Shutter speed rule of thumb and crop factor? (Page 6): That’s exactly why I used the expression. I wasn’t asking to know what to do in the field. I was interested in the theory behind...

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

JohnSwanda wrote:

You have to consider the meaning of "Rule of Thumb". It is "a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on experience or practice rather than theory." It has never been anything but a general starting point, subject to individual ability or practice, and not valid for stabilized cameras or lenses.

That’s exactly why I used the expression. I wasn’t asking to know what to do in the field. I was interested in the theory behind the guideline now that crop sensors are part of photography.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Rab-Eye wrote:

5. I see you live in Florida. Perfect. "Gay kakken affen yam". Take your attitude and shove it, and have a swell life.

Thank you! I've actually learned something from this thread now! It's a great expression going back to the literal translation, and Florida isn't on my ocean!

Happy Holidays, Hanukkah, Christmas, have a Cool Yule, all of the above, or whatever is your specific celebration!

A fun start to Thanksgiving.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Rab-Eye wrote:

I just want to make sure I'm correct about the guideline to use a shutter speed at least as fast as your focal length for handholding. I would assume that if your body has a 1.5x crop factor, the guideline for a 300mm lens, just as an example, would shoot at 1/450 (or 1/500), not 1/300. Correct?

Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving yourself. Do not let yourself be bamboozled about "crop factor." Crop factor is a marketer's construct that has no meaning. It was a way that the Canik marketers thought to communicate to us 35mm film troglodytes. They thought we were too stoopid to understand.

The lens focal length does not change no matter what camera it is on. Neither does the aperture or shutter speed. The ONLY difference is the angle of intercept that covers the sensor. That may lead to some secondary differences like DOF effect. In theory (and occasionally in practice) the larger sensor's pixels will carry more information. Usually it won't make a practical difference but sometimes it does.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Peterff wrote:

img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)

leftj Loc: Texas

Reinaldokool wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving yourself. Do not let yourself ... (show quote)

Yeah whatever

whitewolfowner

Rab-Eye wrote:

I just want to make sure I'm correct about the guideline to use a shutter speed at least as fast as your focal length for handholding. I would assume that if your body has a 1.5x crop factor, the guideline for a 300mm lens, just as an example, would shoot at 1/450 (or 1/500), not 1/300. Correct?

Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving!

The rule is a guide line only that works for many. I suggest you find your own limit for each lens. You find you are surprised in either direction what your own limits are. They go down as you age. When I was young, with a 58mm lens, I could get a perfectly sharp shot of non moving objects at 1/8th of a second.

If you want to reply to me do it privately as the admin has me blocked form receiving emails since October 20 and refuses to re set me up. Seems to me it's discrimination!

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I asked a Canon rep this question a few years ago. He said the formula need not change moving from FF to CS. Others disagree. I'm so confused! Aw, the hell with it - time for turkey anyway! I know the focal length formula for this one. Larger fork, fits more turkey into mouth. Doesn't matter how far away I am from plate. lol

bcrawf

I believe the general rule is: take half the focal length number and make it the denominator (of a fraction) with 1 being the numerator, so for a 300mm lens, a shutter speed of 1/150 would be the practical limit. If your image stabilization gives you 2 to 3 stops leeway, the new practical limit would be (assuming 2 stops by stabilization) 1/37.5 seconds. But, if you are shaky or do not have a chance to hold steady or the subject is moving, those conditions will call for adjustments.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

bcrawf wrote:

I believe the general rule is: take half the focal length number and make it the denominator (of a fraction) with 1 being the numerator, so for a 300mm lens, a shutter speed of 1/150 would be the practical limit. If your image stabilization gives you 2 to 3 stops leeway, the new practical limit would be (assuming 2 stops by stabilization) 1/37.5 seconds. But, if you are shaky or do not have a chance to hold steady or the subject is moving, those conditions will call for adjustments.

Actually, the rule of thumb is to make the focal length itself the denominator of the fraction. I hesitate to post this because of the trolls who seem waiting to pounce on anyone who is interested in discussing a theory simply because one finds it interesting.

blackest Loc: Ireland

bcrawf wrote:

I believe the general rule is: take half the focal length number and make it the denominator (of a fraction) with 1 being the numerator, so for a 300mm lens, a shutter speed of 1/150 would be the practical limit. If your image stabilization gives you 2 to 3 stops leeway, the new practical limit would be (assuming 2 stops by stabilization) 1/37.5 seconds. But, if you are shaky or do not have a chance to hold steady or the subject is moving, those conditions will call for adjustments.

the original rule of thumb was for stationary subjects and camera operators when they move ... the camera shake is just one aspect and stabilization will not help much

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Rab-Eye wrote:

I just want to make sure I'm correct about the guideline to use a shutter speed at least as fast as your focal length for handholding. I would assume that if your body has a 1.5x crop factor, the guideline for a 300mm lens, just as an example, would shoot at 1/450 (or 1/500), not 1/300. Correct?

Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

bcrawf

This has been answered, but maybe not accepted by you. The crop factor of the camera body does not factor into the rule for "safe" handholding.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

bcrawf wrote:

This has been answered, but maybe not accepted by you. The crop factor of the camera body does not factor into the rule for "safe" handholding.

Maybe not accepted because it is wrong. A given lens on a crop sensor camera has a narrower field of view than it does on a full frame, therefore more magnification of camera movement and requiring a higher shutter speed. It's not the focal length of the lens that matters but the field of view.

David Taylor

blackest wrote:

the original rule of thumb was for stationary subjects and camera operators when they move ... the camera shake is just one aspect and stabilization will not help much

Original rule of thumb only determined the thickness of the stick with which you were legally permitted to beat your wife. Are you allowed a thicker stick if you own a crop sensor camera?

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

David Taylor wrote:

Original rule of thumb only determined the thickness of the stick with which you were legally permitted to beat your wife. Are you allowed a thicker stick if you own a crop sensor camera?

But have you stopped beating your wife yet?