Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Lately I've been noticing people holding their camera incorrectly both in landscape and portrait orientations.

Basically your left hand to should be supporting the lens, palm side up for both landscape and portrait orientations. Your elbows should be tucked in for stability and to reduce camera shake.

Here's some links on the correct and incorrect way to hold a camera.

http://jaysphototips.com/2009/09/21/how ... ur-camera/
http://www.lightstalking.com/how-hold-slr
http://endlessyears.com/?p=182
http://digital-photography-school.com/h ... tal-camera

You mean Obama is doing it wrong?



Just kidding. Good stuff to learn from.

Uh oh, the Commander and Chief is not setting a good example. At least he's using Canon.

I think I see another photo superimposed in that shot - must have been with a 7D

I've found that holding the hood instead of the lens instead works better at reducing shake (at least on my macro lens)

Joe McNally has a pretty good video on how he holds a camera

DA GRIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsx3-FWfwk

actually i hold my camera like this when im using my prime lens....

It depends on the camera your using...too many times people assume everyone is using an SLR. A good example of this is the movie Pecker, it's about a young Baltimore sandwich shop employee that becomes an overnight sensation when the photographs he's taken of his weird family become the latest rage in the art world..."He never realized how far 35 millimeters would take him. "

Anyway, in the movie he is using a rangefinder with a slim pancake lens, and with that camera you DON'T hold it like an SLR or else you'll get your fingers in the shot (and you won't know it until after you get your pictures back since it's a rangefinder). There are a few scenes in the movie where it looks like his fingers would get in the shot; probably was told by a self-proclaimed camera expert to hold the camera that way.

Obama must have been raised on rangefinders the way he's holding the SLR.




No, you should do what feels comfortable and what works for you (and what lens you're using); if you're not comfortable supporting the lens you're going to shake! Personally for most of my lenses I support the side of the lens with my fingers on top, and the thumb on the bottom opposite of my middle finger. If I'm handholding my footlong lens I may change the grip, but I hardly ever use that lens.

I've been photographing for several decades (typically with SLRs, but occasionally with TLRs and other medium format cameras), and if you think I'm holding the camera wrong that's your hangup, not mine.

With my technique I've gotten steady handheld shots (without IS/VR) of more than 2.5 seconds, and managed handholding 1000mm (equivalent) at 1/50th of a second...maybe everyone else is doing it wrong!

The ends justify the means. I wouldn't switch up something that works because of an opinion on the internet.

Wow, someone is either not getting enough sleep or someone pissed in their cornflakes this morning?

I'm sure Seren Dipity posted this as a guideline, esp for newbies getting into the hobby and meant no ill for those who don't use or follow the same technique.

I used to use a similar technique like you mikefelh on my old man's rangefinder and my very early SLR days. What I found was that with the rangefinder, when I did the technique in the pic below, I would have to try and focus with my knuckles or fingertips in my viewfinder.



On an SLR it's not really a problem but with a longer lens, you're basically carrying the weight of the lens on just your thumb and to me the hold feels unstable compared to palming the lens from under it. By doing the recommended handhold, for me, I can use the palm of my hand to support some of the camera and len's weight; my thumb and fingers can now easily engage or be taken off the focus and/or zoom ring and this technique also helps me tuck my elbow close to my body for additional support.

I agree though, that different holding techniques for different cameras. If it's worked for you for decades, why change a good thing but no need for hostility.

Funny, I didn't see a need for this reply, as it is just another passionate opinion.

While the OP was providing a guideline, it did come across as a bit condescending. If the OP just came across saying "here are some good techniques to better photography", then it would've been different. But, that is just my opinion

I agree with Magic, a means justifies the ends.[/b]

hey nobody forces anyone here, do whatever you want

Yes, I was providing this as a guideline for new photographers who may not know any better. Of course there are exceptions for different lenses, different cameras etc. Common sense people.

Does it mean that if someone has been shooting for decades that they must know what they are doing? Proof is in the pudding as I always say.

sorry i have to bring this up..

I thought Mike DID provide proof of his technique working...

Whatever, there are many ways of holding a camera, and you can make suggestions for better stability, but you seem to think there's an incorrect way for holding a camera, as in your original post, but the proof is

Too funny!

You'd have a real hard time focusing an RF if you hold the camera the way Obama is. The fingers are not in the position to focus anything.

Most RF's either have either a focusing tab or ring and your fingers have to be on that tab/ring to use it. One of the few exceptions to that rule is the Contax/Kiev.

Our Prime Minister almost has it right.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flungingpictures/2888855409/

A little more work on that thumb position and he will be ready to move on to the next lesson: "How to use the viewfinder".

Seren Dipity will be upset but sometimes I just hold the camera with one hand and don't even look through the viewfinder.

Ok, that's just not acceptable Sushant.

I've been known to shoot from the hip from time to time. It's all good.

Whatever works for you. Honestly, I was just trying to help some of the new photogs who don't know up from down. Not trying the preach the gospel or say it has to be this way or that way.

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Unless it involves editing a FS post....

I tried Joe McNally's technique and the only thing I've notice is the unbearable neck pain, even with a decent sized camera like the D300..

I've concluded that his techniques aren't so great for DX cameras. Thank goodness I didn't try this with my (now sold) D40..

Did you have the extra battery grip? If you don't, it doesn't work well. You need that extra couple of inches to rest on your shoulder (or shoulder pads). The D40 is likely just too small to use this way. A D300 + battery grip is about the same size as a D3.

I don't have it, thus da grip don't work too well.

Looking into it, although an external flash is my priority right now.

I don't have it, thus da grip don't work too well.

Looking into it, although an external flash is my priority right now.

Love the kung fu horse riding stance LOL. And the butt thing that works too.

An an "L" lens...

Well better than Harper... now where was that picture....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flungingpi ... 888855409/


This one?