1/focal lenght - 75mm

[mirekti]

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What is the default minimum 1/focal lenght shutter speed for 75mm on Leica M, is it 1/60? This is at least what happens to some of my photos.

Why does the camera default to the lower value instead of higher? For example, my last shoot was 1/60 and ISO 320. I'd rather have 1/90 and ISO 480.

Shouldn't the 1/90 be better?

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[Dan Bachmann]

On rangefinders you can tend to go with a little slower than you need on an SLR, so 1/60 of a second handheld is reasonable/normal for a 75mm lens especially if that is all the light allows for. With moving subjects, you'll want a fast shutter speed if you have the light.

[mirekti]

Hm...

It might be only me than, but I'd rather have 1/90 instead.

[UliWer]

No, it's not only you. I'd call 1/90 the minimum for 75mm.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello mirekti,

 

I have found personally that you usually lose more from too slow a shutter speed handheld than you gain from either having a slower emulsion/sensor speed or from having a smaller lens opening.

 

When there is the option: I generally prefer to raise the shutter speed (ie: 1/60 to 1/125) & then do it again at least 1 more stop (ie: to 1/250) if possible, before considering lowering emulsion/sensor speed or closing down a lens.

 

Altho some of my best photos are 1 second exposures hand held taken with a 35mm lens at maximum aperture using Tri-X.

 

Depends on circumstance. You might test yourself under controlled parameters where there are no important pictures involved to see how well you do in which situations.

 

Then practice.

 

As more than 1 person has said: "The more you practice, the luckier you get."

 

Which is mathematically correct - As your margin for error diminishes (practice) your sucess rate becomes a larger proportion of what is left.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Ecar]

1/60 handheld with a 75mm is OK in situations where you can take your time (eg, posed portrait, landscape) and if you have reasonably steady hands.

If you need to work fast (eg, street, children), you may need up to 1/250 to minimize camera shake. In this case, suggest you set aperture/speed manually and/or adjust your Auto-ISO settings accordingly.

[mirekti]

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Correct, I agree with the most you wrote here, and I can still make the shot with 1/60 most of the time, but I'm strongly convinced that 1/90 would be a better option, at least for 1/focal lenght option.

 

Current setup makes me change the profile each time I change from 35mm to 75mm as I have to go to the menu and set the minimum shutter speed to manual.

 

I wish this would be changed with the next firmware release.

[wda]

What is the default minimum 1/focal lenght shutter speed for 75mm on Leica M, is it 1/60? This is at least what happens to some of my photos.

Why does the camera default to the lower value instead of higher? For example, my last shoot was 1/60 and ISO 320. I'd rather have 1/90 and ISO 480.

Shouldn't the 1/90 be better?

Only if I had few options would I use 1/60 with my 75mm lens. Of course it is possible; but the chances of avoiding camera shake are better with a faster shutter speed. Given a choice, 1/250th is my starting point because I trust the lens to perform well near and at maximum aperture.

[pfhrased]

I think there was a rule that suggested half the number of the focal length, or thereabouts - so 1/15 for a ~35mm, 1/30 for ~50mm etc. I know I got some decent shots off with my summilux 75 at around 1/45 and ISO 160 now and then on my M8.2.

[Orient XI]

Much depends on the photographer. When my son trained hard as cross-country runner he had a low respiration rate and heart beat rate, as a result he could hold his Nikon FG20 much more steadily than his totally unfit father could hold his M3. He could get away with about a 4× longer shutter speed than I could! The operative term here "is get away with", if you wish to be sure follow the digital variation of the old rule and use 1/(2×focal length) seconds as your safe minimum shutter speed.

[IWC Doppel]

An M is not a DSLR I have many shots with stationary subjects or slow moving subjects at 1/24th on my 75 lux. Not always perfect and I would choose 1/60th or above in an ideal world.

 

I have been successful enough to use 1/8th with 35mm when 1/15th will mean ISO above 1600

[mirekti]

I understand it is possible to get great shots even with the slower shutter speeds, however, for me the most conveniet way would be not to change the profile or settings while switching the lenses, and that would mean 1/90 for 75mm.

If I set the minimum shutter speed manually, it would mean each time I put 35mm lens the shutter would remain at 1/90 so I would have to change it again, and again...

 

I don't know, maybe my idea was wrong, and maybe it would be best to set it to 1/90 manually and leave it like this for both lenses, 35 and 75. Than again, I'd lose stop and a half on 35mm this way.

[Paul J]

If sharpness is really critical then I will shoot at 250th to be safe, That's for something like a portrait that will be viewed at 100%. 125th is mostly fine but I still notice some movement, at times.

 

But I can get a sharp image at 15th or 30th. It just depends on what you are shooting and what the image will be viewed at. Even 70mm, which is not long, the extra magnification makes things such as movement, wether camera or subject, more visible.

[billo101]

Great lens.

 

b

[jbl]

I typically do 1/125 or faster. I think the digital bodies are more sensitive to camera shake (higher resolution than film, rougher shutter).

 

A friend tells me to always trade noise or grain for sharpness. I try to listen .

 

-jbl

[01af]

A friend tells me to always trade noise or grain for sharpness.

He's right. Lots of noise isn't nice but still way better than blur from camera shake.

 

Regarding the original question—there is no such thing as a "safe shutter speed" in hand-held photography. The slowest speed you get get away with depends on a wide array of factors. If you're really focused (figuratively ) at holding the camera still and releasing the shutter softly then you can get a perfectly sharp picture with 50 or 75 mm at 1/15 s. When you're shooting quick and cannot decide yourself when to fire the shutter (but have to fire as the action unfolds) then you can get blurred pictures at 1/250 or even 1/500 s.

 

So whether the slowest shutter speed for a 75 mm lens in auto-ISO mode is 1/60, 1/75, or 1/90 s doesn't really matter. If you want to make sure the shutter speeed is fast enough for your current mental and physical condition, your lens, your camera, and your subject then don't rely on auto-exposure, auto-ISO, auto-everything. As simple as that.