Unhappy with photos from Alaska Cruise (Page 7): I worked as a Camera repairman for about 15 years, so I know how they are supposed to work. I belonged to a Camera Club for at least...

Bobb42 Loc: Ohio

I worked as a Camera repairman for about 15 years, so I know how they are supposed to work. I belonged to a Camera Club for at least that long a time. I have read the manual(s) many times but one of my limitations is physical.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Basil wrote:

On a good day, on solid ground, I would think that would be adequate, especially with IS. Perhaps the motion of the boat was such that higher SS was needed?

This def. has to be taken into consideration. I would have shot at 1/1000 wherever possible, increasing ISO as necessary. By shooting in shutter priority, one can adjust the ISO to make sure the aperture is within a desirable range. This is what I did when on a boat in Aransas Bay shooting Whooping Cranes and other birds with my D7000 and 28-300mm. I had no problem with sharpness and I'm not afraid to crank up the ISO with today's cameras.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Right off, from seeing your description here, I'd venture to say that a good deal of the issue is relying on the camera to make important metering readings, shutter speeds, ISO settings, focus, and f-stop adjustments.

Additionally, being on a moving boat, more than likely causing motion in all three axes can play havoc with camera movement and require faster shutter speeds.
--Bob

Bobb42 wrote:

Just returned from a Cruise to Alaska. The trip was very nice but I am not happy with the pictures. The camera is a Canon T3i using mostly a Canon 55-250 lens. Most shots were in Program mode using IS. Speeds seemed to be fast enough for the focal length used but they were just not sharp. Most of the shots showed an f 7.1. Other than taking another Cruise (not likely) what might have I done differently?

Jim Bob

Bobb42 wrote:

Just returned from a Cruise to Alaska. The trip was very nice but I am not happy with the pictures. The camera is a Canon T3i using mostly a Canon 55-250 lens. Most shots were in Program mode using IS. Speeds seemed to be fast enough for the focal length used but they were just not sharp. Most of the shots showed an f 7.1. Other than taking another Cruise (not likely) what might have I done differently?

Your question is too general to elicit a helpful response. People will speculate. Post an image.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Bobb42 wrote:

Shutter speed 1/320
Focal length 250mm
f stop 6.3

If you were shooting from a boat to off the boat not nearly fast enough. The general rules for shutter speed/focal length don't apply. Next time use SP, 1/1000s or more and auto ISO. Raise the max limit for ISO according to lighting conditions and the shutter speed according to the boat movement and be prepared to do noise removal as needed.

JPL

Bobb42 wrote:

It was handheld, no monopod, just my unstable hand. Next time I will let the wife do the shooting from the ship. She is more stable than I am. She has a better eye, also. It was a good time even with the problems. I will look into a faster shutter speed and do some more experimenting. Thank you.

Before going on more trips with this lens you should test it at home. Set your camera on tripod or lay it on a table and use the 2 or 10 second timer when you fire the shots. Look at the results to check if the lens can deliver sharp photos at all. There is not much use in discussing the results from your Alaska trip if the lens is for some reason not good enough. Better to test it, if it turns out it can give you sharp images then we should discuss how you can get better photos with it on your future trips. If you have a good camera and lens the Program setting should give you some to many sharp pics even from a boat. I take lot of pics from boats in all kind of weather and speed and I am surprised how many of them are sharp and then I mean very sharp compared to your pics. I am often using a 75-150 lens and 1/500 shutter speed.

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

Mark7829 wrote:

That's wives tale. Cite any known and reputable source that says that.... And if you can, state the scientific reason why you should do that based upon a crop sensor camera ...

Common sense says it's harder to keep a long lens steady than an short one. You don't need scientific proof, just go out and try it for yourself. Though it's more math than science and it is really more accurate to say that maximum shutter speed is related to image magnification (and by implication, distance to subject), which is higher with telephoto lenses (and any other lens) used at or near the minimum focal length. If you accept that longer focal lengths requires faster shutters speeds, then you shouldn't have any problem with an old wives tale that offers a reasonable rule of thumb. I find that if you drink coffee before you shoot, you need to use 1 over 2x Focal Length. And if you drink a glass of wine or beer beforehand, it's like applying image stabilization, so you can use a slower shutter speed.

This is pretty basic and fundamental, like Photography 101 and as all rules of thumb go, results will vary on an individual basis.

http://www.apogeephoto.com/how-to-get-tack-sharp-photo-images-part-i-shutter-speed-focal-length-image-stabilizers-and-tripods/
http://photographylife.com/what-is-reciprocal-rule-in-photography
http://www.slrlounge.com/the-reciprocal-rule/
http://digital-photography-school.com/shutter-speed/

So please "Cite any known and reputable source" that says otherwise. If you can.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

Bobb42 wrote:

Shutter speed 1/320
Focal length 250mm
f stop 6.3

Remember telephoto lenses compress the depth of field. Both pictures lose focus as the image moves away from center