Shake Reduction

RioRico · 06-04-2011, 08:26 AM

Back in the day (later Triassic epoch) when photography was my job, neither SR nor AF existed. We held ourselves steady in blazing sun or sleeting snow, and we LIKED it! Or at least we suffered the inevitable. Damn weather...

Now, I still mostly don't use AF, but SR is ALWAYS ON! At least for handheld shots. Exceptions: When using old non-A-type zooms, or shooting macro, I'll likely exploit bright light, with appropriate shutter speeds, and SR switched off.

snostorm · 06-04-2011, 09:50 AM

I shoot at 300mm+ the great majority of the time, and SR is a proven performer for me, allowing a reliable 2 stops from the "rule of thumb" 1/FL for minimum shutter speed handheld. I'll occasionally push this to 3 stops, but this is rarely necessary any more with the ability to use higher ISO ranges with the K-5. I always use it when shooting unsupported, and though I've had some isolated instances where it seemed to make things worse, 99.9%+ of the time, it's a benefit for me.

Before the K20, I didn't find turning it off for tripod use made much of a difference, but this might be a function of more stable support from better tripods and heads than the camera body in use since I made some significant support upgrades at the same time. Now, I always turn it off when using a tripod.

Scott

yusuf · 06-04-2011, 10:01 AM

I either use self timer in camera OR Pentax Remote

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-04-2011, 10:19 AM

The attached is a 100% crop out of a K7 image. This was shot with an smc300/4 and smc-f 1.7 x AFTC (510mm equivalent ) hand held at 1/40 th of a second. You cannot say SR does not help

ccd333 · 06-04-2011, 12:32 PM

I find it works very effectively on my K-r. There's no way I could as sharp a shots otherwise (without a tripod).....esp. in lower light or relatively slower shutter speeds.

Jochen · 06-05-2011, 09:57 AM

I find Pentax's SR beautiful for filming video:

**Kerrowdown** · 06-05-2011, 10:22 AM

Yes always on with me (except with delayed remote tripod use, where it turns itself off), anything that gives me an edge I'm for.

**Rondec** · 06-07-2011, 03:25 AM

I personally have never seen a situation where SR made my photo worse, but I have seen lots and lots where it benefited me. Some people are steadier than others, but I think our expectations for sharpness have increased significantly since the film era (I wasn't a pixel peeper back then). SR definitely lets me shoot a couple of stops slower shutter speed than I could without it.

Shot at 50 mm 1/5 second with DA * 16-50. Any softness you see is from the dirty window at the zoo.

Stone G. · 06-07-2011, 04:02 AM

Originally posted by benhai

The lesson I learned here is that SR take a little time to establish. After you half press the shutter you have to look for the little hand to appear and stable. Don't know why it can't work immediately. If you know to wait for the little hand then you can tell if SR really works. To me, SR does work very well on K-7.

Don't know how it works on each and every model. For me and my K200D SR also takes a little time to establish itself - but no longer than it takes to establish autofocus!

Most of the time I shoot manual focus, and that gives the SR even more time. And with my old Pentax & Tamron 100, 200, 300 and 350 mm MF lenses, the Pentax in-camera SR is truly something that I appreciate very, very much whenever light conditions are less than very bright!

So, as for most other participants in this thread, SR is almost always on for me. If I use tripod, I usually use the 2s timer and mirror lock-up, which turns the SR off automatically.

JHD · 06-07-2011, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Stone G.

Don't know how it works on each and every model. For me and my K200D SR also takes a little time to establish itself - but no longer than it takes to establish autofocus!

Depends on the lens... My Sigma 50-150 always pulls focus before the SR sets on the K-7 and K-x.

**EsBee** · 06-07-2011, 09:11 PM

It is always on but at high shutter speeds and/or short focal lengths, I turn it off whenever I remember, or if I am panning or purposely attempting to introduce vertical shake for certain subjects.

And also as a general rule, I turn it off whenever I use a tripod.

Smeggypants · 06-07-2011, 09:45 PM

I am finding the Shake reduction is causing soft/blurred pics in some situations. I think it's due to taking the pic before the SR has stabilised. I've found some shots at fast shutter speeds and smaller apertures in good light are soft/blurred. It's definitely not down to wrong focus. The next shot at the same settings can be sharp as a sharp thing.

Smeggypants · 06-07-2011, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by geekette

Would appreciate some feedback from pro/experienced photographers who shoot with Pentax: Do you use shake reduction or not? I can't help but think it might add blurriness on some occasions or make the picture look worse.

See my post above. I am a finding this.

wll · 06-09-2011, 03:59 AM

For me, SR is always on.

The ONLY time it is off is if my K20D is on a tripod or shooting flash.

wll

**TER-OR** · 06-09-2011, 06:42 AM

I know it's probably a noobish question, but when shooting at higher shutter speeds - say 1/250 and above is SR really necessary? Does the camera not employ the SR at those speeds? It's probably in the manual, but I don't remember that being addressed.
There's probably no advantage to turning it off, but it's been bugging me a little - just knowing.

06-05-2011, 09:57 AM	#21
Jochen New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moscow Posts: 19	I find Pentax's SR beautiful for filming video: Vimeo

06-09-2011, 03:59 AM	#29
wll Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mission Hills, CA Posts: 773	SR .... On For me, SR is always on. The ONLY time it is off is if my K20D is on a tripod or shooting flash. wll

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06-04-2011, 08:26 AM	#16
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Back in the day (later Triassic epoch) when photography was my job, neither SR nor AF existed. We held ourselves steady in blazing sun or sleeting snow, and we LIKED it! Or at least we suffered the inevitable. Damn weather... Now, I still mostly don't use AF, but SR is ALWAYS ON! At least for handheld shots. Exceptions: When using old non-A-type zooms, or shooting macro, I'll likely exploit bright light, with appropriate shutter speeds, and SR switched off.

06-04-2011, 09:50 AM	#17
snostorm Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA Posts: 1,535	I shoot at 300mm+ the great majority of the time, and SR is a proven performer for me, allowing a reliable 2 stops from the "rule of thumb" 1/FL for minimum shutter speed handheld. I'll occasionally push this to 3 stops, but this is rarely necessary any more with the ability to use higher ISO ranges with the K-5. I always use it when shooting unsupported, and though I've had some isolated instances where it seemed to make things worse, 99.9%+ of the time, it's a benefit for me. Before the K20, I didn't find turning it off for tripod use made much of a difference, but this might be a function of more stable support from better tripods and heads than the camera body in use since I made some significant support upgrades at the same time. Now, I always turn it off when using a tripod. Scott

06-04-2011, 10:01 AM	#18
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	I either use self timer in camera OR Pentax Remote

06-04-2011, 10:19 AM	#19
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	The attached is a 100% crop out of a K7 image. This was shot with an smc300/4 and smc-f 1.7 x AFTC (510mm equivalent ) hand held at 1/40 th of a second. You cannot say SR does not help

06-04-2011, 12:32 PM	#20
ccd333 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Windsor, Colorado Posts: 196	I find it works very effectively on my K-r. There's no way I could as sharp a shots otherwise (without a tripod).....esp. in lower light or relatively slower shutter speeds.

06-05-2011, 10:22 AM	#22
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Yes always on with me (except with delayed remote tripod use, where it turns itself off), anything that gives me an edge I'm for.

06-07-2011, 03:25 AM	#23
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	I personally have never seen a situation where SR made my photo worse, but I have seen lots and lots where it benefited me. Some people are steadier than others, but I think our expectations for sharpness have increased significantly since the film era (I wasn't a pixel peeper back then). SR definitely lets me shoot a couple of stops slower shutter speed than I could without it. Shot at 50 mm 1/5 second with DA * 16-50. Any softness you see is from the dirty window at the zoo.

06-07-2011, 04:02 AM	#24
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by benhai The lesson I learned here is that SR take a little time to establish. After you half press the shutter you have to look for the little hand to appear and stable. Don't know why it can't work immediately. If you know to wait for the little hand then you can tell if SR really works. To me, SR does work very well on K-7. Don't know how it works on each and every model. For me and my K200D SR also takes a little time to establish itself - *but no longer than it takes to establish autofocus!* Most of the time I shoot manual focus, and that gives the SR even more time. And with my old Pentax & Tamron 100, 200, 300 and 350 mm MF lenses, the Pentax in-camera SR is truly something that I appreciate very, very much whenever light conditions are less than very bright! So, as for most other participants in this thread, SR is almost always on for me. If I use tripod, I usually use the 2s timer and mirror lock-up, which turns the SR off automatically.

06-07-2011, 06:54 PM	#25
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	Originally posted by Stone G. Don't know how it works on each and every model. For me and my K200D SR also takes a little time to establish itself - *but no longer than it takes to establish autofocus!* Depends on the lens... My Sigma 50-150 always pulls focus before the SR sets on the K-7 and K-x.

06-07-2011, 09:11 PM	#26
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	It is always on but at high shutter speeds and/or short focal lengths, I turn it off whenever I remember, or if I am panning or purposely attempting to introduce vertical shake for certain subjects. And also as a general rule, I turn it off whenever I use a tripod.

06-07-2011, 09:45 PM	#27
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	I am finding the Shake reduction is causing soft/blurred pics in some situations. I think it's due to taking the pic before the SR has stabilised. I've found some shots at fast shutter speeds and smaller apertures in good light are soft/blurred. It's definitely not down to wrong focus. The next shot at the same settings can be sharp as a sharp thing.

06-07-2011, 09:46 PM	#28
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by geekette Would appreciate some feedback from pro/experienced photographers who shoot with Pentax: Do you use shake reduction or not? I can't help but think it might add blurriness on some occasions or make the picture look worse. See my post above. I am a finding this.

06-09-2011, 06:42 AM	#30
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	I know it's probably a noobish question, but when shooting at higher shutter speeds - say 1/250 and above is SR really necessary? Does the camera not employ the SR at those speeds? It's probably in the manual, but I don't remember that being addressed. There's probably no advantage to turning it off, but it's been bugging me a little - just knowing.