How slow (shutter speed) can you go handheld?

[Abitconfused]

This photo of the Saturn 5 rocket at the Smithsonian was shot at 1/8s, ISO: 1000, f/3.5...



Steady. steady?

[Brev00]

That is pretty steady. Going to my hand held limits is something I like to do, too. What focal length for this one? I once ran a thread on this topic in DPReview and got some great examples. A lot can depend on vr, being able to rest against a wall, etc. If this is completely hand held without any stabilizing help other than your own balance and steadiness, 1/8 would be even more remarkable. I think I can go about 1/6 at 17mm with os and about 1/13 at 300mm with vc. Not sure at this quality, though.

[Abitconfused]

Mr. Lincoln at night... Sigma 18-35 @ 24mm, 1/40, f/1.8, ISO: 3200



Nikon D7100

[IzzieK]

Handholding is easy when you have a smaller lens -- try that on a 150mm...

[IzzieK]

Handholding is easy when you have a small lens. Try that on a much longer lens, a weak wrist and a D800e...

Oooppps sorry, forgot to comment on your shot -- I like Mr. Lincoln's shot very much.

[pnodrog]

Handholding is easy when you have a smaller lens -- try that on a 150mm...

300mm 1/6 f8 ISO3200 VR on - shooting through glass helping to steady left hand.

[george013]

1/6, no vr, standing alone in the middle of the pub. Just heavy gear. d700 and nikon 28-70.

Fiesta de San Fermin Pamplona.

George

[Shadowman]

300mm 1/6 f8 ISO3200 VR on - shooting through glass helping to steady left hand.

Nice work.

[Shadowman]

This photo of the Saturn 5 rocket at the Smithsonian was shot at 1/8s, ISO: 1000, f/3.5...



Steady. steady?

Ed,

Nice work, it is a skill that should be practiced often, but whenever you have the chance look for a steadying device (post, wall, your own shoulder).

[Abitconfused]

Thank you Brev00. Lincoln was taken at 24mm using the Sigma 18-35mm. It would be nice to have IS on that lens, if for no other reason than to see what difference it would make. These were without external support and the 18-35mm is a heavy lens. However, I have found that intense concentration on movement reduction and slow shutter release does help. Lastly, not posting those motion disasters you take is essential.

1/25s is child's play...



Sigma 18-35mm @ 25mm, ISO: 200, 1/25s, f/1.8 (f/1.8 really helps here).

[arith]

Two seconds at 50mm.

[Abitconfused]

Two seconds!! That is truly amazing!!!

[lukaswerth]

Two seconds at 50mm.

My Admiration. Absolutely beyond my reach. For me, it's really luck when I get a 24mm sharp with 1/40 or 1/60 - with a d80at0e, that is. I have one lens with VC - and this feature was central to my decision to go for it (Tamron 24-70), and it's really a BIG help.

Lukas

[loosecanon]

Sadly I find with age that when I try to hand hold at slow speeds (ie I know its a slow speed) I shake more than if I just shoot away. Find Canon's 10-18 stabilised lens good to hand hold slow as its also very light.

[Inkanyezi]

One second for this shot, compact camera with no IS.
With stabilisation I have gone to four seconds with OM-D.

[rtbaum]

1/60 sec, iso 200, f/10, 400mm, non IS

[jcuknz]

To the original question rather than "what I have fluked" Larry Bolch the Canadian photographer wrote on the subject that he finds shooting at long exposures say 1/5th easier that 1/20th for some reason.
My fluke was a 1/30 exposure using a 950mm rig when I hurriedly shot a Pukeko bird hurrying across a marsh area ... hand held from car with motor running. My first Panasonic FZ20 5Mp camera with Raynox 2020.



Camera and so EXIF doesn't recognise the Raynox so EXIF says 432mm but I know it was on to get the reach from the road

[Brev00]

I feel pretty bad with my putrid effort compared to what I am seeing here. Using os (for shame) and a wide angle (17mm) and a speedy 1/2.

[IMG][/IMG]

On the plus side, there was no place to rest my camera shooting nearly directly down. I had to keep the lens from sliding while holding the camera as still as I could.

[arith]

Normally I use a monopod and a wide lens. The lowest speed I usually go to is around a second.

Here I have a 17mm lens with 1.3 seconds exposure on a monopod with stabilisation. The slowest speed to get a sharp image is supposed to be 2/3 sec.

[arith]

Two seconds!! That is truly amazing!!!

Best out of ten tries