Vibration via tripod (Page 2): I get cityscapes from a bridge in Austin and I have to time the traffic lights if I'm even going to stand a chance of a good bracketed shot on a monopod.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I get cityscapes from a bridge in Austin and I have to time the traffic lights if I'm even going to stand a chance of a good bracketed shot on a monopod. Sometimes, I've done better handheld to squelch the traffic vibrations. I'll set manual focus to avoid the camera hunting between shots and will try to rapid fire 3 continuous shots. This gives me a higher percentage of keepers. Tripods are great on solid surfaces and should be weighted down if there is a breeze. Hope this helps some...

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

Here's a test I suggest. Set a bowl full of water on the middle of your deck and watch the ripples in the water as you walk around. That vibration will easily transfer right up your tripod to the camera.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

MT Shooter wrote:

Here's a test I suggest. Set a bowl full of water on the middle of your deck and watch the ripples in the water as you walk around. That vibration will easily transfer right up your tripod to the camera.

There already was on the deck,about 3/4" deep, the birds are using it for a birdbath ;-) My husband went out a few minutes ago, and when he let the front door slam shut, the water in that bowl rippled! The front door and the deck are on opposite ends of the house.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Morning Star wrote:

There already was on the deck,about 3/4" deep, the birds are using it for a birdbath ;-) My husband went out a few minutes ago, and when he let the front door slam shut, the water in that bowl rippled! The front door and the deck are on opposite ends of the house.

In that case I will consider the original question answered! ;-)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Morning Star wrote:

There already was on the deck,about 3/4" deep, the birds are using it for a birdbath ;-) My husband went out a few minutes ago, and when he let the front door slam shut, the water in that bowl rippled! The front door and the deck are on opposite ends of the house.

But... connected.
Now you are beginning to see vibration transmission... ;)

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

In the meantime, I'll keep on trying to perfect the starbursts in these night-time photos, I'll try and remember what settings I used (thankful for exif data!), and once I get a really good one, I promise I'll post it.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

have you tried a wider aperture exp: 5.6 and faster shutter speed?

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

warrior wrote:

have you tried a wider aperture exp: 5.6 and faster shutter speed?

That's coming tomorrow night (won't be home tonight).
I started with the smaller aperture because of what I'd read a long time ago. Tomorrow night, I'll try every f/stop my camera will give me, then compare.

I kind of wish I could find the article back, but from my memory, those starbursts come with the smaller apertures.

NealB Loc: Lowell Indiana

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

Buy some silicone or nitrile sheet at least 3/4" thick that is a maximum durometer of 40 Shore A. Cut in to 4"X4" squares and place under each leg. The materials should cost between $5.00 to $10.00.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

Lots of advice here, but may ask, what lens, camera and tripod are you using?

The only rule that makes a difference, and it could be considered a Golden Rule - if the tripod is inadequate, there is not a thing you can do to eliminate vibrations. Now this might be different, but lets see what your response is to the camera/lens/tripod setting.

Also, please post an example of an image that has this problem.

On long exposures that have lights - if you have vibration, you will see it in the lights, but you won't see it anywhere else, even if you have a 60 sec exposure. You want to have everything rock solid and not moving.

dynoking Loc: New York

Good morning Sonny,

I see you use a Tamron 150-600 MM. I need (want) a lens for sky shots. I can not afford a Nikon lens (I use a D7100) and I am leery of after market equipment. Would you recommend your lens?

Richie

zundapp5 Loc: Portugal

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

Try to adapt it underneath your tripod legs

http://www.vibrationmounts.com/Products10.htm

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Morning Star wrote:

That's coming tomorrow night (won't be home tonight).
I started with the smaller aperture because of what I'd read a long time ago. Tomorrow night, I'll try every f/stop my camera will give me, then compare.

I kind of wish I could find the article back, but from my memory, those starbursts come with the smaller apertures.

That is correct, and using a lens with non-rounded diaphragm blades, stopped down to at least f/22 will help.

It can help your situation in another way that might be unexpected too! By requiring that you use very long shutter times, it reduces the effects of several of the sources of vibration that have been discussed here. Let's assume a 60 second shutter time...

The vibration when you walked off to the kitchen for coffee lasted what, 2 to 4 seconds. Out of 60, it wasn't even visible! Same with the rumble from one individual big truck. These things are only significant if they are repeated often enough to be lasting for at least perhaps 1/6 (certainly longer than 1/10) of the time the shutter is open! Things like wind, continuous traffic on the road, nearby heavy machinery or maybe a party going on in your living room will affect the picture. But vibration that last only 6 seconds or less won't.

Except that the effects are accumulative. So three different trucks while the shutter is open and a trip to and back from the kitchen all adding up to vibration for 30 out of the 60 seconds will make for a less than sharp picture.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dlevon wrote:

You can't avoid vibration on a deck, even if it is made of concrete plank. Actually IS might work on the deck.

It's like taking a long exposure on a diving board, only not as extreme. No matter how sturdy the tripod is, it must be on a sturdy surface.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Morning Star wrote:

I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (show quote)

I would also try around your house on solid ground if you can. This would help to eliminate the deck as cause for vibration. As you probably know, the best, most vibration free tripod in the world will not work if the support under it is vibrating. I also use a Vello Free wave remote camera release which is fairly inexpensive (about $60 at B&H or Adorama). I love mine and have a friend on here who used his for video and also loves it. The Freewave is available for both Nikon and Canon and you can purchase the appropriate connector cables ($9 each) to use the same release for multiple models and brands of camera. It works on the 2.4 ghz band and has a range of 320 feet and supports focus etc.