HDR without tripod.. 5fps?

[jgtuk]

High Dynamic Range - see Wiki's explanation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

[Thunderheart]

Originally Posted by grig

Just make sure that the longest exposure respects the 1/f rule and you'll be fine.

Without trying to sound like a complete noob, what's the 1/f rule?

[grig]

HRDs from one RAW file will work for scenes with a span of just a few stops, will be noisier, but will look almost as good as one from 3 braketed shots. A longer discution here, you can draw your own conclusions.

Thunderheart: there is a general rule in photography that sais that for an image to be sharp it has to be taken using 1/f of a second, where f is the focal lenght used. (if you use a 100mm lens, you'll need 1/100sec to get a sharp picture). On your 40d multiply it by 1.6, but remeber: IT'S JUS AN ORIENTATION VALUE. Some people can handheld at longer times some, can't even get it right at 1/f. It depends on how steady you can keep your arms, if you can find something to lean on and so on.

[Thunderheart]

Thanks Grig, I'm with you now. I'd just never heard of it as the 1/f rule... I lead such a sheltered life.

[grig]

Maybe you've heard of it as the "rule of thumbs" or something like that!

Keep in mind, that those two small letters [IS] on your L lens save you 2 stops for sure. That means you can use times up to four times as long if your IS is on, for static object to get sharp results. But I do not recommend you try to handheld braketed shots at 200mm, even with your IS on. The pics will come out sharp, but you'll have trouble aligning them coz' there will be significant diferencens in the framing. Try this handheld braket stuff at 17mm, low iso, bracket -2,0,+2, make sure that the +2 exposure will have an exposure time of at leas 1/60 and then blend them in in Photomatix. Don't forget about the Tone Mapping option which is a must and you'll be amazed of the results!

Cheers!

ps: another quick sample:

[adam LC]

grig:

I suggested 100mm/1/200 because I can't hand fold for crap

I'm very impressed with your H/H HDR shots you've posted here, love the last one.

[grig]

Be advided that if the +2 exposure will be 1/200, the 0 one will be 1/800 and the -2 one will be 1/3200. And I don't know what scene will be that to have a 1/800 exposure at an iso value below 400. Take your pick on the aperture value.

The shots I braket usually are at 12mm, and i try to keep the +2 one at 1/40 minimum and iso as low as possible, 100 or 200 tops. A HDR from 3 braketed iso 400 shots will be acceptable for web only.

[Cathpah]

Originally Posted by adamlc

I agree, handholding for bracketed shots = trouble.

gotta disagree here....I regularly do hdr shots handheld as long as the available light is good. And that's with 7 bracketed shots....everyonce in a while the last shot is just too long to be handheld and thus a little blurry, but then i just leave that out of the HDR sequence. Admittadly, I'm using a 1dmk3 for most HDRs, but I have had a few work with my 5d as well. Better to give it a go and fail, than just assume it won't work. If you don't have a tripod, you don't have a tripod....might as well try anyways.

photomatix is amazing at aligning images, and there's another HDR software that I can't recall the name of (which I didn't like as much), but there is more user controllable alignment of images which can help for really tricky ones

[azpix]

Originally Posted by ccp900

when all else fails, you can use 1 raw file to do an HDR.

um...no. then it's not an HDR Photo

[Mark_Cohran]

While I believe that many can do HDR with handheld shots for HDR with no issue, I really have to ask why? By it's very nature, setting up for an HDR shot should be a deliberative process with the ultimate purpose of getting the most from a series of images. It seems to me that if you're going to take the time to stand there and shoot for 5-7 shots, it would be sensible to use a tripod to make sure you get the absolute best from those shots.

That's just me though. I'm pretty impressed by the handheld HDR shots in the thread.

Mark

[adam LC]

That's exactly why I would use a tripod.

[ErikM]

AMAZING!

Originally Posted by grig

Maybe you've heard of it as the "rule of thumbs" or something like that!

Keep in mind, that those two small letters [IS] on your L lens save you 2 stops for sure. That means you can use times up to four times as long if your IS is on, for static object to get sharp results. But I do not recommend you try to handheld braketed shots at 200mm, even with your IS on. The pics will come out sharp, but you'll have trouble aligning them coz' there will be significant diferencens in the framing. Try this handheld braket stuff at 17mm, low iso, bracket -2,0,+2, make sure that the +2 exposure will have an exposure time of at leas 1/60 and then blend them in in Photomatix. Don't forget about the Tone Mapping option which is a must and you'll be amazed of the results!

Cheers!

ps: another quick sample:

[number six]

Originally Posted by Mark_Cohran

While I believe that many can do HDR with handheld shots for HDR with no issue, I really have to ask why? By it's very nature, setting up for an HDR shot should be a deliberative process with the ultimate purpose of getting the most from a series of images. It seems to me that if you're going to take the time to stand there and shoot for 5-7 shots, it would be sensible to use a tripod to make sure you get the absolute best from those shots.

Most of my landscapes are shot on motorcycle rides. It'd be possible to carry a tripod, but I don't want to. I have a tiny mini-tripod that'll fit in my tank bag, though.

-js

[Double Negative]

A tripod is clearly the way to go - but those handheld shots (especially the last one) are pretty darn cool.

[dekalbSTEEL]

Originally Posted by number six

Most of my landscapes are shot on motorcycle rides. It'd be possible to carry a tripod, but I don't want to. I have a tiny mini-tripod that'll fit in my tank bag, though.

-js

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