Photography Rules of Thumb - DPChallenge Forums

10/31/2005 02:25:34 PM · #1

I once read a "rule of thumb" somewhere that to know if it is possible to handhold a camera while taking a shot, your shutter speed needs to be at least the reciprocal of twice your focal length. In other words, if you are shooting at 50mm, your shutter speed needs to be 1/100th of a second or faster.

I've tested this out, and it seems to be pretty true.

Does anyone else know of any photography "rules of thumb"?

-Liz

10/31/2005 02:28:52 PM · #2

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Does anyone else know of any photography "rules of thumb"?

Don't block the lens with your thumb :P

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/31/2005 02:33:36 PM · #3

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Does anyone else know of any photography "rules of thumb"?

Don't block the lens with your thumb :P

LOL! That's my Mom's favorite habit, along with cutting off heads. Interestingly, though, the one time I gave her my SLR to shoot a picture of me, she did quite well. I think the TTL and focus squares made a difference.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

10/31/2005 02:33:42 PM · #4

Make sure there's a CF card in camera, preferrably before shooting all day long.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/31/2005 02:34:27 PM · #5

Originally posted by micknewton:

Make sure there's a CF card in camera, preferrably before shooting all day long.

Also check to see if you have batteries in there also.

Ennil

Nikon D200

10/31/2005 02:36:52 PM · #6

At bright sunlight and with your aperature set to f/16, your shutter speed corresponds to your ISO. So if your ISO is 100 and your aperature f/16 then you shutter speed will be 1/100.

If I remember correctly that is.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/31/2005 02:38:53 PM · #7

Originally posted by Ennil:

Ah... good one! I must try that out. Thanks, Ennil.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/31/2005 02:39:09 PM · #8

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Does anyone else know of any photography "rules of thumb"?

Don't block the lens with your thumb :P

And the corollary: take off the lens cap.

Most people say never use the built-in flash unless you are desperate and have no alternative.

10/31/2005 02:42:00 PM · #9

+1 EV in snow/white scenes
-1 EV for dark objects

Message edited by author 2005-10-31 14:42:24.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/31/2005 02:43:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Most people say never use the built-in flash unless you are desperate and have no alternative.

The further awhile the flash the lower the chance for red-eye.

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/31/2005 02:44:31 PM · #11

I haven't heard of twice your focal length, I've only heard of it being your focal length (remembering digital crop). That would make a 50mm lense having a min speed of 1/50th sec or 1/60th unless it's at 1.6 scensor then it would be 1/80th or which ever is the closest increment.

10/31/2005 02:48:57 PM · #12

Originally posted by Nullix:

Thanks, actually I had forgotten about the digital crop. I still shoot a lot more film than digital where this rule of thumb works. I never tried it on my (non-SLR) digital cameral. What you explain here makes more sense for digital. Thanks, Nullix.

10/31/2005 02:50:48 PM · #13

Originally posted by faidoi:

+1 EV in snow/white scenes
-1 EV for dark objects

Thanks, Faidoi. I think I may have once heard this suggestion but forgot it. Got to try it out.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

10/31/2005 02:53:00 PM · #14

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Originally posted by faidoi:
+1 EV in snow/white scenes
-1 EV for dark objects

Thanks, Faidoi. I think I may have once heard this suggestion but forgot it. Got to try it out.

Especially at the zoo with the polar bears,grizzly bears. Don't forget the black cats.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

10/31/2005 02:53:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Originally posted by faidoi:
+1 EV in snow/white scenes
-1 EV for dark objects

Thanks, Faidoi. I think I may have once heard this suggestion but forgot it. Got to try it out.

Just remember, this is just a starting point. Sometimes I've had to go +2 for bright white scenes and -2 for very dark objects.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/31/2005 02:56:52 PM · #16

Double-check your settings before each shoot. Things like ISO are often forgotten to reset after a night shoot, only remembering halfway through a card the following day in bright daylight.

10/31/2005 02:58:45 PM · #17

Nothing wrong with chimping as long as you check ISO, histogram, bright spots at the same time.

10/31/2005 03:01:08 PM · #18

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Originally posted by faidoi:
+1 EV in snow/white scenes
-1 EV for dark objects

Thanks, Faidoi. I think I may have once heard this suggestion but forgot it. Got to try it out.

Just remember, this is just a starting point. Sometimes I've had to go +2 for bright white scenes and -2 for very dark objects.

Makes sense. The extent of my photography education is what I've read online and in photog. magazines. Every so often, I read a tip that sticks in my head, but most of the time, I read it, say, "Ah, that cool!" and then promptly forget it. I guess I just don't shoot often enough. But I do enjoy it, especially when I'm really trying to be creative and see the best shot possible, rather than just taking snapshots.

The tips presented here are good ones, which I'm going to write down and keep in my camera bag. Hopefully they will eventually become second-nature. :)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/31/2005 03:02:39 PM · #19

Originally posted by faidoi:

Nothing wrong with chimping as long as you check ISO, histogram, bright spots at the same time.

Please forgive the "newbie" question - what's "chimping?"

jab119

10/31/2005 03:18:39 PM · #20

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Originally posted by faidoi:
Nothing wrong with chimping as long as you check ISO, histogram, bright spots at the same time.

Please forgive the "newbie" question - what's "chimping?"

when you see a shot you really want, you start making sound like a monkey... or when you see sometihng you really like. Just think of hte sound Time Alen made on the Home improvement show

James

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

10/31/2005 03:22:37 PM · #21

Originally posted by micknewton:

Make sure there's a CF card in camera, preferrably before shooting all day long.

Very first thing I did when I got mine was set that option that says "Don't take a pic if the user was too stupid to put the card in" (it's got some other more PC name).

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/31/2005 03:25:31 PM · #22

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Originally posted by faidoi:
Nothing wrong with chimping as long as you check ISO, histogram, bright spots at the same time.

Please forgive the "newbie" question - what's "chimping?"

Chimmping is considered not good because while you are looking at your pictures you might miss another shot.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

10/31/2005 03:27:05 PM · #23

Chimping from Wikipedia (see also, scalvert)

Pedro

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/31/2005 03:29:24 PM · #24

Chimping Video