File :-(, x, )
Blurry Pics? Anonymous
I'm new to photography, but I have a good eye. I bought a new d80 to start doing some serious photography (I know what you're thinking - rich bloke).

I have one major problem. It doesn't have auto stabilisation, and I don't have a very steady arm, so when I need a slow shutter the picture always comes out blurry. I do have a tripod and all that jazz, but how do I stop this from happening (or at least reduce how noticeable it is) when I'm out shooting and don't have the tripod option?

Pic is a closeup of a painting in my house.
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/5.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern836Focal Length (35mm Equiv)202 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:12:25 11:31:52Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.6Exposure ProgramNot DefinedISO Speed Rating200Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length135.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3872Image Height2592RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypePortraitGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSharpnessSoftSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used200Color ModeCOLORImage QualityNORMALWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningAUTOFocus ModeAF-AFlash SettingNORMALAuto Flash ModeBuilt-in,TTLFlash Compensation0.0 EVISO Speed Requested200Flash Bracket Compensation0.0 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.0 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusClosest Subject, Left Selected, Unknown FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModePortrait sRGBLighting TypeSPEEDLIGHTNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations64Saturation 2AUTODigital Vari-ProgramPORTRAIT
>> Anonymous
Use a bigger aperture. Increase ISO (means more color noise though). Increase the amount of light by using flash or letting more natural light in somehow. All of these will allow you to use a higher shutter speed, meaning less shake.

Also, there are several techniques to reduce shake. Hold your breath, use the timer function (so that the depression of the shutter doesn't shake the camera), position your feet and keep your elbows tucked in to your chest.

Happy shooting.
>> Liska
Are you shaking up and down, or side to side? I also find that a monopod, as opposed to the tripod, helps me out a lot since I only shake up and down.
>> Anonymous
Won't aperture size affect field depth? Also, I've heard that noise is hard to get rid at the editing stage. I'm no software genius - is it as difficult as people say?


I've been trying these things. However, I'm not doing so well. My arms are partially handicapped, which makes it very difficult. Are there any devices out there for anti-shake?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Just realised how frigging huge that file is - cut it down some.

Liska: it's all around shaking.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareVer.1.00Focal Length (35mm Equiv)202 mmMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.7Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern27450Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:12:25 11:31:52RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypePortraitGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSharpnessSoftSubject Distance RangeUnknownExposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.6Exposure ProgramNot DefinedISO Speed Rating200Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlash, Auto, Return DetectedFocal Length135.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3872Image Height2592ISO Speed Used200Color ModeCOLORImage QualityNORMALWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningAUTOFocus ModeAF-AFlash SettingNORMALAuto Flash ModeBuilt-in,TTLFlash Compensation0.0 EVISO Speed Requested200Flash Bracket Compensation0.0 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.0 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusClosest Subject, Left Selected, Unknown FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModePortrait sRGBLighting TypeSPEEDLIGHTNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations64Saturation 2AUTODigital Vari-ProgramPORTRAIT
>> Liska
>>36340

Yeah; it might cost you a little more, but a lot of Lenses come with a stablizer so there's no need to use the tripod or monopod unless it's for a long exposure. If you ask your local photo store for help, they should be able to point you in the right direction. How bad is the shaking? You can also open up your aperture a little more, as 36338 pointed out, which will make your shutter speed faster.
>> Anonymous
I bought a kit. I knew before I bought it that I wouldn't have stabilisation, but I didn't expect it to be a problem.
>> Liska
Just play around with some experiment shots and see what you can use to help yourself. There's always a way/variation that can be found
>> Anonymous
just get some VR lenses if it bothers you. or learn how to denoise pics later, its not hard.
>> Anonymous
>>36337
Use a higher ISO.
>> des
If this is your first slr, there's probably nothing wrong with you. You just have to practice shooting technique as
>>36338
said.
Technology won't make up for bad technique. Breathe in and then lightly breathe out and hold, fire. You shake less with empty lungs.
Don't punch the shutter release, it's a smooth motion.
Your exif says 1/60th of a second with a 135mm focal length. That's about 200 on a D80. The rule of thumb would be to not use a shutter speed lower than 1/200th at that focal length. It's not a hard rule, if you truely are shaking then it probably won't help much; if you're not, once you get better, you can handhold at longer shutter speeds.

Before you spend bux, you might want to try turning on AutoISO and/or using the adjustable Program mode. In "P" if you spin the main wheel you get different equivalent exposure settings, so you could keep the shutter speed above 1/focal-length. Adjustable program mode alone won't work in low-light, though, the lens' aperture can only open up so much.