tripod + bridge question

**NaClH2O** · 10-06-2009, 09:27 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, 09:39 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, 09:44 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, 12:55 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, 05:04 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.

10-06-2009, 09:27 AM	#1
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	tripod + bridge question 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

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10-06-2009, 09:39 AM	#2
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Why don't you try it both way and post the results? I'm also wondering what would work best.

10-06-2009, 09:44 AM	#3
insulinguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134	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?

10-06-2009, 12:55 PM	#4
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	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.

10-06-2009, 05:04 PM	#5
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	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.