eudemian Posted January 28, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted January 28, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I know there are gifted and knowleageable people on this forum and I apologise in advance if my beginner questions are feeble but my M8 is spurring me on. What shutter speeds are you comfortable with? What should a beginner like me be aiming for, what speed should I aspire to once I have mastered the beast. I know this varies with age, technique and lens weight but is there a shutter speed at which you think, aha I must be extra careful. If you have any hints for handholding techniques I would appreciate it, the M8 has shown my deficiencies but I love the camera. Thank you for your help:confused: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 28, 2007 Posted January 28, 2007 Hi eudemian, Take a look here Shutter speed advice. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
carstenw Posted January 28, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted January 28, 2007 This is very personal. The rule of thumb is the inverse of the focal length, rounded up to the nearest real speed. For example, with a 50mm lens (on film), use 1/50 or 1/60, since 1/50 doesn't exist. Some find that they can go much better than that, others can't quite get sharp pictures with this rule. If you want to be really safe, go one faster than the inverse rule. You still have to hold the camera still though. Poor technique can ruin any shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted January 28, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted January 28, 2007 Be prepared to hear that RealLeicaPhotographers can handhold 1/8 sec with a 50 mm lens. And some can, I suspect. But below the rule of thumb just quoted, it takes technique, practice and avoidance of coffee. Since using slow speeds enormoustly expands your range, don't be afraid to try. It's easiest with wide angles, stopped down just a little. Bracing your elbows, leaning against something solid, the target-shooter's technique of taking a breath and letting it half out, all help. Just experiment and see what you can do. It will come in handy some day. Â scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted January 28, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted January 28, 2007 I fully agree with Carsten and Scott but like to add what helps me in keeping the camera steady: the M8 hand grip and a table tripod (I use the Leica tripod with ball head). The handgrip was delivered last week and it feels it will remain atttached permanently. The tripod with ball head has been my companion with the M8 from the beginning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share #5 Â Posted January 28, 2007 Thank you helpful advice from everyone. What about using continuous mode, I find that the first shot is blurred but then I settle down and can sometimes get one of a sequence reasonably sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted January 28, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted January 28, 2007 I agree with Scott's breathing advice. But I also use a trick I learned when training as an Army sniper: the strap support. Â 1. Hang the camera around your neck so that the baseplate is about 3--4 fingers above your belt buckle. Â 2. Now put your left arm inside the strap FROM BELOW, so that you have the camera hanging crosswise, but in front. (I.e. the strap slips over your shoulder. This BTW is a good safe carry in terrain, where you may trip and fall forward -- the camera will not swing out and hit anything you don't hit.) Â 3. Raise the camera with your right hand in a shooting grip. Raise your left arm and put it inside the strap again, but from the TOP, bring it around outside and get your left hand grip on the camera. Â The strap is now tensioned, passing over your right shoulder, behind your back, under your left armpit, and around your left forearm. You may have to experiment a bit in advance to get the right length of strap. But though this sounds complicated, it is FAST and it is SECURE. Keep your elbows in against your torso, breathe in and then out a bit -- and the stance is about as firm as a monopod, and a good deal more convenient to lug around. You will gain one further shutter speed if you can find something firm to lean your back against. -- Practice! Practice! You'll love it! You'll shoot a one inch group! Â The old man from the Rifle Range Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share #7 Â Posted January 28, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Great advice Lars, will try this, I am sure it is easier to do than describe. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted January 28, 2007 Share #8  Posted January 28, 2007 I am sure what I say will provoke some reactions but in my opinion the 'aha I need to be careful' shutter speed, in general, already kicks in at 1/125th with a 35/50mm lens.Below that I know that if I want to blow up that image to anything over 20 inches then it will not be tack sharp.(I use m6/7 not M8 but thte principles are the same, digital is even more critical) Yes of course synching your shutter release time to your breathing is crucial, as is a solid stance (where permitted), but if you are looking to exploit the leica glass then already at 125th you are in the danger zone.If at all possible use a tripod at all times. If your shooting style is more street and 'opportunistic' and you don't blow up prints above 8x10 then you may get away with lower speeds but will not be geting everything out of the Leica glass. Sure I've shot lots of shots at lower speeds that look fine at 5x7 or 8x10 but above that you can see the slightest movement. You will hear stories of people handholding shots as low as a second, but I would not reccommend printing them at anything higher than a 1:1 enlargement :-)  Have fun and enjoy  andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmires Posted January 28, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted January 28, 2007 ...stopped down just a little... Scott, I'm curious, why would this work? Say I'm shooting my 28@ f2.8, 1/30. Are you saying that I would be better off stopping down to f4 and shooting 1/15? Â Cheers, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotomiguel Posted January 28, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted January 28, 2007 I think that one of the best accesories is the miniature tripod with the ball head. I can get 1/12 seg with the 50mm f2 sumicron. You need just a bit of practice. This was my first Leica product. I used it with the Nikon F90 and now with the M8 is really useful. In low light conditions 640 asa is fine. [ATTACH]23464[/ATTACH] Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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