OK.......Where did I Screw Up?

Anytime I'm shooting on a tripod with a relatively long exposure (faster than 1/200 maybe), I switch off IS (if available), turn on mirror lock and set the 2 sec timer. Also, I set the mode to One shot and a small enough aperture (f/8 - f/11). I focus on the subject using the Back button. And then carefully turn the lens to MF. I fire the shutter using a remote release. The photo is usually sharp. Now if only there was a similar algorithm for composition

f22, perhaps a bit much, diffraction and all that?

f16, ISO 200, and a faster shutter?

I'm not sure if this is what you meant but I just posted the unedited image to a Smugmug page. Link is below. If that's not you meant please let me know.

https://bogino.smugmug​.com/9031/i-Pp8BbZB/A

Yup, alot of movement vertically with a kick off to the right. All highlights look like candy canes. You are going to have find a way to do this in a more stable manner, shorter exposure time, no IS, etc. Try putting some weight objects on the legs. If your tripod has a weight hook under the camera, then hang something off that as well to dampen the movement.

In the larger image as said the movement is clearly there consistently. Kinda looks like someone walked near the tripod while shooting. If it was building sway it would likely have been more horizontal motion that was picked up. Bummer....

Croasdail wrote in post #18727815
In the larger image as said the movement is clearly there consistently. Kinda looks like someone walked near the tripod while shooting. If it was building sway it would likely have been more horizontal motion that was picked up. Bummer....

Depends which side of the building you are on... When a building sways in a certain direction, those on adjacent sides are going to see different effects in movement. On a traditional four sided building, 2 opposing sides will see horizontal arc'd movement, the other 2 sides will see vertical movement.

You're on a balcony on a high rise: there will be movement with your ground. I would significantly raise your ISO, open aperture, and increase shutter speed. It seems you're trying to capture the lights of Las Vegas: you don't need a small aperture for that. As for VC, if it doesn't have a mode 1 and 2, then you should have it disabled when on tripod.