Experiment

[raymo]

I wanted to see if I could get a reasonably well exposed image of the moon
which would show Jupiter. Jupiter at upper right. Can't do the 3200 version
of the LMC until the moon is much less intrusive.
Hand held, 600D, 200mm, 1/640th sec. manual focus.
raymo

[Crater101]

I can only compliment you on your hand-holding ability. I did something similar an age ago with a 5DMkII and a tripod, and got a similar result at 1/60 (I had a 70-200 f2.8L and a 1.4x teleconverter). For a handheld shot, that's really well done. :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

You have still got it Raymo....steady as a rock.

Great image.

Inspirational for folk wondering about having a go and thinking they need to buy a mount and scope to start.

I would love to see more of these types of captures.

Well done and I can't wait for what you will bring when the new Moon arrives ( or a little before).

Alex

[raymo]

Cheers W and X; some other frames show a bright Jupiter, but the moon is
completely washed out. Hand- held was not too difficult at 1/640 sec made possible by using ISO 800 and f/5.6. I made a discovery. If while framing
the shot, you press the shutter button as though using auto focus, and hold
it like that until you take the shot, the forefinger being tensed steadies the
camera.
raymo

[Crater101]

If I may offer a couple of other "steadying" tips that I've found have worked for me over the years...


Take a deep breath and hold it just before you press the shutter. It helps take out the motion of your lungs expanding, which can move your whole upper body.
Lean against something solid - a telegraph pole, the edge of a building. Again, it provides a bit of additional sturdiness.
Get a length of thin cord / heavy string almost as long as you are tall (bear with me on this one - the exact measurement will obviously vary) and make loops at both ends. Put one loop over the lens at the base, near where it joins the camera; put your foot in the other one. Pull up - gently - until there's just a light tension on the string, then take the shot. It doesn't have to be super tight, just firm. The tension on the string will also help to stop the camera moving around.


I've combined all three over the years for various shots, and found that I can handhold without stabilisers down to about 1/15 in good conditions. Anyway, just thoughts.

[raymo]

Hi Warren, Having been heavily involved in many types of photography, both
amateur and professional, since I got my first camera in 1946,[a box Brownie], I was familiar with the tips you proffered, but I imagine that many
a newbie would have learnt something. I had just never noticed the finger thing before. My first serious AP was using my uncle's hideously expensive
Leica IIIg during the late fifties; I can only speculate regarding what that
beautiful camera would be worth today.
raymo

[Crater101]

All good mate, just thought I'd offer them. Like you, I've had a camera of some sort in my hands since I was a lad (A Hanimex 110, as I recall...) and I have an aging Pentax 6x7 film camera looking at me as I type. If you listen to my wife, I have a lens obsession...


Cheers!