Canon 135L handholding

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Tej Phatak
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p.1 #1 · Canon 135L handholding

I just bought a Canon 135L for my 5D but am finding that it is really hard to handhold it with shutter speeds less than 1/135 (I know my technique isn't great too). Has anyone had similar trouble? I really wanted a long prime but I feel like I can't handhold it effectively. Of course with my 50/1.4 I can hold for 1/40 even. Any tips/advice would be appreciated. Thanks. On a similar note, is the 100 f/2 significantly more handholdable given its lower FL? I have no problems holding my 70-200 f/4 IS but of course that is due to the IS.

Jul 25, 2008 at 01:45 PM

Breitling65
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p.1 #2 · Canon 135L handholding

Tej Phatak wrote:
I just bought a Canon 135L for my 5D but am finding that it is really hard to handhold it with shutter speeds less than 1/135 (I know my technique isn't great too). Has anyone had similar trouble? I really wanted a long prime but I feel like I can't handhold it effectively. Of course with my 50/1.4 I can hold for 1/40 even. Any tips/advice would be appreciated. Thanks. On a similar note, is the 100 f/2 significantly more handholdable given its lower FL? I have no problems holding my 70-200 f/4 IS but of course that is due to the IS.

Did you tried to bump ISO to get faster shutter numbers? 5D does shots well on high iso.

Edited by Breitling65 on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:56 AM GMT

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 01:56 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 01:48 PM

Craig Yannuzzi
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p.1 #3 · Canon 135L handholding

Any non-IS lens will be difficult to hand hold with SS's less than 1/focal length and the 135L is no exception. Open up the lens (it should be quite sharp even wide open) or bump up your ISO so as to increase your SS. You should see a very noticeable improvement in your pics. Hope it helps.

Jul 25, 2008 at 01:50 PM

snurresprett
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p.1 #4 · Canon 135L handholding

Well, congrats, you have just discovered the 1/focal length rule of thumb

Of course a longer prime is more difficult to hand-hold than a shorter one. In fact, I try to keep at 1/2 x focal length, to be on the safe side.

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:04 PM

Eric Schwab
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p.1 #5 · Canon 135L handholding

It does get harder the more telephoto you go. The rule of thumb isn't exactly a law of physics, but just something to keep you aware. It's much easier to hold a 50mm for 1/25s than it is to hold a 300mm at 1/500th.

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:06 PM

Vivek
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p.1 #6 · Canon 135L handholding

Yep, it is harder with longer lenses; laws of physics and the like;

Like the previous poster said, bump up the ISO; 5D should be usable to 1600 or so very easily.

-- V

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:09 PM

Stunnaz
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p.1 #7 · Canon 135L handholding

1/135 is good to go with. Yes, it is difficult to handhold, but I just crank the ISO up to 800 or 1600 and it's usable under most conditions, even indoors. On the 5D even 1600 isn't a big problem. I find that with the 135L, the image always looks better than you expect it to.

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:20 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:19 PM

Tej Phatak
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p.1 #8 · Canon 135L handholding

Thanks for all the friendly replies - I tried cranking ISO up to 1600 but for the type of work I was doing indoors (that I had used my 50/1.4 and 70-200 IS for), I was finding the 135L much more difficult. I just wanted to see if others had similar experiences. I hadn't realized that I would need a shutter speed even faster than 1/FL as the FL kept increasing. Thanks again.

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:24 PM

Dawei Ye
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p.1 #9 · Canon 135L handholding

I'm so poor with handholding I struggle with the 85L

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:24 PM

Allan Bruce
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p.1 #10 · Canon 135L handholding

If I can handhold a 300mm f/4 and a 500mm f/6.3 then I am sure you can handhold a 135mm f/2

Jul 25, 2008 at 02:26 PM

Daan B
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p.1 #11 · Canon 135L handholding

Part of the difficulty is that the 135L is relatively short and light weighted. So the balancing weight (like an anchor) of longer and heavier lenses like the 300, 400, 500 and such is missed here. I get sharp pics maybe at 1/100 with the 5D + 135L, but with the 1Ds3 + 135L I need at least 1/250. I guess because it has a higher pixel density, smaller pixels and lots of them

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 03:29 PM

technocraft
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p.1 #12 · Canon 135L handholding

I think the 135/2 is very balanced relative to other longish lenses. The 85/1.2 is shorter, but heavier and tends to "pivot", the 70-200/2.8 is just bigger and heavier. I really like the 135/2 on the 5D w/grip. None of my lenses have IS so I can't really compare my long-lens technique with regards to hand-holding, but I don't think I'm that steady.

Jul 25, 2008 at 04:17 PM

Lord Fluff
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p.1 #13 · Canon 135L handholding

I too find the 135 harder than it should be - the 85L I don't think twice about and my 300/2.8 seems very easy to hand hold (for a while at least), the 135 I always tend to err on the side of caution with shutter speed

Jul 25, 2008 at 04:26 PM

justruss
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p.1 #14 · Canon 135L handholding

The 135L is one of the lenses I have a pretty easy time beating 1/fl. That's on a 5D.

But for critical sharpness I try to get at least 2x the focal length or shoot on a tripod.

Jul 25, 2008 at 04:37 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #15 · Canon 135L handholding

As Daan and Fluff have implied, I also find that a part of the handholding difficulty with the 135L is in its lightness while having a rather narrow FOV (135mm).
Especially when mounted on a light camera, the frequency of handshake may be quite high and unattenuated.
My way of coping with the difficulty is obviously a higher shutter speed than the 1/FL rule would suggest. In addition, I am using the lens on my 1 series camera only which have a stabilizing effect with its additional weight.

Jul 25, 2008 at 04:54 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #16 · Canon 135L handholding

I'm always bracing on fences, trees, rocks, etc., when hand holding a tele. If you must free stand, work on becoming like a human tripod. I use a wide stance, brace my elbows against my chest and hold the body snug against my face. With a slow exhale and gentle squeeze of the shutter I can easily beat the 1/FL rule. Also, for me, the heavier the camera body, the easier it is to keep steady.

Jul 25, 2008 at 06:40 PM

dcmiller
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p.1 #17 · Canon 135L handholding

Left hand under the lens?

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:02 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:01 PM

lexvo
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p.1 #18 · Canon 135L handholding

I find the 135/2 in combination with a 1-series very handholdable. Somehow this combination is very balanced IMO. This was taken at 1/125:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:23 PM

Daan B
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p.1 #19 · Canon 135L handholding

lexvo wrote:
I find the 135/2 in combination with a 1-series very handholdable. Somehow this combination is very balanced IMO. This was taken at 1/125:

North Sea Jazz?

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:26 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:26 PM

dst.zero
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p.1 #20 · Canon 135L handholding

PetKal wrote:
As Daan and Fluff have implied, I also find that a part of the handholding difficulty with the 135L is in its lightness while having a rather narrow FOV (135mm).
Especially when mounted on a light camera, the frequency of handshake may be quite high and unattenuated.
My way of coping with the difficulty is obviously a higher shutter speed than the 1/FL rule would suggest. In addition, I am using the lens on my 1 series camera only which have a stabilizing effect with its additional weight.

I agree, if you are not having a problem with the weight already I suggest adding the grip to help with stability. I always found the 135L pretty well balanced to begin with but I recently added the grip and now it feels even better and the effect is much more pronounced with heavy lenses like the 85L. Also pay attention to the advice posted here on technique such as tucking your elbows and placement of your left hand.

I am pretty shaky but have had fairly good success even below 1/FL speeds however once the sun sets I find it hard to get even half that and generally move to smaller & faster lenses.
Here is one wide open sans grip at ISO1600 and 1/50s after USM which is plenty sharp for my needs. The left eye is just outside of the DoF causing it to be slightly blurry.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7d7/2515454046/

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:47 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:44 PM

lexvo
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p.1 #21 · Canon 135L handholding

Daan B wrote:
lexvo wrote:
I find the 135/2 in combination with a 1-series very handholdable. Somehow this combination is very balanced IMO. This was taken at 1/125:

North Sea Jazz?

No, blues festival in Tiel

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:13 PM

bobbytan
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p.1 #22 · Canon 135L handholding

Unfortunately, things are not that simple. No two people are alike or are able to steady a lens with the same rate of success. Also, standards differ. What may be considered acceptably sharp to someone is unsharp to another. Good technique can be acquired and improved with practice. Use a tripod whenever possible. I shoot with a 5D and never want to go past ISO 800 as the noise is objectionable .... to me.

Allan Bruce wrote:
If I can handhold a 300mm f/4 and a 500mm f/6.3 then I am sure you can handhold a 135mm f/2

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:41 PM

pthompson
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p.1 #23 · Canon 135L handholding

PetKal wrote:
As Daan and Fluff have implied, I also find that a part of the handholding difficulty with the 135L is in its lightness while having a rather narrow FOV (135mm).
Especially when mounted on a light camera, the frequency of handshake may be quite high and unattenuated...

I agree. I bought this lens from a friend who simply found it too difficult to handhold inside...but the image quality is so wonderful I couldn't resist, even though I'm too old and shaky for it. So, practice, practice, practice. I use it on my 5D, RRS L bracket, no grip, and think it is a fairly balanced package. I'm sure it would be better with the grip, but that would defeat the reason I went with the 5D in the first place...compactness. [Now, the long, light lens that I cannot hold steady no matter what is the 70-200 4.0L - which is odd, because I have never seen anyone suggest that is a problem for them...]

5D, 135L, 1/80 s.. 2.0, ISO 800...handheld:

2008 © pthompson

Jul 26, 2008 at 06:39 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #24 · Canon 135L handholding

pthompson wrote:
[Now, the long, light lens that I cannot hold steady no matter what is the 70-200 4.0L - which is odd, because I have never seen anyone suggest that is a problem for them...]

5D, 135L, 1/80 s.. 2.0, ISO 800...handheld:

Well, Peter, I also find the 70-200 f/4 (non-IS) rather hard to hold steady for similar reasons outlined above. Ironically, I seem to have only a moderate difficulty holding the 500 f/4.5L steady at shutter speeds close to the 1/FL rule. Similarly, no big problem with the 400 f/5.6 and 300 f/4 non-IS as long as they are mounted on my MkIIN.

BTW, that's a nice well lit portrait.

Edited on Jul 26, 2008 at 06:50 PM

Jul 26, 2008 at 06:50 PM

pthompson
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p.1 #25 · Canon 135L handholding

PetKal wrote:
BTW, that's a nice well lit portrait.

Thanks! My special portrait lighting recipe: the world's ugliest florescent ceiling fixture with a kitchen sink window for fill. Color balance is a challenge...thank the Lord for ACR and the temp, recovery, and fill sliders.

lexvo, dst.zero - Those are both knockout pictures!!

peter

Jul 26, 2008 at 07:16 PM


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