Best trick to avoiding Camera shake?

[cagirlintexas]

What are you best tips for me. I am having a problem with this. Would love to hear from those more knowledgeable with me. Tripod isn't really an option because photography for me involves chasing a very active 2 year old.

[AndrewCCM]

Fast glass and shutter speed.

[kayumangi]

Hi Melissa,

You may wanna take a look at Da Grip from John McNally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsx3-FWfwk

Hope it helps.

Marius

[JohnT]

There are gimmicks on the 'net, but Andrew answered best.

[Sonny]

How to Reduce Camera Shake - 6 Techniques


The One-Dollar Image Stabilizer for Any Camera

[kenw]

1st and foremost, remember the 1/mm rule:

make sure your shutter is faster than 1/mm.

Meaning, if you are shooting at 300mm, make sure your shutter speed is faster than 1/300s. 1/400s is even better, but consider 1/300s the absolute minimum.

If you are using a crop sensor camera (and it appears you are), use the "35mm equivalent" value:

135mm lens x 1.6 crop factor = 200mm (FoV) = 1/200s or faster shutter

there are exceptions (like IS/VR lenses) but as a habit, get religious about the 1/mm rule.

[RandySmith]

A technique that I've used for a long time (a.k.a. before IS) is ... any shutter speed faster than 1/30 second I take a deep breath after I've composed the image in my viewfinder, then exhale and let all the air out of my lungs. As soon as I think the air is "out", is when I press the shutter release. Taking a breath and holding it in, may cause you to sway. And of course as the links above indicate, turn yourself into a tripod or find some kind of stable support.

[venchka]

What Randy said...which is exactly like target shooting. It helps if you know how to shoot a gun. Find anything you can to brace the camera against.

[toverman]

Don't move!

[texkam]

or give up Starbucks......................Noooooooooooooooooo oooo!

[kneemeaux]

I don't have one now, but way back with my Canon A1 I had a right angle adapter. It helps with almost all of the 6 tips for reducing camera shake. You can pull the camera tight into your chest or use a railing or table top without having to lay on the ground. I took shots in the Smithsonian (no flash allowed) at 1/2 sec using the right angle and whatever support I could find and the slides came out tack sharp. It takes a little getting used to since you are looking at 90 degrees but once you use it a while it's easy.

It also makes taking shots at high angles a piece of cake (which is one of the things it was made for). Really nice for macro, or so I'm told.

[CaptainTom]

Is the problem camera shake or subject movement ?

If camera shake, IS lenses help a great deal.

If subject movement, fast shutter speed. high ISO, patience.

[humminboid]

Start cheap and simple:

Shutter speed at or above the maximum focal length you will shoot. 300mm=1/300 or faster speed.

Don't... Do Not press the shutter button like you were killing a very ugly bug! Gently, gently, capture picture!

Wait till he is paying attention to something else, then sneak in, and gottim! Brace the bod...support the camera with both hands. Arch the shutter finger, and press with the tip, rather than the fleshy pad of the finger.

[tri]

i hold my breath

tri added 0 Minutes and 30 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

when you want to have a ninja slow shutter speed. or push the camera against a wall or something