! :D :D :D



-Diana
This is because (if I am reading your post right) you are trying to perhaps use LV(Live View) such as you would with a P&S with arms outstretched, which would also be improper at best and down right ugly otherwise. Don't try to hold your DSLR at arms length when using LV; you must still frame and release the shutter with the same diligence when using your VF. Handholding will require a high shutter, a stabilized lens or both. A tripod is where you will find it most beneficial though.

[Stealthy Ninja]

I agree it's about technique. Also, if you think puny DLSR cameras are heavy, try holding a video camera (often over your head) for 2 hours strait!

On techique...

I'm doing at least 3-4 things wrong in this picture, see if you can see what:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=370364&stc=1&d=1244078152

[Lowner]

Stealty Ninja,

Is the velcro attached to the base of the Nikon for any technical reason? Or maybe it's mould ?

I do prefer Nikons without the red plastic triangle they all seem to sport these days. It makes them look cheap to my eyes, which I know they are not.

[JJD.Photography]

My g/f can hold her 50D with 200-500 Tamron. Yes, she prefers to use the beast with the monopod or tripod, but has hand held on several occasions when shooting well lit subjects. It's got to be the way you are holding the set-up (I did not read the responses, just initial thread).

With that being said, her munchkin (she calls them that) hands prefer to use the 50D with a grip (my 50D had a grip since day 1). So, she now has a grip which she says not only makes the camera feel better, but balances out the weight more.

Stealty Ninja,
Is the velcro attached to the base of the Nikon for any technical reason? Or maybe it's mould ?



LMAO!!!!! :lol:

[SuzyView]

I handhold my 5DII with 70-200 2.8 IS for hours, and it is just not a problem after 3 years of using the lens. It is a matter of working up to it and the right technique. The pictures above really tell you how to hold the camera and lens together. My left arm is amazingly strong. Work out a little more, practice. I always put my elbows as close to my sides as possible to get the stability and I never use live view. Always look through the viewfinder and the right hand only pushes down the shutter.

[JWright]

Wow!!! Thank you all for your extremely helpful input. JWright, thank you SO so much for posting those photos. I definitely need to work on my technique and see where that lands me. I do have a monopod, and I need to get comfortable using it, I think.

I think this could be a key thing for me, I picked up my camera and realized that I am trying to hold the majority of the camera's weight with my right hand and also trying to press the shutter release at the same time. My left hand was being held up above to mess with the zoom ring. It's gonna take some practice, but I will definitely implement all of these suggestions.

Many of you mentioned not using the live view, and ironically, I have only used the live view while I had it on the tripod, lol. It is a PITA to mess w/ the live view while hand-holding on this camera.

Thanks again! :D :D :D

-Diana

Just make sure you keep those elbows tucked in tight and have your feet spaced about a shoulder's width apart.

I don't know how some got the idea you were trying to handhold your camera while using live view. I saw nothing in your original post that gave me that impression...

[Stealthy Ninja]

Stealty Ninja,

Is the velcro attached to the base of the Nikon for any technical reason? Or maybe it's mould ?

I do prefer Nikons without the red plastic triangle they all seem to sport these days. It makes them look cheap to my eyes, which I know they are not.

That's the way us Noinks attach our camera's to tripods.

[sodalis]

I'm doing at least 3-4 things wrong in this picture, see if you can see what:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=370364&stc=1&d=1244078152


1: You are using a Nikon
2: We can see you (so much for stealthy)
3: I do not see a samurai sword anywhere
4: You neglect your equipment to the point that a strange shrubbery has begun to grow out of it

[Stealthy Ninja]

^^ Close.

1. Using a Nikon
2. Looking at the LCD and not the viewfinder
3. Only using one hand
4. Lens cap on
5. There is no LCD (see point 2)
6. Eyes not wide enough
7. Camera has a beard
8. Pop-up flash won't go down

[SuzyView]

Love the beard. :)

[Winter Ivy]

^^ Close.

2. Looking at the LCD and not the viewfinder

5. There is no LCD (see point 2)


:-D bw!:-D

[ylimehajile]

1. Your using a Nikon
2. Your using a Nikon
3. Your using a Nikon
4. Your using a Nikon

I agree it's about technique. Also, if you think puny DLSR cameras are heavy, try holding a video camera (often over your head) for 2 hours strait!

On techique...

I'm doing at least 3-4 things wrong in this picture, see if you can see what:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=370364&stc=1&d=1244078152

[c2thew]

if your still having issues with motion blur, invest in a camera flash which should help reduce the blur.

[Claymore]

I agree it's about technique. Also, if you think puny DLSR cameras are heavy, try holding a video camera (often over your head) for 2 hours strait!

On techique...

I'm doing at least 3-4 things wrong in this picture, see if you can see what:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=370364&stc=1&d=1244078152
Is That Elvis Costello Hiding behind that Nikon? ;)

[dcad10]

and you forgot to put the neckstrap on... technically not "wrong", but why bother having one at all if you arent going to use it

[Stealthy Ninja]

and you forgot to put the neckstrap on... technically not "wrong", but why bother having one at all if you arent going to use it

It's a Nikon. I need it to let everyone know what camera I'm using.

[CoryAllenPhotos]

if your trying to reduce the weight adding a grip is the worst thing you could do.