I'm playing with some night-time photography and because at this point what I take photos of is not important, I set up the camera on my sundeck.
So often we see suggestions about locking the mirror, using a 2 second delay or using a remote shutter release to prevent vibration resulting in blurred photos.
I followed all these "rules" and still ended up with a blurred photo. The lens was stopped to f/16, exposure set to 60 seconds.
So, two areas of influence I had not counted on: We live less than 2 blocks from a busy highway, and while the shutter was open, I did hear one of those heavy transport trucks go by.
And our sundeck has a wooden floor, and I walked away from the camera while the shutter was open.
Both causing vibrations that travelled through the tripod to the camera, resulting in blurred photos.
Although I was still mighty proud of them, as the street- and house lights in the photos did have the star points I was after: 14 star points, 7 blades in the lens.
I'll be out there again to try different settings, in this case the heck with the vibrations ;-)
Next time I'm at our son's, where there is no heavy traffic and they have 10 acres of solid ground, I'll try as well!
Indi
Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.
Morning Star wrote:
I'm playing with some night-time photography and because at this point what I take photos of is not important, I set up the camera on my sundeck.
So often we see suggestions about locking the mirror, using a 2 second delay or using a remote shutter release to prevent vibration resulting in blurred photos.
I followed all these "rules" and still ended up with a blurred photo. The lens was stopped to f/16, exposure set to 60 seconds.
So, two areas of influence I had not counted on: We live less than 2 blocks from a busy highway, and while the shutter was open, I did hear one of those heavy transport trucks go by.
And our sundeck has a wooden floor, and I walked away from the camera while the shutter was open.
Both causing vibrations that travelled through the tripod to the camera, resulting in blurred photos.
Although I was still mighty proud of them, as the street- and house lights in the photos did have the star points I was after: 14 star points, 7 blades in the lens.
I'll be out there again to try different settings, in this case the heck with the vibrations ;-)
Next time I'm at our son's, where there is no heavy traffic and they have 10 acres of solid ground, I'll try as well!
I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (
show quote)
I have the same problem on my back deck; made of trex. Any movement on my part, or even a windy day, shows up as vibration through the tripod. Now, if I want a steady picture, I'll set up on the concrete below or the sidewalk in the front of the house.
Indi wrote:
I have the same problem on my back deck; made of trex. Any movement on my part, or even a windy day, shows up as vibration through the tripod. Now, if I want a steady picture, I'll set up on the concrete below or the sidewalk in the front of the house.
You can't avoid vibration on a deck, even if it is made of concrete plank. Actually IS might work on the deck.
mtparker
Loc: Cape Charles & Springfield, Virginia
Vibration dampening is a problem.
Larger tripods will dampen quicker than smaller lighter ones. If your legset has bottom sections the size of a pencil you should expect problems. The bigger the better.
Avoid decks, bridges, etc. when possible. Its hard sometimes because we need (want) to shoot from a particular location.
Add some additional weight to your tripod. If you do not have a hook under the head of your tripod where the legs come together, make one. Hang your bag from it. It will help. So will a bag of sand, buckwheat, a water jug, etc.
If you are using a tripod, don't use IS.
SonnyE
Loc: Communist California, USA
Try setting up on a soft surface, like the lawn.
Hard surfaces transfer vibrations, softer ones tend to dampen.
Your deck is a terrible vibration prone place to use...
And sit still, you can sit still for 60 seconds can't you?
If you can use a wireless remote with your camera do that.
dickparkans wrote:
If you are using a tripod, don't use IS.
Forgot to list that with the "rules" - but yes, I know that, and yes, it was turned off for some of the shots, set on Auto for other shots.
SonnyE wrote:
Try setting up on a soft surface, like the lawn.
Hard surfaces transfer vibrations, softer ones tend to dampen.
Your deck is a terrible vibration prone place to use...
And sit still, you can sit still for 60 seconds can't you?
If you can use a wireless remote with your camera do that.
Oh yes, I can even sit still for much longer than that ;-)
However, just as I pressed the shutter button, the coffeepot in the kitchen was beeping to tell me it was finished making my coffee, so I walked away from the camera....
Oh, and the lawn is not an option: I'd get some lovely photos of the neighbour's hedge, but not the lights in the distance. Tripod is not tall enough to have the camera peek over the top of a 14-feet-tall hedge.
davidrb
Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
Morning Star wrote:
I'm playing with some night-time photography and because at this point what I take photos of is not important, I set up the camera on my sundeck.
So often we see suggestions about locking the mirror, using a 2 second delay or using a remote shutter release to prevent vibration resulting in blurred photos.
I followed all these "rules" and still ended up with a blurred photo. The lens was stopped to f/16, exposure set to 60 seconds.
So, two areas of influence I had not counted on: We live less than 2 blocks from a busy highway, and while the shutter was open, I did hear one of those heavy transport trucks go by.
And our sundeck has a wooden floor, and I walked away from the camera while the shutter was open.
Both causing vibrations that travelled through the tripod to the camera, resulting in blurred photos.
Although I was still mighty proud of them, as the street- and house lights in the photos did have the star points I was after: 14 star points, 7 blades in the lens.
I'll be out there again to try different settings, in this case the heck with the vibrations ;-)
Next time I'm at our son's, where there is no heavy traffic and they have 10 acres of solid ground, I'll try as well!
I'm playing with some night-time photography and b... (
show quote)
Interesting situation. This is a case where the tripod was not the cause of the vibration, just a continuation of it. I can understand the deck bouncing, but how did the truck adversely effect your shot? Does the ground in your area move that much just for vehicular traffic?
SonnyE
Loc: Communist California, USA
Morning Star wrote:
Oh yes, I can even sit still for much longer than that ;-)
However, just as I pressed the shutter button, the coffeepot in the kitchen was beeping to tell me it was finished making my coffee, so I walked away from the camera....
Oh, and the lawn is not an option: I'd get some lovely photos of the neighbour's hedge, but not the lights in the distance. Tripod is not tall enough to have the camera peek over the top of a 14-feet-tall hedge.
Well shoot. Change location and take a travel mug with you. ;)
The higher you go, the more pronounced the vibrations become. (On man made platforms.)
Keep trying, and keep trying different places.
Speaking of coffee... time to go make mine. :-D
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.
On some nikon lenses there is a VR switch and an Active switch. The active switch is for when you are not on a stable surface, and VR is when the camera is moving. If you have it, try the active setting.
davidrb wrote:
Interesting situation. This is a case where the tripod was not the cause of the vibration, just a continuation of it. I can understand the deck bouncing, but how did the truck adversely effect your shot? Does the ground in your area move that much just for vehicular traffic?
Just cars don't seem to make much difference, but the highway I referred to, is used for the heavy transport trucks, many of them fully loaded, the cab with a trailer and another trailer - I think they're called B-trains. I've stood at the corner waiting for the pedestrian light to switch to "go" when one of these beasts goes by and you can actually feel the ground moving.
I'm not a geologist, and I don't know how far these vibrations go, but I am convinced that that truck influenced the shot.
dickparkans wrote:
If you are using a tripod, don't use IS.
Depends on the lens. Some lenses have either a tripod detection or a second IS switch position that uses a different stabilization for use with a tripod.
skiman wrote:
On some nikon lenses there is a VR switch and an Active switch. The active switch is for when you are not on a stable surface, and VR is when the camera is moving. If you have it, try the active setting.
My lenses (any of them) do not have any VR or IS switches, as this is a function of the camera body.
My IS settings are Off, S-IS 1 (Auto), S-IS 2 (Vertical IS), S-IS 3 (Horizontal IS), S-IS Auto. (S-IS 1 and S-IS Auto are different auto functions, one is for general use, the other for panning).
So no Active setting, but then I don't have any Nikon lenses either. If you're interested, the IBIS controls Left-Right movement, Up-Down, Yaw, Roll and Pitch.
So, I cheat and usually leave it at S-IS1, or turn it off altogether.
SonnyE
Loc: Communist California, USA
davidrb wrote:
Interesting situation. This is a case where the tripod was not the cause of the vibration, just a continuation of it. I can understand the deck bouncing, but how did the truck adversely effect your shot? Does the ground in your area move that much just for vehicular traffic?
If you ever get the chance to look at a seismograph you can see vibrations from things your senses can't detect.
Like distant traffic.
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