This question was raised from a discussion started under the thread "Portable 30 0 mm lenses". As with Julio, we entered the subject of camera stability as an important aspect in the completion of a sharp photograph, I think it would be instructive to con tinue this discussion in the forum and hear what other photographers have to say and what hints they would provide. Julio pointed to me in a private mail that motion during pose can be caused by n umerous factors, wind (very important), improper release cable operation, we cou ld add improper tripod setting (on unstable vegetation or soil, snow, or in the flow of running water), undersized tripod. It is true that central shutters prod uce very little vibration. But on my opinion, they produce some. If this effect is negligible on short lenses, it is multiplicated on long focals, due to lever effect of the bellows extension and aggravated by the narrow angle of view of t he lens. With long lenses when possible, I extend the pose to one second or long er to minimize this "motion" on the overall exposure time. Julio says he would t hink a heavy lens should dampen the vibration and I think this is partly right. If you have driven a car on a "corrugated iron" dirt road, you have noticed that at certain speeds your car moves smoothly while there is hell at the wheels lev el. But if you slow down, the car begins to shake with every little bump. I use sometimes on a Pentax 6x7 a heavy 400 mm. The weight absorbs the (strong) shutt er shakes quite well at high speeds, but even with the sturdiest tripod and mirr or up lock, there are slow speeds I must avoid. On a field view camera with exte nded bellows, I think the smaller and lighter the lens, the more stable the shot at slow speeds. But this is just my opinion and nothing scientific. I use a thi n soft cloth release cable about 25 cm in a loop. I don't know if it transmits m oves or not to the lens so I try not to move my hand during the pose. A 50 cm le ngth would perhaps be safer but it gets easily caught in the vegetation. I have seen photographers use two tripods for long lens takings with studio type view c ameras. I am personally not yet a user of lenses longer than 360 mm in LF and I would be interested in reading what you have experimented and what precaution yo u take when using 300, 450, 600 or longer lenses in the field. Is the shutter sh ake on (modern)LF lenses a reality or just an other myth? One of the specific qu estion I would also ask in relation with long lenses is how do you manage with h yperfocal when you need the max DOF (exemple close trees and mountains in the ba ck). Do you rely on what you see on the GG or do you use a DOF scale? Where do you place the point? By the way, happy New Year to all !
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