Newbei bought a 35mm without VR

[Ron Evers]

At which shutter speed can you hand hold at 300mm, RE?

Shot with a Canon FD 300/5.6 @ 1/250s hand held. I was sitting using my knees to help steady the camera.

 

[RichardsTPF]

Thank you for all your help. I increased ISO to get faster speed. Looks like I do need to work on handheld skill.
Here are some test pics on a tropical punch bottle taken with my 35mm and 18-200mm. I am just curious how much difference could be. All pics are taken handheld at same distance/position, ISO 640, 35mm, spot metering mode.
Sorry for the mess background. The letters on the bottle are blur, I can't compare the sharpness. I don't see any noise at iso 640.
#1 18-200mm len, ISO640, 1/100s, f4.2

[/URL] DSC_0003 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#2 35mm len, ISO640, 1/125s, f4

[/URL] DSC_0004 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#3 35mm len, ISO640, 1/500s, f1.8

[/URL] DSC_0006 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#4 35mm len, ISO640, 1/320s, f2.5

[/URL] DSC_0007 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[RichardsTPF]

Ron,
How do you use knees to help steady the camera?

 

[MTVision]

Ron,
How do you use knees to help steady the camera?

I explained how to do this on the first page of the thread. Usually you sit down with your knees up. Knees should be about hip width apart. You rest elbows on knees. Human Tripod

 

[MTVision]

I can read the Minute Maid on the bottle but it is a little fuzzy. Can you read it perfectly without the camera from where you were?

 

[RichardsTPF]

These pics were shot at about 9ft away from the subject. I took couple pics at 4ft, those letters are perfectly sharp.
I saw your post on 1st page. I tried and didn't work for me very well.

 

[Ron Evers]

Ron,
How do you use knees to help steady the camera?

I explained how to do this on the first page of the thread. Usually you sit down with your knees up. Knees should be about hip width apart. You rest elbows on knees. Human Tripod

What she said.

 

[invisible]

Here are some test pics on a tropical punch bottle taken with my 35mm and 18-200mm

If you're going to shoot events – in which one rarely has control over lighting conditions or the action (fashion shows, music gigs, weddings, etc.), – then you might need to look into lenses with VR. If, on the other hand, what you do allows you to control light and subject (like in the photos you posted), then your answer is: get a tripod.

After the tripod, the next piece of gear in your radar should be a remote shutter release – these are generally very affordable, unless you're shooting with semi-pro or pro-level cameras. Next in line would be to learn how to shoot with your camera's mirror locked up.

The three steps above should take your photography from somewhat blurry to tack sharp.

I used to be a fan of shooting handheld, but learned the hard way that handheld (even with VR) is not the way to go – except, like I said above, if you don't have a choice.

 

[MTVision]

These pics were shot at about 9ft away from the subject. I took couple pics at 4ft, those letters are perfectly sharp.
I saw your post on 1st page. I tried and didn't work for me very well.

Maybe they are a little blurry because you were a tad to far away or the focus wasn't right on. Not sure though

 

[nickzou]

Do they even make a 35mm prime with VR?

 

[MTVision]

Do they even make a 35mm prime with VR?

Not that I know of

 

[RichardsTPF]

Forgot to mention in the previous post: the pic/letters were sharp when I shot at 3ft away with my arms rest on the table. so I know the blur was caused by my unsteady hands.
Yes, I know tripod and remote will helps a lot. I want to choose my walk around len between 35mm and 18-200mm, which means tripod and remote might not available.
The purpose of these test pics is to see how much sharper this 35mm could make at handheld condition.
I will practice the human tripod method.

 

[Destin]

Do they even make a 35mm prime with VR?

For that matter, as far I know of they haven't even put VR into a 50 or 85 prime. There is really no need because they are so fast.

 

[RichardsTPF]

Here are couple pics I took with tripod. I spot focus on the bar code at the right bottom corner of the nikon box.
If my eyes are good, f4 is slightly sharper than f1.8, and the 35mm is sharper. I also tried exposure delay function to reduce vibration, looks like it doesn't help much.

#1 35mm len, iso200, f1.8, 1/50s

[/URL] 1 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#2 35mm len, iso200, f4, 1/13s

[/URL] 2 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#3 35mm len, iso200, f1.8, 1/50s, exposure delay

[/URL] 3 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#4 35mm len, iso200, f4, 1/13s, exposure delay

[/URL] 4 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

#5 18-200mm len, iso200, f4.2, 1/10s

[/URL] 5 by RichardsFlik, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[MTVision]

These are with a tripod?? Do you think they look the same as off camera?? Does your 18-200 have VR?