tripod + bridge question

*NaClH2O* · 10-06-2009, 10:27 AM

So I'm planning on taking some early morning shots from a bridge with fairly heavy vehicular traffic and the occasional subway train. The deck of the bridge as a faint tremble frequently (and a much bigger one when a train goes by) So I'm wondering, should I turn off the SR on my K20D or not? On normal ground/floor I turn it off like the manual states, but I was wondering about what I should do on the Manhattan Bridge? Anybody else have any experience with this? Any thoughts?

NaCl(the trials and tribulations of an urban photographer)H2O

flyer · 10-06-2009, 10:39 AM

Why don't you try it both way and post the results? I'm also wondering what would work best.

insulinguy · 10-06-2009, 10:44 AM

id like to see them too - my first thought would be to use SR the whole time just in case - i mean - it cant HURT right?

noblepa · 10-06-2009, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by insulinguy

id like to see them too - my first thought would be to use SR the whole time just in case - i mean - it cant HURT right?

According to some, yes, it can hurt. Pentax advises, in their manuals, to turn SR off when using the camera on a tripod. Some people believe that, if you leave it on, the SR mechanism can actually create sensor motion, even when the camera is motionless. I have never seen any definitive statement from Pentax about this. Do they recommend turning SR off on a tripod simply because it is unneccessary, or because it is detrimental?

In this case, though, there is a definite possibility of camera motion, even though a tripod is used. And, this is exactly the kind of motion that SR is supposed to comensate for; short, high-frequency vibrations.

I, too, would be interested in an actual test under these conditions.

philbaum · 10-06-2009, 06:04 PM

Thats an interesting question since I recently was taking pictures on an old 1929 steel bridge in Bremerton, WA. Rumbles everytime a car goes by.

I opted not to use a tripod and just use SR.

I'm interested if a the camera SR would work to eliminate the rumble effect on a tripod on your bridge. You wouldn't want to use a 2 or 10 sec delay on the tripod because those two options switch off the SR for you automatically.

I know when taking ferrys across Puget Sound, the vibration from the props/engine make tripods useless, but I've never tried it with tripod + Pentax SR on.