Camera movement 300mm or 400mm doing landscapes (Page 2): Shoot at a high shutter speed, say 1/1000 sec. or higher.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

Shoot at a high shutter speed, say 1/1000 sec. or higher.

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

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

Which tripod do you have?

A hands off technique will not serve you well, even with a Gitzo Series 5. Use your forehead against the camera and your left arm draped over the lens where the lens foot is attached to the tripod head. Use a deliberate, slow, rolling action of your finger when pressing the shutter. Your body, a short shutter speed, and a sturdy tripod are the best insurance against vibration - and vibration is not just external to the camera - shutter shock, mirror movement both contribute micro-vibrations that will rob sharpness. I am not a fan of beanbags and hanging weights. FWIW none of my tripods have a center column. Even if you don't extend it, the mechanism can introduce instability through lack of rigidity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8HVPrPzpR4

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

I use a large golf umbrella to block the wind. This works well if not shooting straight into the wind.

jerseymike

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

Mother nature rules.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

use this, screw into ground and remove the hanging sand bag, and run a ratchet tie from the bracket in the tri pod to the screw in the ground until it is snug.

https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Stake-And-Leashes-Collection/dp/B01H2I1E0M/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3AB2JEMJEWNI6&keywords=dog+leash+screw+in+ground&qid=1575464215&sprefix=dog+leash+screw+%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-11

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

farwest wrote:

I've been using Nikon D800, wireless remote that I... (show quote)

I have to agree completely. Anything you can do to eliminate vibration helps make your pictures sharper.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

I use a lens stabilizing bracket with my 300 2.8 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/L200-Telephoto-Lens-Support-w-Moveable-Quick-Release-Plate-Camera-Bracket-Holder/362588202614?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

This is because the tripod collar is not well designed/executed......RRS also makes them at 4X the price

I also use a facial stabilizer - https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-236741-1.html .....
.

(Download)

jtwind

Is it the camera mounted to the tripod if so it may be too much to support the lens. Try it with a mount on the lens itself.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

Increase your shutter speed.

Light Quest Man Loc: Port Charlotte, FL

jtwind wrote:

Is it the camera mounted to the tripod if so it may be too much to support the lens. Try it with a mount on the lens itself.

You may be getting the movement from the lense VR. Try shutting it off. With many of the older VR lenses, you have to shut off the vibration reduction when mounting on a tripod.

agillot

you tube has some videos on how to hold a large lens steady to minimize shacking .it does work .

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

farwest wrote:

I've been searching the internet for information on keeping camera movement at a minimum doing landscapes with a 300mm to 400mm lens. I have a great Gitzo tripod and when I use my 300mm Nikon 2.8 I notice looking through the view finder there is movement especially when the wind is blowing. I have a remote shutter release and I put a small sandbag on top of the lens and I have a weight hanging from the center column. What other things can I do to help keep movement down?

You might be dealing with heat waves/air movement

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

A large rubber band or better yet, a small bungee cord looped around the lens with mild tension (very mild tension, you want it to act as a dampner, not like a guitar string) attached to the tripod has helped me reduce induced vibration. When possible I couple that with the timer for extremely steady shots. The tripod itself needs to be dampened, so look at ways to stop or greatly reduce induced vibration.

As others have mentioned, tripod extension is a vibration invite, avoid that if you can. If not - You can also put a full foam wrap on the tripod extension (like a pool noodle, or tripod leg foam wraps) on the extension from top to bottom, cinching down on it...this also will act as a vibration dampner. Weights that touch ground, sandbags, leaning up to or against a solid object is very helpful, highr ISO, faster shutter speeds, all can help.

If windy enough, VR will actually help, as the whole shebang is moving/vibrating/shaking.

gerryh

Don't go out when the wind is blowing.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Because you are using a remote, you can put your body between the camera and the wind. This will help quite a bit. Just don't stand so close that you touch the camera/tripod.