Lens and shutter speed. ( Just for fun )

[MorganP]

Back in the film days we use to set the shutter speed at a min of 1 x the length of the lens. Now day’s it’s not as simple as that. With the super megapixel sensors and Vibration reduction it’s a lot more difficult. In the past for my 600mm I was trying to shoot a shutter speed of 1.5 x to 2 x time the length of the lens. I always shoot on a sturdy RRS tripod and Wimberley head or a bean bag on the car door. For this post lets say I’m trying to shoot a Moose walking across a stream. What are your thought?

 

[Steve]

Sadly, there's no correct answer.

Everyone is different and even that old 1/FL rule was flawed for the same reason. For example, with VR on, I can hand-hold my 500PF down at about 1/250th of a second or so; if I'm braced, maybe 1//125th. However, the keeper rate isn't the best. I have a friend who, using the same exact setup, can go as low as 1/30th of a second and get tack-sharp images, I've never had a singe sharp image with that lens hand-held at the same speed.

The thing is, you'll have to experiment and learn what your limits are - although as I like to say, remember that the shutter speed you can successfully hand-hold taking cat photos in your living room might be slower than needed if you have a grizzly walking towards the camera! Adrenaline plays a part too!

 

[MorganP]

My ability to hand hold is very bad so that is why 99% of the time I'm using a support of some kind. For me the 1/FL rule was easy I knew it was a starting point but I didn't understand all that went into it. Now many years later I'm trying to think more digital and less film.

 

[DRwyoming]

^^^ What Steve Said, it varies...

The 1/focal length 'rule' was always a swag and then you throw VR into the mix and it's still a swag. Subject matter also matters a great deal. Even on a tripod using long lens technique it's hard to go much below 1/250" for twitchy little song birds due to their motion but I've captured sharp images of owls with my 600mm f/4 down to 1/15"... they don't move much

 

[MorganP]

Thanks Steve, and DrWyoming.
The more I learn over the years the more I have to remember. Some days it feel like theirs a hundred thing to remember when I step up to my camera. Sometimes I just have to follow my vision and my heart.

 

[Woody Meristem]

^^^ What Steve Said, it varies...

The 1/focal length 'rule' was always a swag and then you throw VR into the mix and it's still a swag. Subject matter also matters a great deal. Even on a tripod using long lens technique it's hard to go much below 1/250" for twitchy little song birds due to their motion but I've captured sharp images of owls with my 600mm f/4 down to 1/15"... they don't move much

Yes indeed, so much depends on how steady you are, the equipment you have and the subject. Here's a photo taken an hour after sunset at 1/8 second, ISO of 400, using a Lumix GX85 at the FF focal length equivalent of 98mm -- handheld. Is it the best? He-l no, but it's good enough for posting on a website (it's now been significantly compressed as well).

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[Larry Shuman]

I shoot everything supported. On a Gitzo with the Kirk G-1 gimbal. My 600mmF:4 G VR is always on the tripod. My 200-500 is always on the monopod. My shutter speed on either lens always starts at 1/1250 and goes up from there. Both these images were shot at 1/2000. The higher the shutter speed the sharper the image.

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[Warren D]

Also depends on the body. Bodies with higher pixel densities seem to be less forgiving and therefore require higher shutter speed.

 

[Roaring 40s]

Yes. In Sony, many lenses don't resolve finely enough to make use of the 61 mpix sensor on the R IV.

 

[dabhand16]

Back in the film days we use to set the shutter speed at a min of 1 x the length of the lens. Now day’s it’s not as simple as that. With the super megapixel sensors

I've noticed this when I moved from using my beloved D700 to a D810. As someone who prides himself on a good hand-holding technique, it came as a shock. I found I had to go to around double the 1x focal length formula. It happened again when I got my D850 so now I use at least 2x FL.

Not familiar with vr lenses as I don't have any, but shouldn't it be switched off when using a tripod?

 

[MorganP]

Thanks for all your comments and photos.

 

[Marcus Slade]

Also depends on the body. Bodies with higher pixel densities seem to be less forgiving and therefore require higher shutter speed.

Agreed. I've had good success shooting owls too on my D850 with very low shutter speeds, albeit with a remote trigger and using live view. But I've had sharp owl shots with exposures of up to one second...as long as the bird holds still. Here's an example of a young fella keeping a keen eye on its mother above. 600mm +1.4TC, f5.6, ISO 500, 1 sec.

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