Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/10

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Subject: Re: [Leica] was:Oh, yeah/ now heli & tripod
From: Greg Locke <locke@straylight.ca>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 19:16:54 -03-30

At 02:10 PM 10/01/00 -0800, you wrote:
> >Do tripods pick up vibrations when used in helicopters?>>>>>
>
>Consider this before anyone rights it off as a useless question.
>
>Yes! However, Camera on tripod, everything is vibrating at same rythum,
>therefore everything is sharp!  Think about that first.
>
>Then tell me it wont work.  Careful now if you haven't tried it!. :)

         Yes, Ted.  Everything IS vibrating..... except your subject.

And even if your subject is IN the helicopter, different materials and mass 
will vibrate at different frequencies.

A Herc, flying straight and level, is a different animal then a chopper.

Shutter speed and not letting you camera touch ANYTHING is the only think 
that will save you in a chopper.

I shoot from Helicopters A LOT.  In a wind buffeted hover over the north 
Atlantic you are risking the picture with anything under 250/th of a sec.

125th CAN be done in smooth air, with a pilot with a steady hand... and a 
bit of luck.

My standard set up is Leica M's, Fujichrome 100, 35 and 50mm lenses, and 
250th at (f2.0 to f8.0) as required for the light.

Here is a typical helicopter shot http://www.straylight.ca/locke/hibernia.htm
....and this was a very calm day.

cheers




Greg Locke                         St. John's, Newfoundland
locke@straylight.ca              http://www.straylight.ca/locke
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