Question by Joe: what is the rule regarding the minimum shutter speed necessary to handhold a camera?
Is it the maximum focal length of the lens being used? Say for a 17-55mm lens, what is the minimum shutter speed necessary to handhold? 1/55 of a second?
Best answer:
Answer by George Y
The old rule was that for 135mm lens, you needed at least 1/125 of a second. For each focal length, your minimum shutter speed was supposed to match. You can imagine how difficult that would be with an 17mm, as you’d need around 1/25 or slower! With a zoom, you’d have to choose a ‘safe’ speed that matches the highest focal length, or change it constantly as you zoom.
Now, with VR technology, one can handhold much slower speeds. Also, with practice, you can do better with any lens.
I was able to be pretty steady at 1/25 when shooting in the 24-85mm range. But, when I got my Nikon 18-200mm VR, I found myself shooting at the 200mm end of the range, at only 1/4 of a second!
If you read here, you’ll find too many people who are getting blurry pictures all the time and blaming it on the camera. Actually, it’s because the photographer hasn’t learned the best way to hold and use the camera. A good grip with the lens supported, elbows in, and a steady front-to-back stance does wonders.
I hope you find this helpful.
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