Canon 50D weight

[ashooor]

I wounder if the heavy cameras such as Canon 50D would be hard to travel with and take lots of family pics, etc? would weight makes hand shaking when hold for too much? does it need a tripod for it's weight? or should it be skipped and go for something lighter like the 500D if one was searching for portability over performance? excuse me for asking lots of questions similar to each other, I hope you've got my point. thxx

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Ashooor,

So, having looked it up, that's 730g vs 480g, both weights are without battery or memory card (or of course, a lens!).

Quite a difference, although by the time those missing items are added to both, the difference will be less (as a percentage of total I mean).

My D5000 (560g), plus a 'chunky' 18-200mm comes out at about 1120g, it is quite heavy after a while, but I think I need a better strap

Cheers,

[Colin Southern]

I wounder if the heavy cameras such as Canon 50D would be hard to travel with and take lots of family pics, etc? would weight makes hand shaking when hold for too much? does it need a tripod for it's weight? or should it be skipped and go for something lighter like the 500D if one was searching for portability over performance? excuse me for asking lots of questions similar to each other, I hope you've got my point. thxx

In theory, the higher the weight, the less camera shake, as it's harder to change the camera's position due to the increased mass. In reality though, good technique has a LOT to do with it (keeping camera braced over your centre-of-gravity - hand/arm position - breathing etc).

Joe McNally (who's shot more covers of National Geographic than I've ever read) did a short video on how he does it (I've seen him shoot 1/20th of a sec in an aircraft and still have a sharp shot)

[Shadowman]

I've found that even with a good strap the heavier cameras and lenses create a lot of stress on the neck and shoulder muscles. So a good arm support is necessary and you should not rely on the strength of the strap to protect the camera. The same goes for taking photographs, the bulk of the camera will create stress on the arms and even with a good vibration reduction system you will still get blurry images unless you use a tripod or nearby support. Also, holding the camera steady will be even more difficult if you are photographing from a moving vehicle.

[PopsPhotos]

I use a strap on my lighter cameras, but have mounted harnesses on the heavier ones. This helps a lot when spending more than a few hours lugging the thing around.

Heavier cameras do reduce some shake, but not enough to be noticeable after an hour or more of holding the thing up to your eye. I don't find the heavier cameras bothersome and actually prefer the psychological feeling of having a tool in my hands, rather than a toy. (That comment should get some feedback. )

Pops

[kevinbythebeach]

seriously? my 50d and 70-200 f4L is my everyday , walk around setup. even wear it hiking...so i guess u might want to try it yourself..it just sounds like a bizarre question.. I have no idea how large or how strong u are...my take on it really is this.....

If a better picture quality is important too you, then you'll find a way too put up with the weight....

[kevinbythebeach]

(I've seen him shoot 1/20th of a sec in an aircraft and still have a sharp shot)

yah but what lens?

[will_c]

There's no doubt in my mind that a 40D is easier to hold steady than a 400D (these are comparable to the 50D and 500D). The larger grip makes it easier to hold and the extra mass helps to resist camera shake. It is noticably larger and heavier, but I don't find that to be a problem myself. Having said that, I kept my 400D and I still use it quite a lot with a light lens, particularly outdoors. You can get a couple of stops worth of stability, even with a smaller camera, just by leaning against something.

Will

[Geoff F]

It really just comes down to what you are comfortable with.

Personally I prefer a larger heavier camera (currently use a 40D) with large easy to read dials and controls that I can grip easily. And the heavier cameras give a better balance if you regularly use larger lenses. I wouldn't want one of the 400D range now.

Some people do find the 40/50D difficult to hold and heavy to carry all day. For me, after a lifetime of hard physical work, carrying a heavy camera plus a couple of large lenses and a tripod on a 2 or 3 mile trek is an absolute holiday! (I was a commercial fisherman for 35 years).

But different people have varied requirements; hence 2 ranges of cameras from both Canon and Nikon.

[Amberglass]

yah but what lens?

How's this Kevin. Shot with a Canon 40D with 50 mm f1.4 (stepped down to f4), ISO 1600, hand held at 1/6th shutter speed. I took this shot on a dare from my son, who asked me how well I can hold still. Not bad for an old broad.



All it takes is proper hand and body ergonomics/gripping and breathing techniques. 3 deep breathes in, slowly releasing the 3rd breathe as you release the shutter release. It's the same breathing technique that marksmen uses to steady their aim and accurately make their marks.

[Amberglass]

In theory, the higher the weight, the less camera shake, as it's harder to change the camera's position due to the increased mass. In reality though, good technique has a LOT to do with it (keeping camera braced over your centre-of-gravity - hand/arm position - breathing etc).

Joe McNally (who's shot more covers of National Geographic than I've ever read) did a short video on how he does it (I've seen him shoot 1/20th of a sec in an aircraft and still have a sharp shot)

Weight is a necessary evil in photography as Colin mentioned. Fatigue is another factor that can cause camera shake were weight can also be beneficial to steady your hands.

If you're using a non image stabilizing lens and worry about camera shake, but don't want to carry a mono/tripod. This is the poor man's version to the correct the problem. Not going below 1/60th of a shutter speed (or no lower than your focal length) for most beginners will avoid blurring images depending on the available lighting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af3aJ...rom=PL&index=3