Image Stabilizer/Vibration Control and long exposures
Jan 16, 2012 23:36:30 #
Noob question time, sorry if this has been addressed before. I recall reading somewhere that when taking long exposures (night primarily) that Image Stabilization/Vibration Control should be turned off to prevent blurring. I ask this because I was shooting the moon the other night with a 70-300 Tamron, Canon 60D (on tripod of course!) in manual focus, hand held shutter release, no wind. in some photos focus was dead on, in others blurry, random. f/5.6, ISO 400, varying shutter times. Could IS/VC be the culprit?
Jan 16, 2012 23:53:53 #
Supposedly, VR or IS technology is "active", seeking to cancel minor movement caused by a finger pressing shutter-release or even photographer breathing. In a stable situation, such as a tripod, the active technology can actually add minor movement.
It is a common practice to switch-off VR or IS when tripod mounted.
It is a common practice to switch-off VR or IS when tripod mounted.
Jan 16, 2012 23:57:56 #
Paul14850 wrote:
Noob question time, sorry if this has been address... (show quote)
Always turn IS, VR, OS off when on a tripod. The system will be looking for vibration to counter and will actually create its own when on a tripod, kind of the nature of the beast sort of thing.
Jan 17, 2012 00:25:45 #
Jan 17, 2012 00:54:04 #
Hi Paul...
You didn't say what your shutter speed were, just that they were long. Now, normally if shooting the moon at ISO400, at f-5.6, your shutter speed should work out to about 1/3200 of a second. Very very...very fast. Remember, although the moon is in the middle of a dark sky, it is normally lit by direct sunlight.
I suspect your blurry results were brought about by extreme overexposure and probably (I say "probably" ) not from camera movement.
Viewing your results should show totally white circle with no detail, in the middle of a black background.
Let me know if this makes any sense to you!
You didn't say what your shutter speed were, just that they were long. Now, normally if shooting the moon at ISO400, at f-5.6, your shutter speed should work out to about 1/3200 of a second. Very very...very fast. Remember, although the moon is in the middle of a dark sky, it is normally lit by direct sunlight.
I suspect your blurry results were brought about by extreme overexposure and probably (I say "probably" ) not from camera movement.
Viewing your results should show totally white circle with no detail, in the middle of a black background.
Let me know if this makes any sense to you!
Jan 17, 2012 01:04:08 #
Danilo wrote:
Hi Paul... br You didn't say what your shutter spe... (show quote)
That does make sense, Haven't done much stuff at night, so it's kind of hit and miss. It was partially cloudy and was trying to pick up moonlight off clouds without getting blur from their movement. Will try a new approach next weekend with shorter exposure & IS/VC off. (if weather permits!) Thanks for the input.
Jan 17, 2012 01:09:42 #
Jan 17, 2012 02:44:26 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
How to photograph the moon:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=109
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=109
I don't know why I didn't think about the sunlight, but then again earth science/High School was a looooong time ago!
Jan 17, 2012 02:51:28 #
if you shoot the moon with a very long exposure - which should only be needed if you're shooting an eclipse - you will get some blurring from the moon's movement.
IS should be turned of when using a tripod. if you leave it on, it will "hunt" (turn on your live view feature and you can watch it), and can cause blurring.
IS should be turned of when using a tripod. if you leave it on, it will "hunt" (turn on your live view feature and you can watch it), and can cause blurring.
Jan 17, 2012 03:30:15 #
SQUIRL033 wrote:
....IS should be turned of when using a tripod. if you leave it on, it will "hunt" (turn on your live view feature and you can watch it), and can cause blurring.
....IS should be turned of when using a tripod. if you leave it on, it will "hunt" (turn on your live view feature and you can watch it), and can cause blurring.
I heard noise from camera and it was in manual focus, I'm guessing that is actually what I was hearing.
Jan 17, 2012 07:33:51 #
Sunny 16 rule works on shots of the moon. As somebody earlier pointed out, the moon is always moving and will smear unless you use a fast shutter.
Jan 17, 2012 07:54:26 #
MT Shooter wrote:
quote=Paul14850 Noob question time, sorry if this... (show quote)
How about if you are shooting with a monopod, do you turn VR or IS off or not?
Jan 17, 2012 10:35:52 #
I had trouble shooting the moon, too. The focus was not the problem. The image kept dancing around. It is not possible to keep a giant lens perfectly still, and the distance to the Moon (240,000 miles) multiplies any movement. If you had trouble shooting on a tripod, I am guessing that the tripod itself was shimmering under the weight of the lens/camera combination. Tripod or not, if the camera is moving, the image stabilization should be on. If you have a great tripod with a ball head, then the above does not apply to you.
Jan 17, 2012 13:25:23 #
ephraim Imperio wrote:
quote=MT Shooter quote=Paul14850 Noob question t... (show quote)
I only use a monopod for shooting footbal, and in that case I am always moving and following the action so I leave the VR on, works for me. On a tripod your camera and lens are totally stable, thats why it is always hunting for motion to counteract and there is none.
Jan 17, 2012 14:31:43 #
Paul14850 wrote:
Noob question time, sorry if this has been address... (show quote)
Movement of the moon has been covered in some of the responses below; however I'd like to add my two cents worth to the subject.
Remember that both the moon AND the earth are moving in relation to each other --- the moon in a some what westerly direction to the earth, which is ROTATING on it's axis and moving through the heavens at 24,000 miles an hour in an easterly direction which is counter to that of the moon.
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