My opinion is: The heaviest the better when hand held, I really like my setup when it goes over 2Kg preferably over 3Kg (6.6lbs), max 8Kg for me handheld(I can handle about 12 frames at that weight before a need to rest my arm.) The longest Ive shot handheld was about 300mm 5.6 , 2 TC(4x), large back, Mgrip, Motor drive, MX speed was about 1/125, result were OK, not great... my way: -left palm under the balance point, usually the lense, thumb and index setting focus and opening(some cases just opening) -let the weight place your hand, move the camera with your shoulder and elbow, not your hand. -other arm use a cable release or in my case I fire from the hand in my pocket using the motor drive M grip or batt pack -When you really want that picture, set the motor drive to continous 2 to 3 fps , hit the button for 3 frames, the 1 first frame will suprise you, the 2nd will be good, the 3rd is when you start to lift your head when it is not time -You can also learn how to fire a shutter properly, slowly and constant pressure to prevent kick effect in the picture. -also another trick that works for me, before a shot, exhale all air, inhale all air you can, exhale 1/2 and stop, shoot and continue normal breathing. With that technique, I manage 1/4 time focal lenght seconds, in this case 600mm I could probably handle 1/150~ of a second without bad effect on a 5x7 or even 10x14. bigger than that will show some sign of vibration, usually a aura around the subject. this was taken with [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ 1/2s using all the steps lined before http://community.webshots.com/photo/8701315/10315579TDUQJCHcOf Of course a tripod is ESSENTIAL when the higest quality is seeked even at 1/500s with a 50mm will improve the quality with a tripod vs hand held. but If you can improve your slow shot with that technique, it can also improve your normal hand held shooting... I hope this help, Philippe > On Wed, 9 May 2001, tom wrote: > > > > On the down side, it doesn't have a tripod collar and that is a > > > definite problem, especially using it with a teleconverter. > > > > If it's so light you can handhold it, why would it need a collar? > > With a 2x teleconverter it becomes a 600mm lens, and these are *very* hard > to handhold at most shutter speeds. It's not so much the weight as it is > the narrow field of view, which magnifies all your little wobbles and > shakes. > > chris > - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
