Comments on: Photography http://emptormaven.com Oiling the Gears of Capitalism with Information Mon, 21 May 2012 11:52:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: federalist http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-101105 federalist Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:02:24 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-101105 Yes, that was indeed hand-held. Of course it generally makes sense to use a tripod for stills like that, but in this case I was setup on the floor, my shortest pod was too tall, I ran out of lights, and my optical stabilizer saved me the trouble of building a rest for the camera. Actually trying extended hand-held stills is probably a good exercise for any photographer -- it will teach a lot about both grip/shutter discipline and the limits of each camera's optical stabilizers. On the other hand, camera sensors are getting so powerful that light is becoming less of a constraint, so soon instead of "Why not use a tripod?" you may be asking, "Why not just bump the ISO to 1600?" Yes, that was indeed hand-held. Of course it generally makes sense to use a tripod for stills like that, but in this case I was setup on the floor, my shortest pod was too tall, I ran out of lights, and my optical stabilizer saved me the trouble of building a rest for the camera.

Actually trying extended hand-held stills is probably a good exercise for any photographer — it will teach a lot about both grip/shutter discipline and the limits of each camera’s optical stabilizers.

On the other hand, camera sensors are getting so powerful that light is becoming less of a constraint, so soon instead of “Why not use a tripod?” you may be asking, “Why not just bump the ISO to 1600?”

]]> By: Brian http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-101036 Brian Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:43:21 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-101036 Really? You hand held that shot for half a second? The meta data in that image indicates F8 1/2s ISO 100. I did not know that image stabilization was really that capable, If you really did hand hold that shot I stand corrected. Still, with such an image why not use a tripod? I understand the slow shutter to allow for the F8 to give you the depth of field needed for the image. Really? You hand held that shot for half a second? The meta data in that image indicates F8 1/2s ISO 100. I did not know that image stabilization was really that capable, If you really did hand hold that shot I stand corrected. Still, with such an image why not use a tripod? I understand the slow shutter to allow for the F8 to give you the depth of field needed for the image.

]]> By: federalist http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-100260 federalist Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:52:06 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-100260 That's an obsolete heuristic. Now virtually all digital cameras come with optical image stabilization that makes it easy to get good still exposures at 1/10 second. For shorter focal lengths if you brace yourself and are careful with your trigger finger you can hold the shutter open for extended periods without any smearing of the image. For example, I captured <a href="/img/Savage10FP.223_ChoateUltimateVarmintStock-1600.jpg" rel="nofollow">this photo</a> holding the camera with the shutter open for 4/10ths of a second. That’s an obsolete heuristic. Now virtually all digital cameras come with optical image stabilization that makes it easy to get good still exposures at 1/10 second. For shorter focal lengths if you brace yourself and are careful with your trigger finger you can hold the shutter open for extended periods without any smearing of the image. For example, I captured this photo holding the camera with the shutter open for 4/10ths of a second.

]]> By: Brian http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-100171 Brian Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:19:50 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-100171 Hey - I stopped reading after the statement "Set the ISO as low as possible while keeping shutter speed faster than 1/10 second." This is incorrect. Its nearly impossible, even for stills, to get a good image with only 1/10th of a second. The shutter should be 1/30th at the slowest and the number goes up with added focal length. A good rule of thumb is 1/focalength. So, for example, with a 100mm focal lenth then the shutter shoud be at least 1/100 Hey – I stopped reading after the statement “Set the ISO as low as possible while keeping shutter speed faster than 1/10 second.”

This is incorrect. Its nearly impossible, even for stills, to get a good image with only 1/10th of a second. The shutter should be 1/30th at the slowest and the number goes up with added focal length. A good rule of thumb is 1/focalength. So, for example, with a 100mm focal lenth then the shutter shoud be at least 1/100

]]> By: federalist http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-12896 federalist Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:11:24 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-12896 <a href="/img/EsquireCameraGuide.pdf" rel="nofollow">Popular Mechanics & Esquire offer 3 amusing and helpful pages on choosing and using a digital camera</a>. Popular Mechanics & Esquire offer 3 amusing and helpful pages on choosing and using a digital camera.

]]> By: federalist http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-3617 federalist Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:21:07 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-3617 Bob Atkins has <a href="http://photo.net/equipment/choosing-a-dslr-camera/" rel="nofollow">a good guide on choosing DSLRs</a>. Bob Atkins has a good guide on choosing DSLRs.

]]> By: federalist http://emptormaven.com/photography/comment-page-1/#comment-650 federalist Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:36:05 +0000 http://emptormaven.com/?page_id=131#comment-650 If you own a Canon digicam check out <a href="http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK" rel="nofollow">CHDK for open-source enhancements</a>! If you own a Canon digicam check out CHDK for open-source enhancements!

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