Long Lens Technique?

elainethepain said:
Long Lens Technique what is it and how do i get it?
Click to expand...

They are sometimes not easy to get maximum sharpness from. Hold it steady, use IS/VR if it has it, use the fastest shutter speed you reasonably can, focus carefully. Long lenses really punish sloppy technique.
 
Lean against what you can, walls etc are brilliant, i used a friends tele which like alot has the tripod mount on them, use that to steady against some objects, also you can use the strap to lock your arm in a more steady position :)
 
In my experience it just comes down to practice, keep at it and try to perfect your technique and I have found this invaluable especially with bird shots. Bobs link is pretty much on the money it's just practice, practice, practice untiul eventually it becomes second nature.

Tommy (still practicing)
 
A few of the shots I've hit at 300mm (while not really long it's longish to me :) ) handheld while trying the tips that Bob posted, shallow breathing helps also and holding a breath while you press the shutter. How big a lens are you talking about Elaine?

3468700664_e1d6f7df87.jpg


3467883973_e280781e18_o.jpg


3468694860_f20743d915_o.jpg


Tommy.
 
This may seem alien but whilst shooting aircraft at 500mm i tend to pull my elbow tight into my chest whilst supporting the lens on the palm of my hand and not gripping the lens it seems to let me slow the shutter down a bit for prop aircraft sometimes as low as 1/60 for helicopters to get good rotor blur
 
Dangermouse1964 said:
This may seem alien but whilst shooting aircraft at 500mm i tend to pull my elbow tight into my chest whilst supporting the lens on the palm of my hand and not gripping the lens it seems to let me slow the shutter down a bit for prop aircraft sometimes as low as 1/60 for helicopters to get good rotor blur
Click to expand...


Totally agree with DM, elbows in tight to your chest helps a great deal with stabilising your lens and by the sounds of it he has experience of much bigger lenses then myself.

Tommy.
 
If you have nothing to brace against, you may want to try this technique but it does tend to ache after a while.

Grip your right wrist with your left hand with your knuckles facing towards you and raise your left elbow. Now you can rest your camera body on your left wrist and lens on your left elbow.

Also, stand with your feet pointing directly away from your subject and twist your body counter-clockwise towards the target. Obviously, your body will only twist so far and what you're trying to do is push and hold it against that limit to minimise horizontal movement.

These work well for me but don't expect to be able to keep it up for much more than a couple of minutes at a time.
 
It all comes down to personal tecnique and as Tommy shows in his shots he has found his as I have found mine even though I do undergrip short lenses so the best thing is try all different styles that have been posted and find the most comfortable one and alter it to your own required technique the results will be amazing
 
Gonetae said:
A few of the shots I've hit at 300mm (while not really long it's longish to me :) ) handheld while trying the tips that Bob posted, shallow breathing helps also and holding a breath while you press the shutter. How big a lens are you talking about Elaine?

3468700664_e1d6f7df87.jpg


3467883973_e280781e18_o.jpg


3468694860_f20743d915_o.jpg


Tommy.
Click to expand...

Sigma 70-200mmf/2.8.

Ok it's not the longest but dawm heavy. I just find my shots have terrible camera shake.

And WOW these are nice.
 
Al de Man said:
If you have nothing to brace against, you may want to try this technique but it does tend to ache after a while.

Grip your right wrist with your left hand with your knuckles facing towards you and raise your left elbow. Now you can rest your camera body on your left wrist and lens on your left elbow.

Also, stand with your feet pointing directly away from your subject and twist your body counter-clockwise towards the target. Obviously, your body will only twist so far and what you're trying to do is push and hold it against that limit to minimise horizontal movement.

These work well for me but don't expect to be able to keep it up for much more than a couple of minutes at a time.
Click to expand...

Are you for real, i think you just want me to go out and try this and hope somebody is watching.lol
 
elainethepain said:
Dont want to sound off but is this all there is too it?

I thought there would be more technique involved.:thinking:
Click to expand...

the essence of what you are trying to achieve is to keep the long lens perfectly still whilst taking the shot - any minor movement with the camera will just be amplified the longer the lens used. in the moose petersons link he is describing his technique when tripod mounted.

other posters here have described their technique when handholding a long lens - all slightly differ but all are looking to achieve a perfectly still lens.

as to 'is this all there is too it' in simplistic terms yes - develop that technique well and you should be able to achieve good shots, develop it poorly and you will find it most disheartening.

are you trying your lens using a tripod, monopod or handheld?
 
erding said:
the essence of what you are trying to achieve is to keep the long lens perfectly still whilst taking the shot - any minor movement with the camera will just be amplified the longer the lens used. in the moose petersons link he is describing his technique when tripod mounted.

other posters here have described their technique when handholding a long lens - all slightly differ but all are looking to achieve a perfectly still lens.

as to 'is this all there is too it' in simplistic terms yes - develop that technique well and you should be able to achieve good shots, develop it poorly and you will find it most disheartening.

are you trying your lens using a tripod, monopod or handheld?
Click to expand...

Well my tripod stuff seems fine but my handheld is iffy.
 
there was a great vid posted recently about using the grip to cradle into your left shoulder.
I also point my elbow out and use the V as a cradle, I look stupid! but I can make a brace which tends to help a bit with camera wobble
 
I think the simple answer for you is probably a monopod, as has been suggested. That's a big and heavy lens, and bigger blokes have an advantage with longer arms for leverage support and more body mass.

All my longer lenses have IS, and my lastest purchase is a 70-200 4 IS in preference to the f/2.8. I can't be doing with all that weight.
 
Yep, Monopod all the way. I used a nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 on my dad's D3 with a manfrotto monopod with great results

Well worth the 30 quid or so for the pod.
 
^ no way do you need a monopod for a 70-200/2.8

*edit* too slow, agree with above
 
Oh yes you do! :)

Or should I say it depends what you are doing with it. Sure if you can keep your shutter speed up and are shooting in bright daylight then there is no need for one.

Shooting at 1/60 in a dull wedding venue? Damn right I use one. :)
 
only ever used my 70-200/2.8IS handheld, and that's in raining forests with low shutters for rally cars flying past - never needed one myself
 
neil_g said:
not trying to start an argument but a 70-200 doesnt really need a monopod.. its not really heavy enough. certainly the sigma doesnt need one.

the 120-300 however.. whoa. lol
Click to expand...

buckas said:
^ no way do you need a monopod for a 70-200/2.8

*edit* too slow, agree with above
Click to expand...

likewise i also don't have any wish to start a argument regarding this, but i would respectfully suggest that this is very much a global statement whilst the opening poster has, in posts 12 and 16 stated that she finds that lens heavy but has no issues when it is mounted on a tripod. no details have been provided in respect of her own physique or build. on reading the threat the issue seems more to do with the weight of the lens than technique in its usage and therefore a monopod is a practical solution.

in my own case i have no problem handholding a canon 70-200 IS with a canon 1d mk 3 all day, yet my partner struggles with the same kit in a very timescale. certainly when i have handheld my canon 500 IS all day my arms know about it.
 
Ok folks i am now looking into a monopod. I am thinking it might not be a bad investment anyway, when i go out most of the time i have the dog so it would double as a walking stick too.

I dont think it is so much that the lens is to heavy, i think it's just me to be honest as most of the time i know/feel that my lens is not as steady as it should be.
 
A monopod will take as much as a learning curve as the handhold method if not more, plus you have to carry round extra weight.

Just do what it takes to keep your shutter speed up.

I also now carry a kids swimming armband with me, no weight and minimal storage, just blow it up, lean against it and shoot.
 
erding - okay, i must admit i didnt spot that the OP was hinting it was too heavy initially.

elainethepain - can you give us a rough idea how you are holding the 70-200? personally i find the following helps with the sigma:

let your left hand support the weight of the camera and lens around the mid point of the lens (about the same area as the tripod mount is). i find that i can rest the tripopd mount on my palm and still operate the zoom but then i have big hands.. you need to keep your elbows tucked in, your left arm you should be able to use as sort of a tripod by pressing your elbow into the left side of your tummy. then just keep your legs apart, swivel with your hips etc. also try and relax, as tensing up will introduce more shake. also try rolling the shutter button instead of pressing it.

but as said with a 2.8 you should have enough to keep the shutter speed up. not sure what body you are using but dont necessarily be afraid to bump the ISO up.

but practice practice practice is the key to find a technique youre comfortable with. PERSONALLY i find a monopod on the 70-200 a tad restricting when shooting motorsport but then i need to relearn using one now ive got the 120-300.

hope all that makes sense..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top