Issue with Fuji Zooms and Tripod

Kirth Gersen wrote:

Thanks, I will try using my cable release. Haven't yet, as I would have thought a timer would introduce less possibility of shake.

Kirth

Think this is a good idea.

To be clear: the difference between cable release and self timer is that with a cable release, you definitely go through the step of halfway pressing the shutter before releasing the shutter.

Yes you can generate shake through cable movement but by doing things gently, you can avoid this.

I have the RR-100. It is 'OK' in my opinion but not perfect because there is not really a good pressure point for the halfway pressed shutter. But exercise helps. I always release it only with my thumb tip.

However, still, I can hardly imagine that bad focus is your problem. I mean if you have a still subject, place the camera on your tripod, select your focus point, let the AF do its job while using the self timer - what should go wrong??

..... Well.... m-maybe one more idea.......:

When I test lenses (which is really not easy, there are a few threads from me), I usually completely defocus (e.g., on my hand), then I focus exactly once on the subject (test chart, tree, whatever) with the AF (i.e., I halfway press the cable release) and with this (i.e., I do not release the shutter any more), I wait a few seconds (to let relax any potential AF vibration) and - then - eventually take the picture. And I repeat this procedure about 5 times for each image (always with complete defocusing between shots). In the end, I select the sharpest images. Since I've been doing this, differences in sharpness have always been marginal but I am still in the learning phase. Of course, I use the ES, too, to avoid any shutter shock.

OK. Sounds complex. In simple words: what I avoid is focusing a second time on the same subject after having already focused on it.

Cheers,

Martin