Use Live-View, Not EVF or OVF

[tbcass]

More of this "established fact"; complete with an 'if my way isn't better, you simply don't know how' chaser. C'mon.

And it's OK to claim that using an LCD away from your eye is as good or better than using an eye level viewfinder. It works both ways.

I've seen many shooters who 'looked the part' standing there with their DSLR glued to their eye when even the lowliest P&S shooter knew enough to set the camera on the fence post right in front of them for a more stable shot.

It is a fact that holding the camera to your eye is more stable than holding it away from your face. It's also common sense. The farther away you hold your camera the greater any movement is exaggerated. Look up fulcrum.

I never said is is always the best way to achieve maximum stability. It is the best way when a better way isn't available and better than using the LCD. That should be obvious. Leaning on a post or wall will give even more stability, monopods more yet and a post or tripod will be most stable of all. I always carry a mini tripod with me for using on picnic tables, posts etc when I travel light.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/

 

[tbcass]

Those shots weren't taken where very slow shutter speeds were needed or with a long tele lens. My discussion is based on best results when the shutter speed is slow enough to make hand held steady shots difficult but not impossible with the correct technique and a tripod is not available.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/

 

[riveredger]

Those shots weren't taken where very slow shutter speeds were needed or with a long tele lens. My discussion is based on best results when the shutter speed is slow enough to make hand held steady shots difficult but not impossible with the correct technique and a tripod is not available.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/

For the specific scenario you have described, OF COURSE it makes more sense to use the EVF/OVF. Like I've said, the situation will dicatate the best technique to use.

 

[OldClicker]

More of this "established fact"; complete with an 'if my way isn't better, you simply don't know how' chaser. C'mon.

And it's OK to claim that using an LCD away from your eye is as good or better than using an eye level viewfinder. It works both ways.

It certainly does work both ways. If you inferred that I was supporting the trolling of the OP, sorry.

I've seen many shooters who 'looked the part' standing there with their DSLR glued to their eye when even the lowliest P&S shooter knew enough to set the camera on the fence post right in front of them for a more stable shot.

It is a fact that holding the camera to your eye is more stable than holding it away from your face. It's also common sense. The farther away you hold your camera the greater any movement is exaggerated. Look up fulcrum.

What you are saying is obvious, but I'm sure that there are circumstances where holding a camera at arms length will give a steadier image. Off the top of the head - riding on the back of a motorcycle between the train track rails over the ties. I bet the suspended arms would be much steadier than the vibrating head/body.

I never said is is always the best way to achieve maximum stability. It is the best way when a better way isn't available and better than using the LCD.

I don't know that you meant to, but you just said it again!

That should be obvious. Leaning on a post or wall will give even more stability,...

And again - set the camera ON the post. It's like you cannot conceive removing it from your eye unless you have some photography specific equipment to mount it on.

...monopods more yet and a post or tripod will be most stable of all. I always carry a mini tripod with me for using on picnic tables, posts etc when I travel light.

--

Terry

 

[Alfred Molon]

It takes practice but it is an established fact by photographers that the elbows against body and using the eye level viewfinder is steadier. If your results are different then you haven't mastered the technique yet.

With an older camera without IS I used to get sharp shots at 1/13s and 35mm (which is an exposure time three times longer than the recommended one at this focal length) by holding the camera 20-30cm from the eyes. Even now with the A55 I get much better results if the camera is not glued to the eye.
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Alfred

 

[dlkeller]

Interesting. You must have very stead hands. It sure doesn't work for me that way. When holding the VF to my eye I don't hold it that tightly to my face. Trying to hold anything tightly causes vibration--but using the face and arms together certainly gives me better stabilization. I guess there is a lot of individuality involved.

I haven't used the A33/55 yet as I can't find a functioning model to try, but my experience with LV in the past is that I much prefer an eye level VF (EVF or OVF), although I can see the advantage in conditions such as shooting from an extreme angle. The view of the scene in the LCD just doesn't show the detail as the OVF for my eyes-not even my old KM5D VF much less my A700.
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Dave

 

[tbcass]

I never said is is always* the best way to achieve maximum stability.* It is the best way when a better way isn't available and better than using the LCD.

I don't know that you meant to, but you just said it again!

I bolded always this time because apparently you missed it.

That should be obvious. Leaning on a post or wall will give even more stability,...

And again - set the camera ON the post. It's like you cannot conceive removing it from your eye unless you have some photography specific equipment to mount it on.

I think you are misunderstanding me. I should have added " Leaning on a post or wall will give even more stability than free standing while holding" but I thought it was obvious that is what I meant as the rest of the sentence below verifies.

... monopods more yet and a POST or tripod will be most stable of all. I always carry a mini tripod with me for using on picnic tables, posts etc when I travel light.

When you edit out the qualifiers in the sentence you completely change the meaning. It seems obvious I meant setting on a post but you read into it whatever you want to make your point.
--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/

 

[tbcass]

It takes practice but it is an established fact by photographers that the elbows against body and using the eye level viewfinder is steadier. If your results are different then you haven't mastered the technique yet.

With an older camera without IS I used to get sharp shots at 1/13s and 35mm (which is an exposure time three times longer than the recommended one at this focal length) by holding the camera 20-30cm from the eyes. Even now with the A55 I get much better results if the camera is not glued to the eye.

You're unusual then. I can get sharp shots hand held down to 1/4 - 1/8s sec without IS while holding up to my eye as some previous examples I posted verify. I cannot do that while holding the camera 20-30 cm from my face.

--
Tom

Look at the picture, not the pixels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/