paul6001 Posted January 20, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am a relatively new X1 owner, and a relatively ignorant photographer. That unfamiliar bit of modesty being said: My understanding of traditional photography lore is that 1/60 is the slowest speed that will prevent camera shake. (I know the there is a more complex formula that applies, 1/lens length or something, but nothing slower than 1/60 is the shorthand version I have always used.) And yet when I put the shutter speed in auto mode, the X1 will let the shutter go as slow as 1/30. I'd set the camera so it wouldn't go slower than 1/60, but the menu doesn't have that option. I ask because I believe that I am suffering from camera shake. If I take multiple shots of a single subject, some will be just a bit fuzzy. Just a bit--on the edge of imperceptible. But still fuzzy to the critical eye. The only explanation that occurs to me is that I'm not holding the camera steady when I take the fuzzy shots. I would switch to 1/60, but the X1 won't let me, in violation of longstanding knowledge. What's the deal? Â I should add that, notwithstanding this problem, I love the X1. Last summer, I was hanging around the camera store, bugging them about the X100 arrival date. Just as a goof, I asked to see the X1. As soon as I picked it up, I realized that I had asked a very expensive question, and that there was no way I was going to walk out of the store without it. For years, I've been looking for the digital equivalent of the T2. The X1 is the first real contender. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 20, 2012 Posted January 20, 2012 Hi paul6001, Take a look here Camera shake?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
RockyIII Posted January 20, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted January 20, 2012 You should definitely be able to change the shutter speed to 1/60. Just turn the shutter speed dial to 60. If you set the aperture dial to A, then you are in shutter priority auto mode. If there is insufficient light and you are underexposing, then you will need to change the ISO as well, perhaps to auto. Â I think handholding the X1 at 1/30 is very doable, but to me it is not as easy to hold a light camera steady as it is one that is heavier. Â Rocky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jank Posted January 20, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Paul, there ar etwo types of "shake", one could be described as a camera movement, the othere a real shake, which I am experiencing now being 73 yrs old. The first one could be aleviated by using any type of support, like light tabletop tropod rested against the chest. The other needs more mass to take care of the shake. The Older type of the leica tabletop tripod with rather heavy ball head will do miracles. years ago I could hold 1/15 sec using hte heavy M5 or Hassy. Now I carry the old heavy tripod. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 20, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Don't forget that even if you can hold the camera steady at 1/30, if your subjects are moving at all, they'll probably blur a little. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 20, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Paul, Welcome to the Leica Forum! Some good answers already. Age and health can affect the ability to hand-hold a camera steady enough for quality pictures. Â Regarding your lower limit of 1/60th being selected automatically, check your menu settings for when you select Auto ISO. Â The cross-over between hand-held and tripod use when circumstances become tricky, it a very personal one. When pushed, I can brace myself against a wall or door-frame etc and get reasonably sharp results to save a situation. (Alternative: no pictures!). When I anticipate the need, I will take my Leica table tripod or bigger. Â Don't forget the option of shift-programme exposure control. Â Use any spare moment to practise. I try to do it at least daily if the camera would otherwise be idle. Â Good shooting! You will amazed at the quality results when you master the camera. Â Oh, and Practise! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 20, 2012 Share #6  Posted January 20, 2012 Paul,there ar etwo types of "shake", one could be described as a camera movement, the othere a real shake, which I am experiencing now being 73 yrs old. [...] Jan  Jan, I have essential tremor, which I suspect is your issue, too. If you just by chance have high blood pressure or another heart condition, and your doctor has put you on Metoprolol tartrate you might ask him if raising the dose might be safe. It has a side-effect of smoothing a tremor. I discovered this through an actor who had a tremor and took it to obviate the problem in performances.  Otherwise, just as you have, I have found adding weight very helpful. A Abrhamsson Rapid Winder or RRS grip and base.  Many more good years to you, -- Pico - not quite your age and can't really hold at less than 1/250th second. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul6001 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share #7 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the replies and the courtesy shown a new guy. David makes two suggestions. The first is "Regarding your lower limit of 1/60th being selected automatically, check your menu settings for when you select Auto ISO." I do check my menu settings, and the slowest available is 1/30. Or am I somehow checking the wrong menu option? Second, he suggests "Don't forget the option of shift-programme exposure control." How does that work? Will it remain effective even after I turn the camera on and off? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul6001 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share #8 Â Posted January 20, 2012 HOLD IT! I think that the shift-program dial is the anwer to my problem. I knew that Leica wouldn't have leave me hanging. (Of course, it's another too-loose dial that I'll have to check all the time, but now is not the time for grousing.) David to the resue! Thanks to all. Another satisfied X1 owner. Do you think the X100 forum would have provided an answer so quickly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 20, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted January 20, 2012 Paul, I am pleased you found the answer. Of course you also have complete control in manual mode which I often use as first choice. Â I forgot to mention that a short burst in Continuous setting can improve the chances of getting the sharpest picture, whether the problem is caused by camera shake or subject movement. A burst of three shots is often quite a good trick to use. Â Sorry I can't answer your last question with any authority! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jank Posted January 21, 2012 Share #10 Â Posted January 21, 2012 Pico, you are right. I am taking the same medicine, the Metoprolol.One tablet/day. Doubling the dose did not have noticeable effect. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul6001 Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share #11 Â Posted January 21, 2012 I may have spoken to soon. The shift-program mode defaults after every shot, so 1/30 comes back.. Also, shift-program is not always "available." So the magic button still eludes me. Help please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan States Posted January 23, 2012 Share #12  Posted January 23, 2012 To maintain a shutter speed that eliminates shake I set the camera to auto iso, auto aperture and set the shutter speed manually. The camera will float the iso and aperture automatically to match the set shutter speed  Indoors I use 1/125 and outside 1/1000-1/2000. The performance is so good at 3200 iso I just don't worry about auto iso going that high indoors as long as shake is contolled.   Best wishes. Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.