Shakes and lenses ( Canon )
Shakes and lenses ( Canon )
Author
Discussion

JABB

Original Poster:

3,609 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
I suffer from shaky hands and I am finding it hard to take good photos because of it.
My main lens is a sigma 18-125 F3.5 - 5.6 non os. Looking at my list of photos, a good percentage are shot at 18, so I can't afford to loose that length.
What would your suggestions be for me? ( Body 20D )
Should I sell the Sigma and direct replace it with an OS model?
Should I look at a Canon 17 - 85 F4 - 5.6 IS
I can't afford much more than the sale of the sigma and maybe a nifty 50, but will add to the pot if the opinion suggests.

pernod

434 posts

218 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
The two cheapest fixes come to mind as worth trying first...

1) Try bumping up your ISO to get quicker shutter speeds. Noisy photos may still be usable for you (?) whereas blurry ones probably aren't.

2) Is a mono-pod an option? Not practical in all environments I know, but may work well in combo with the above.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
Get the 18-55IS kit lens if money is tight
or the sigma 18-55OS

Not the 17-85.

JABB

Original Poster:

3,609 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
Pernod, I have a mono pod and yes it works well, when I can use it.
Rob, is the 18 - 55 lens really any good?
I am thinking my budget for a good walkabout lens will be £150 - £200

johnfm

13,751 posts

280 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
May be worth shooting multiple shots, as most of the camera shake will be from the depressing of the shutter.

If you set the camera to take a burst of shots, you will probably find the second shot will be free of shake blur.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
The 18-55Is kit lens is as good (opticaly) as the 17-85 (well a bit better).

Its not built as well and it doesnt have USM.

Have a look at the Sigma 17-70 OS too, its new (the OS version) but the old one was great opticaly.

LongQ

13,864 posts

263 months

Monday 23rd August 2010
quotequote all
JABB said:
Pernod, I have a mono pod and yes it works well, when I can use it.
Rob, is the 18 - 55 lens really any good?
I am thinking my budget for a good walkabout lens will be £150 - £200
FWIW I have an old non-IS 18-55 and it seems to produce fine results, though I don't us it much.

I think quality might have been variable but get a good one (and accept the build standards) and they seem fine in my experience. The newer IS version is, supposedly, even better.

Killwilly

446 posts

218 months

Tuesday 24th August 2010
quotequote all
RobDickinson said:
The 18-55Is kit lens is as good (opticaly) as the 17-85 (well a bit better).

Its not built as well and it doesnt have USM.

Have a look at the Sigma 17-70 OS too, its new (the OS version) but the old one was great opticaly.
Rob, I think you will find that the latest version of the 18-55 is USM and is a brilliant lens for the money, so is the 55-250.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Tuesday 24th August 2010
quotequote all
Killwilly said:
Rob, I think you will find that the latest version of the 18-55 is USM and is a brilliant lens for the money, so is the 55-250.
There at best micro USM which is like saying your MR2 is a ferrari....

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

270 months

Tuesday 24th August 2010
quotequote all
johnfm said:
May be worth shooting multiple shots, as most of the camera shake will be from the depressing of the shutter.

If you set the camera to take a burst of shots, you will probably find the second shot will be free of shake blur.
yes
Shakes tend to be sine wave like (ish) so you're also likely to take a shot at the bottom or top of the wave where there's no movement.