A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On…
Available light photography has always been a difficult arena for photographers. There has always been a play off between slow shutter speeds, minimal depth of field, film grain or digital noise due to the need for a high ISO medium. One of the advancements made possible by digital photography has been the advent of anti-shake technology in the latest range of digital cameras.
What is Anti-shake?
Each camera manufacturer has its own brand of this technology in principle but essentially it is a unique approach to image stabilisation. Essentially the principle is to make the CCD move so that it compensates for the camera movement. It is now found in in both DSLR cameras and compacts, such as the Ricoh Caplio GX 100 and the Leica C-Lux 2. The camera’s sensor is mounted onto a platform in the camera body which moves opposite to the movement of the camera. This is determined by motion detectors. While some camera systems have lenses with similar technology, the advantage of an ‘in-camera’ system is that all lenses can be used and the photographer still benefit from the technology.
What all of this essentially means is that the photographer can use shutter speeds in low light conditions that would not otherwise be possible without a tripod or other means of stabilising the camera. It has its limitations but it certainly works. For photographers who enjoy available light photography, this technology offers a serious advantage.
What are the practical advantages?
While we have always found a way to get around low light situations and slow shutter speeds, they have often been slow and cumbersome solutions. Tripods are a godsend, but they remove the spontaneity of handholding. Flash has also been a solution, although it removes the whole concept of using available light. Setting a higher ISO is also fine, but it increases noise in the image. Anti-shake allows the photographer to move freely around the subject and shoot at less than acceptable shutter speeds and still achieve a sharp image. For photographers who enjoy travel photography and social comment, location portraiture, fashion, child portraiture and wedding photography – and a host of other subjects – this is just fantastic.
With people photography particularly, spontaneity is everything. Being able to capture the moment is essential. This is especially true in a society that has begun to shy away form formal portraiture and demands more spontaneous portraits. Wedding and child portrait photographers will vouch for this.
In this, two things are always against the photographer however – low light and portability. Anti-shake answers both of these very well. The photographer can take candid portraits in available light situations and know that they will be sharper than they otherwise would be.
There are some companies and photographers who claim that it is now possible to shoot at shutter speeds 3 or 4 stops slower than they used to. Of course all things are relative and perhaps this means that their hands are not as steady as others. Much depends on the focal length of the lens also. However, even if there is only a twos top increase, this will take a photographer from a 15th of a second to a 60th, which is much more manageable. Conversely it might also mean that the photographer can shoot at a lower noise, lower ISO setting.
So, now you can avail yourself of the available light without being forced to resort to higher ISO levels and image noise, fast, expensive lenses or slow, cumbersome tripods. Now, to a greater degree, antishake technologies will enable you to achieve sharper pictures in the light you’re given.
Shelton Muller can be contacted by leaving a comment or via his website at www.photographybyshelton.com
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July 9th, 2007
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