How do you hold your DSLR?

[jann1033]

It's amazing how the world looks when your head is on straight!

think i might need more than a chiropracter to get my head anywhere near normal

 

[MICKEY88]

I actually didn't think of it earlier, but there were times last trip where I would actually hold some of the longer lenses by the lens hood. Theoretically, the farther apart your hands are, the steadier they are (which is why the ideal steering wheel position is hands at 9 and 3, not the commonly-though 10 and 2), so this may have helped the lens stay just a tiny bit more steady.

Think of it like a teeter totter - if you try to hold it still by grabbing the middle, it won't work very well. You need to go to the edges to get some control over it.

but the idea of holding the camera with left hand underbody/lens isn't so much to steady your hands as it is to keep the camera steady when you push down on the shutter, if your left hand is out at the end of the lens, what keeps the camera from moving downward when you push the shutter ,
release,

think of your left hand as a tripod, would you mount under the camera base or out at the lens cap for the best support

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I just hold the camera tight against my body. The viewfinder is for beginners. After you've worked with your camera and lenses for a while, you should have a good idea how your picture is going to look without having to "chimp" through the viewfinder.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I've gone one step further, Mark, being the lazy person I am. I just leave the camera on a nearby surface and if I see something interesting passing in front of the lens, I (might) reach over and press the shutter button. Sometimes I attach the remote so I don't have to stress my joints.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I've gone one step further, Mark, being the lazy person I am. I just leave the camera on a nearby surface and if I see something interesting passing in front of the lens, I (might) reach over and press the shutter button. Sometimes I attach the remote so I don't have to stress my joints.

That is sooooo old school. I set mine up on a motion sensor. Triggering your own shots is totally for people with too much time on their hands.

 

[wkrider]

That is sooooo old school. I set mine up on a motion sensor. Triggering your own shots is totally for people with too much time on their hands.

All that is way old school....I have a sherpa that follows me around and takes all my picks for me. That way I also have a guide with me where ever I go.

 

[DueyDooDah]

...Triggering your own shots is totally for people with too much time on their hands.

Well, I am retired you know.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

All that is way old school....I have a sherpa that follows me around and takes all my picks for me. That way I also have a guide with me where ever I go.

My wife does too.

 

[wkrider]

My wife does too.

Now that's funny , so is it "Mark the Sherpa" while on vacation?

 

[Groucho]

Adding to the head tilt discussion....head tilt can be caused by vertebral subluxation, so you guys might want to find a nice chiropractor to help. As I finished college I noticed that the pictures of me over the years were showing more and more head tilt. Had my neck adjusted with a very specific technique, and pinballed all the day down the hall, as my world was brought upright. It's amazing how the world looks when your head is on straight!

Just for the record, chiropractic medicine is an "alternative" medicine and as such, very controversial in the medical and science communities. Normal medical universities do not give degrees for chiropractic medicine, one has to go to a special college, and I don't believe you're considered an MD when you're done.

If someone is considering visiting one, I'd advise doing a little research first to make sure you understand what they are all about. Most alternative medicine is legal and/or covered by medical insurance because of extensive lobbying of the FDA, not because of merit.

OK, enough of my critical thinking disclaimer.

but the idea of holding the camera with left hand underbody/lens isn't so much to steady your hands as it is to keep the camera steady when you push down on the shutter, if your left hand is out at the end of the lens, what keeps the camera from moving downward when you push the shutter ,
release,

think of your left hand as a tripod, would you mount under the camera base or out at the lens cap for the best support

I disagree. The point of the left hand is not to counteract the shutter release, it's to offer additional stability completely separate from the shutter. Pressing the shutter is not causing much pressure because the same hand that's pressing the shutter is also holding onto the grip. This can be more of a concern if you're using a tripod and your finger pressing the shutter is the only contact you're having with the camera.

I do agree about thinking of it like a tripod - but you're looking at it upside-down, think about the legs, not the head: with a tripod, you get the most stability with the legs far apart. Same thing with where you hold the camera - the farther apart, the better.

 

[MICKEY88]

OK, enough of my critical thinking disclaimer.

I disagree. The point of the left hand is not to counteract the shutter release, it's to offer additional stability completely separate from the shutter. Pressing the shutter is not causing much pressure because the same hand that's pressing the shutter is also holding onto the grip. This can be more of a concern if you're using a tripod and your finger pressing the shutter is the only contact you're having with the camera.

I do agree about thinking of it like a tripod - but you're looking at it upside-down, think about the legs, not the head: with a tripod, you get the most stability with the legs far apart. Same thing with where you hold the camera - the farther apart, the better.

I respectfully disagree, even thought the same hand that trips the shutter release is supporting the camera, the pressing of the shutter will indeed tend to move the camera, a lot of people stab at the shutter release, even their arm may move..why do you think it's recommended to use a shutter release with a tripod


the legs on a tripod being farther apart do more to eliminate horizontal movement, than vertical movement..

I'm not looking at anything upside down, I'm basing my point on decades of experience from millions of pros,

what are you basing your point on other than personal opinion,


there are many sites like this online..


http://www.camerahobby.com/EBook-HoldingCamera_Chapter5Sub.htm

 

[Dcanoli]

Okay, you guys are scaring me now....