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#1
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Steady hold for a P&S
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic
ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? Thanks. Alan |
#2
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Steady hold for a P&S
On Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:19:10 -0400, Alan Meyer wrote:
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I use an upward pressing with the left hand and a downward press with right hand on the shutter, seem to have very little camera shake this way. Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? I think some hiking sticks are made like that, the secret to using a monopod is to use it as a third leg of a triangle, your two feet being the other legs. |
#3
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Steady hold for a P&S
On 2013.04.19 15:19 , Alan Meyer wrote:
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, It's a myth that weight dampens vibrations for hand holding. Weight means your muscles have to work more. And the more you have to hold the weight away from your body, the more work you have to do to keep it steady. Lighter is better. or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. Go to a sporting goods store that has lots of hiking/camping gear. In the meantime, try to: -increase the ISO setting -open op the aperture to force a higher shutter speed - esp. when the zoom is way out there. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? They all fold (telescope) to a reasonable lengtgh, but I'm not sure they'll allow a monopod in the cabin. -- "There were, unfortunately, no great principles on which parties were divided – politics became a mere struggle for office." -Sir John A. Macdonald |
#4
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Steady hold for a P&S
Alan Meyer wrote:
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? Thanks. Alan Hi, If you are shooting a still object, then try setting the selftimer for ca. 10 seconds. Then you can steady the camera with 2 hands without any shake due to your releasing the shutter manually. Mort Linder |
#5
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Steady hold for a P&S
On 04/19/2013 04:11 PM, Irwell wrote:
I use an upward pressing with the left hand and a downward press with right hand on the shutter, seem to have very little camera shake this way. That's an interesting idea. I'll experiment with it. ... the secret to using a monopod is to use it as a third leg of a triangle, your two feet being the other legs. Makes sense. Getting a monopod isn't the end of the story. I guess you've got to practice and experiment with it to get the best stability you can. Thanks. Alan |
#6
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Steady hold for a P&S
On 04/19/2013 04:52 PM, Alan Browne wrote:
... It's a myth that weight dampens vibrations for hand holding. Weight means your muscles have to work more. And the more you have to hold the weight away from your body, the more work you have to do to keep it steady. Lighter is better. ... I see your point about making the muscles work more. If the camera is too heavy the muscles are going to twitch. Technically, of course, I should have used the term "mass" rather than weight. Mass really does damp vibrations. The amount of energy required to overcome the inertia of an object with very little mass is very little, and proportionally more for an object with a lot of mass. Similarly, the same amount of energy put into a massive object and a lighter object results in more rapid movement in the light object. It's a directly inverse relationship based on E = (mv^2)/2. This is a factor in the solidity of heavy tripods over light ones - though it's not the only one. But, as you point out, there is a limit to what can be gained by increasing the weight. .... In the meantime, try to: -increase the ISO setting -open op the aperture to force a higher shutter speed - esp. when the zoom is way out there. .... Yes. Trading off higher noise and lower depth for less camera shake can often produce a superior image. Thanks. Alan |
#7
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Steady hold for a P&S
On 2013-04-19 12:19:10 -0700, Alan Meyer said:
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? Thanks. Alan A non-tripod solution which can help steady a camera, is to attach a length of cord or strap to an appropriately sized bolt or tripod mount to screw into the camera's tripod mount. I would suggest something such as the BlackRapid "fastnr" fitting, and add to that their "connectr". http://www.blackrapid.com/products/fastenr-stealth http://www.blackrapid.com/products/connectr Then take a length of strap or cord of sufficient length (either a long loop or a single length) that you have a loop at the bottom which you can put the toe of one of your feet into. Now if you bring the camera up to your face, or if you keep your elbows into your side bringing the strap/cord under tension you will have a make-shift brace to help steady your shot. Not always fool proof, but some folks have found this type of thing helpful. Then Amazon has a fair selection of mono-pods, and walking sticks with camera mounts. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_lpo_k...M4N45PRYY73CFN or http://tinyurl.com/d7zdlkj Here are a few things to check: http://www.sederquist.com/clabrace.html http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/20...isnt-possible/ -- Regards, Savageduck |
#8
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Steady hold for a P&S
Alan Meyer wrote:
I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? Thanks. Alan Some people seem to be in tele mode. I don't use tele much, but regardless, when necessary I try to lean up against something, or rest my arms on something, mostly for low light. I sometimes use a mini pod. Greg |
#9
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Steady hold for a P&S
In article , Alan Browne
wrote: Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? They all fold (telescope) to a reasonable lengtgh, but I'm not sure they'll allow a monopod in the cabin. monopods and tripods are not prohibited for carry on. however, the tsa can always change their mind on a whim, 'out of an abundance of caution.' |
#10
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Steady hold for a P&S
"gregz" wrote in message ... Alan Meyer wrote: I've got one of those very small P&S "travel zoom" cameras (Panasonic ZS-9) with up to 16:1 optical zoom. The big challenge in getting sharp photos with high zoom is holding the camera steady. It doesn't help that the camera is small and light with little weight to damp vibrations, or that it has a strap attachment point on only one side, or that its only viewing mechanism is the LCD display on the back that must be held a foot or more from your eyes to see the picture. And of course being an old guy with shaky hands is probably worst of all. I'm thinking about buying a walking stick monopod (any suggestions?) but I also believe that good hand holding technique makes a big difference in cutting down the vibrations. The best thing I've come up with so far is to hold up my left hand limply in front of my face with the palm facing me. Instead of grasping the camera with my left hand, I rest it on the top. By not actually holding the camera with my fingers and thumb the small muscles in fingers and thumb are relaxed and not involved in supporting the camera. Then I use as little pressure as I can with the right hand to press the shutter release. The camera is secured from falling by the neck strap, so there won't be any serious accidents this way and I've gotten much better results than I did when I tried to hold it tight. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Does anyone particularly recommend a monopod that can double as a walking stick and fold for airline travel? Thanks. Alan Some people seem to be in tele mode. I don't use tele much, but regardless, when necessary I try to lean up against something, or rest my arms on something, mostly for low light. I sometimes use a mini pod. Greg If you don't mind looking a little silly, and it suits the subject, there is something to be said for the "top-of-the-arc" technique. Swing the camera into position and fire it before your hands have a chance to shake. -- Frank ess |
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