Monopod issue, me issue...something.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/20/2005 01:36:59 AM · #1

I shot our wedding Saturday with a monopod. As I was moving around, I was LOVING the pod. I was just flying here, there, everywhere. Just looked - so are the pix. They look fine on that g'd 1.6" screen, but get them up to 100% and there isn't a one indoors that looks like worth saving. I'm SO furious right now. WTF. I was shooting in most cases ISO 400-800, 1/50 at 50-75mm on the monopod. Do I have Parkinsons? (no offense meant to those who do, my MIL does) WTF? I'll post my crap later, but right now I'm too angry to even do that.

UGH.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

06/20/2005 01:40:28 AM · #2

I have done exactly the same, several times,Just too slow a shutter speed in my case. I now make sure I look and adjust! instead of just assuming they are ok.
Bad luck, hope you salvage a few.

jmlelii

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

06/20/2005 01:55:43 AM · #3

Two Words...

Image Stabilizer

When combined with a monopod, POOF instant tripod!

Just look at this

image.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/20/2005 02:05:34 AM · #4

With a monopod you still have shake issues, Left to right, forward and back. It just helps up and down with a little balance. And if you say your were flying away you have to take in account accelerated heart beat and breathing that may make you more shaky than when relaxed. And at 1/50 on a 50-75mm zoom that don't give much margin of error.

Message edited by author 2005-06-20 02:06:53.

loz1

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/20/2005 09:39:11 AM · #5

That sucks. *hugs*

06/20/2005 12:52:16 PM · #6

Originally posted by SDW65:

I think you're right. At least you didn't tell me how stupid I am, like I got pasted pretty good at FredMiranda. lol

Jeremy - I've actually heard that IS on a monopod is a bad thing? I dunno, I'll have to try it when I get my 70-200 IS 2.8 L. :)

M

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/20/2005 01:23:40 PM · #7

1/50 is too slow..did someone already say that? Sorry if I'm being redundant. Increasing your ISO will give you bright shots but that doesn't make your slow shutter magically not-slow. :-) If you're boosting your ISO that high than you should be fine to use a faster shutter (upwards of 1/90 or higher)...which is necessary on a long lens. Monopods are meant to be used with your legs (to form a tripod) for bracing the image and making them clear. If you are flying around and not "steadying" each shot than yea..a 'pod is useless. I don't use one anyway. A faster shutter next time will cure what ails ya.

06/20/2005 01:26:11 PM · #8

Someone on FM had a good point:

"mavrik, an odd question to ask maybe: How was your sugar level? I find that if I have low blood sugar, I get all shaky and will have problems holding anything steady. In other cases I've been able to shoot real sharp shots with the 80-200 at 1/30... which even shocked me.

I'm very aware of my blood sugar levels now (I'm not a diabetic) and make sure I'm fed and the food is in my system and doing it's magic. I.e. making me more steady."

I was actually VERY dehydrated at the end of the formals (right after ceremony) so maybe that was it too. I was steadying as I went, but clearly not enough to be clear. lol I try and stay away from 1600 ISO, but I guess there are times I'm just going to need it (who is going to get a 16x20 of someone crying in the pew anyways?)

Thanks!

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/20/2005 01:30:44 PM · #9

Staying hydrated is good, but 1/50 is still too slow of a shutter when you're on the go. That's the nice thing about digital - you can shoot with a faster shutter, get a slightly darker (but clear) imagine, and boost levels/curves in PS.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

06/20/2005 01:37:02 PM · #10

1/50 at 50mm should almost be able to be handheld from what I've been told? I can typically handhold 1/focal pretty well. If I'm at 30mm, I can do 1/30 and get sharp images. I was at 50-75mm so 1/50 to 1/60 was in the right range, I thought? My issue, and you've nailed it in your post, is that if I can HANDhold 1/50 at 50mm, the monopod should have given me at least the ability to do the same. For some reason, the monopod was "worse" than my typical handholding.

I also want to clarify that I'm not talking about motion blur. I know 1/50 won't freeze much. 1/30 is a good PAN speed, I know...but I am talking about definite camera shake or camera error. I will post a pic in the next post.

Thanks!

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

06/20/2005 01:38:41 PM · #11

I agree with the shutter speed used, and perhaps you should have used a flash?? My daughter got married on Saturday and I used just the one lens, Canon 28-135 IS and flash...even then I had a couple of blurry ones where hurried them too much.

As is always being mentioned here, it's a learning cuurve and can't expect 100% all the time.

Steve

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/20/2005 01:43:35 PM · #12

Originally posted by mavrik:

1/50 at 50mm should almost be able to be handheld from what I've been told?

Really? Hmmm I don't know anyone who can shoot handheld at 1/50 and get remotely clear images. I definetly can't that's for sure. But hey, if you can, than do it :-)

06/20/2005 01:44:15 PM · #13

This is one of them - sorry for the unedited pic, but I don't want to change anything so you can see what I'm seeing. I have an inkling that there maybe something else wrong too. I noticed it reminds me of a problem someone was having awhile back - and I can't find the post! lol

M

06/20/2005 01:46:09 PM · #14

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Really? Hmmm I don't know anyone who can shoot handheld at 1/50 and get remotely clear images. I definetly can't that's for sure. But hey, if you can, than do it :-)

Really? It depends on focal length, yes? I can shoot my 18mm at 1/25 clear. I can shoot the 75mm typically at 1/60 and get clear shots. Could someone (kirbic, setz, Eddy?) give me a clue also? Am I misinformed on the 1/focal thing? I can usually do it, so I use myself as the guide...

PaulMdx

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/20/2005 01:49:25 PM · #15

Mav, did you use your flash?

06/20/2005 01:52:22 PM · #16

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Mav, did you use your flash?

On some of them. Some I couldn't. I don't think it's a monopod issue anymore. I found a post from another wedding pro who got this:

//img236.echo.cx/img236/5796/backfocus4ul.jpg

That's the same thing I'm getting and he was outdoors with 20D, 70-200 IS and he's VERY VERY good...(in case anyone thinks it's just cuz I suck lol)

M

tomlewis1980

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/20/2005 01:54:23 PM · #17

I'm with goldberry I would say that 1/50 is too low. Also I rarely use a monopod as I find it too restictive, I'd only use it to support the weight of the camera on a very long shoot .

PaulMdx

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/20/2005 01:55:42 PM · #18

Mav, maybe it's worth going outside and giving your lenses a quick check for focus?

06/20/2005 01:57:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Mav, maybe it's worth going outside and giving your lenses a quick check for focus?

Good idea - doing that now.

Originally posted by tomlewis1980:

I'm with goldberry I would say that 1/50 is too low. Also I rarely use a monopod as I find it too restictive, I'd only use it to support the weight of the camera on a very long shoot .

1/50 for what length? I can't believe 1/50 is too slow for 20mm or 18mm? But at 50-75 that I was? Maybe...

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

06/20/2005 01:57:29 PM · #20

Mav - Looking at your posted pic. That almost looks like it's a focus issue rather than motion?

I know this is like comparing apples to oranges, but when I have my Z3 in some manual settings (AP or Shutter) I have to be careful with the program mode as the camera will have a tough time locking focus correctly. Sorry for the thin explanation...can't remember exactly the scenario/settings it's happened to me with.

06/20/2005 02:04:11 PM · #21

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Mav - Looking at your posted pic. That almost looks like it's a focus issue rather than motion?

Yeah, now that I'm looking at the pics and not being so mad at MYSELF, I think it may be that the cam couldn't focus in the low light and I should have been checking it more closely manually. I thought last night that the "whole" of the pic was blurry, but it's more like the focus plane is totally off.

M

tomlewis1980

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/20/2005 02:04:18 PM · #22

Originally posted by mavrik:

1/50 for what length? I can't believe 1/50 is too slow for 20mm or 18mm? But at 50-75 that I was? Maybe...

Personally I would try and keep the shutter well above 100, as for the 1/focal length rule I for one don't put that much faith in it and remember that a 50mm lens is not 50mm on a 10D.

Was there much difference beteen the shots taken with flash and the ones without? As Paul said a quick outdoors test of the lens may give you a clue.

PaulMdx

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/20/2005 02:07:26 PM · #23

Originally posted by mavrik:

I think it may be that the cam couldn't focus in the low light

Am I right in thinking the 300D cannot take a pic unless the camera has focused?

06/20/2005 02:09:35 PM · #24

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Originally posted by mavrik:
I think it may be that the cam couldn't focus in the low light

Am I right in thinking the 300D cannot take a pic unless the camera has focused?

Supposedly...I think we've seen differently now. lol

thatcloudthere