[Leica] Leica newbie inquiry LONG LENS HOLDING!

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Doug Herr offered::
> I have found that with longer lenses a shoulder stock combined with a
> monopod make a decent camera support for lenses as large as the 280
> f/4 APO and 400mm f/6.8.  I've run a few tests of the slow-shutter
capability
> and I've found that 1/15 sec is viable with the 280 and this setup when
I'm
> leaning against something solid.> >

Rick Dykstra responded:

> You must be made of concrete Doug!  Well done.  :-)<<

Hi Rick,
I'm sure photographer's like Doug and myself who use long lenses quite a
bit, that the "practice of this" allows us the, if you will, luxury to shoot
at slower shutter speeds hand held. Certainly where others may fear to go.

It does make a difference what you get away with depending on how much you
work with certain lenses and under what conditions that governs the ratio of
keepers to garbage.

Where we get away with a 1/15th shutter speed is dependent on basically how
many hours, days or whatever amount of time we do it allowing us to
automatically go into "shooting slower speed mode" when it's necessary. It's
a kind of taking the body position, holding camera, the leaning on whatever
else we do, we do without thought purely from doing it so often. It happens
by rote without any firm thought process.

When I have no choice but to use slow speeds I never think about it, as my
complete concentration is on capturing the subject at peak action and not
worrying about the shutter speed. Simply  because if you do think about it,
"gee I'm shooting at 1/15th I better be very careful here." Do that and the
action is over, then it's "Oh sh...t! Damn!" :-)  Its like, just do it!
Don't think about it! ;-)

ted