Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?: Canon Rebel (EOS 200D-800D) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

Started Dec 24, 2015 | Questions

Evil Nemesis • Forum Member • Posts: 90

Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

Dec 24, 2015

Hi, I just bought this 55x250 EF-S STM II lens for my rebel t3. Haven't test my new lens yet but just wanna ask if I need to keep my tripod with me all the time when using a focal length of 200 or 250mm ? Even during day time and in good light, macro shots etc ?

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Canon EOS 1100D Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM

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Canon EOS 1100D (EOS Rebel T3 / EOS Kiss X50)

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Peter63 • Senior Member • Posts: 1,529

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 24, 2015

I almost never use it with a tripod. The stabilization works well and if you need a very slow shutter speed, try bracing on something or working on your technique.

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kreygscott • Senior Member • Posts: 1,285

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 24, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

Hi, I just bought this 55x250 EF-S STM II lens for my rebel t3. Haven't test my new lens yet but just wanna ask if I need to keep my tripod with me all the time when using a focal length of 200 or 250mm ? Even during day time and in good light, macro shots etc ?

You do not need to have a tripod with you at all times. However there are some situations which will require the use of a tripod such as in low light conditions, and macro. The 55-250 EF-S STM is not considered a fast lens regardless of its focussing capabilities. For landscape and shots I always use a tripod especially when working with a long lens. However for portraits which the 55-250 is also good at its lowest magnification or 55mm you can shoot without the use of a tripod. You can also use the techniques mentioned by Peter33 which will also reduce camera shake and improve image sharpness.

Hope this helps.

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Stu Brennan • Regular Member • Posts: 330

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to kreygscott • Dec 25, 2015

IIRC there was an old rule of thumb from back in the 35mm film days. The shutter speed should be, according to the rule, faster than "1 over the focal length". If you are at 500mm, for instance, the shutter should be at 1/500 or faster. If you can't manage that, then you need a support or a tripod. I assume that today's image stabilization would allow you to cheat that a little, but probably not much

Stu

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WilbaW • Forum Pro • Posts: 11,643

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Stu Brennan • Dec 25, 2015

Stu Brennan wrote:

IIRC there was an old rule of thumb from back in the 35mm film days. The shutter speed should be, according to the rule, faster than "1 over the focal length". If you are at 500mm, for instance, the shutter should be at 1/500 or faster.

You do RC, but the ROT needs to include the crop factor to get the 35mm equivalent focal length (EFL), so your example becomes 1/(500x1.6) = 1/800.

If you can't manage that, then you need a support or a tripod.

That's the crucial thing - the ROT is a gross approximation, and you have to do some testing to know what you (your own self) can get away with. That testing also has to take into account your purpose, for instance, you need much faster shutters for large images of birds than you do for small images of sunsets.

You can test it by taking 10 shots at 1/2EFL, then 1/EFL, 2/EFL, 4/EFL... If you can consistently get say 90% sharp shots at a particular ratio, then that can be your personal ROT.

I assume that today's image stabilization would allow you to cheat that a little, but probably not much

Actually quite a bit. I've found Canon's claims to be accurate, for instance, if they say IS is worth 3-4 steps, then I can confidently go 3 steps longer on the shutter.

I don't know about the 55-250 STM, but the older 55-250s needed a good second for the IS to settle, so you need to take a deliberate pause with those lenses.

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Digirame • Forum Pro • Posts: 41,857

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 25, 2015

No, a zoom lens does not always need a tripod. I never use a tripod for any of my outdoor Canon DSLR photos from 18mm focal length to 600mm focal length. And that includes when I was using my older Olympus DSLR cameras and lenses at different focal lengths more than four years ago.

Sometimes a zoom lens could use a tripod if the shutter speed was too slow. Practice holding the camera and lens steady. Brace the camera and lens at times also.

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Dave Throgmartin • Contributing Member • Posts: 878

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 25, 2015

I agree with the others. Using a tripod is not always necessary when using a zoom lens, but can be nice to do at times.

The main advantages to using a tripod IMO are:

1) Careful image composition - Typically I find for myself that the images are better composed when using a tripod.

2) Typically you can use ISO 100 unless it will cause motion blur because of the slow shutter speed - Want to shoot a landscape at f/11 to maintain deep depth of field and ISO 100 during the golden hour? If you shoot hand held the camera will likely shake. You can bump the ISO to compensate or open up the aperture. Neither are desirable at times.

3) Sharpness is as good as your setup is capable of when using a tripod plus careful manual focusing or focusing using live view. Phase detect autofocus (focus through the viewfinder) is not as accurate.

Regards

Dave

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Clive50 • Contributing Member • Posts: 693

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 25, 2015

with a 55-250 I wouldn't bother as it's not heavy so you should be able to hold it still. I use that lens and a 150-500 tamron and the slow shutter speed with the Tamron needs a tripod or something to hang on to being a heavy lens.

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ThrillaMozilla • Veteran Member • Posts: 7,681

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 25, 2015

A fool asks on the Interwebs, and gets foolish answers. A wise man just tries it.

I have a picture I took with that lens at 250 mm, bouncing around in the back seat of a car on the highway. The picture is sharp. That is not a fluke.

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Digirame • Forum Pro • Posts: 41,857

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 25, 2015

Nemesis, in addition to what I wrote please understand that "rules are made to be broken". It depends on the individual photographer and techniques employed to take them hand-held at very slow shutter speeds relative to the focal length.

For example, when I find the wood ducks perched on a branch and I have time I can take them hand-held at about 1/100th of a second (or even slower) at 600mm FL. The technique that I use is to brace the camera and lens on a wooden railing nearby.

I have to take them at these slow shutter speeds when we have cloudy weather. I stop down the lens in my attempt to keep everything about the bird in focus including the tail feathers (as much as possible).

Here is one taken hand-held with the Canon 18-55mm lens at 1/4th of a second.

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Shifter • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,076

No. It's a short zoom.

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 28, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

Hi, I just bought this 55x250 EF-S STM II lens for my rebel t3. Haven't test my new lens yet but just wanna ask if I need to keep my tripod with me all the time when using a focal length of 200 or 250mm ? Even during day time and in good light, macro shots etc ?

How's the new lens work?

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OP Evil Nemesis • Forum Member • Posts: 90

Re: No. It's a short zoom.

In reply to Shifter • Dec 28, 2015

It's great but haven't really tested it yet in open. Will go on photo hunt with the new lens on Sunday and will try to post some pics

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Shifter • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,076

Re: No. It's a short zoom.

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 28, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

It's great but haven't really tested it yet in open. Will go on photo hunt with the new lens on Sunday and will try to post some pics

It's Monday now for most of the world. ???

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OP Evil Nemesis • Forum Member • Posts: 90

Re: No. It's a short zoom.

In reply to Shifter • Dec 28, 2015

Lolz, man I was talking about next Sunday as I'm busy on weekdays.

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Canon EOS 1100D Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM

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Shifter • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,076

LOL

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 28, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

Lolz, man I was talking about next Sunday as I'm busy on weekdays.

Wow. OK. My mistake. I'd go nuts myself waiting to try a new lens that long, but that's cool.

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RedFox88 • Forum Pro • Posts: 30,738

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Stu Brennan • Dec 28, 2015

Stu Brennan wrote:

IIRC there was an old rule of thumb from back in the 35mm film days. The shutter speed should be, according to the rule, faster than "1 over the focal length". If you are at 500mm, for instance, the shutter should be at 1/500 or faster. If you can't manage that, then you need a support or a tripod. I assume that today's image stabilization would allow you to cheat that a little, but probably not much

Stu

No. With aps-c you need to multiple the focal length by 1.6 to get the effective focal length. And the OP's lens has IS which provides about 2.5 stops of stabilization. So a 250 mm is 400 and with 2.5 stops brings it down to about 80 so 1/80 shutter speed minimum needed for normal hand held use.

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OP Evil Nemesis • Forum Member • Posts: 90

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to RedFox88 • Dec 29, 2015

Alright so for example a broad day light sports (cricket) scene capture Should I go with TV mode ? or manual

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kreygscott • Senior Member • Posts: 1,285

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 29, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

Alright so for example a broad day light sports (cricket) scene capture Should I go with TV mode ? or manual

Shoot in full manual leaving ISO adjustment as the last resort.

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OP Evil Nemesis • Forum Member • Posts: 90

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to kreygscott • Dec 30, 2015

Thanks alot mate.

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kreygscott • Senior Member • Posts: 1,285

Re: Does a zoom lense always need tripod ?

In reply to Evil Nemesis • Dec 30, 2015

Evil Nemesis wrote:

Thanks alot mate.

Glad I could be of help mate.:-)

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