Tripods Bad for Quality?

[chaman]

So I should get a monopod...right? LOL!

[GB1]

Guys, here is the text from that URL I posted. The original article I posted may have gotten its info from this and slightly distorted the wording.

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Tool Developed to Measure Camera Shake
Apr 13, 2009 18:51
Tomohiro Otsuki, Nikkei Electronics


The Nishi Lab and Tani Electronics' booth at PIE2009, which took place from March 26 to 29, 2009

Do you know that SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras have a problem that the built-in mirrors and shutter in the main unit cause camera shake and degrade the image quality?

Though camera manufacturers and some enthusiasts have been aware of the problem, they had no idea how serious (or minor) the problem really is until recently.

However, Tani Electronics Corp and the Nishi Lab of the University of Electro-communications (UEC) introduced a measurement tool that will change the circumstances. They developed a method to easily and accurately measure the effect of camera shake correction.

The results of measurements using the new tool are as follows. The resolution of an SLR camera was substantially reduced to 1/4 or lower by the mirror shock (vibration generated when the mirror bounces up).

Next, it was confirmed that the vibration generated by releasing the shutter remains even when a picture is taken after a certain period of time from the mirror lockup to prevent a mirror shock.

Then, the Nishi Lab and Tani Electronics found that camera shake significantly worsens when a lighter tripod (approx 1.5kg) is used. Also, they conducted a quantitative investigation about the influence of the installation direction of the tripod.

"There is no point in enhancing resolution unless we take some measures to reduce the vibration of a camera unit as a whole including a tripod," said Kazuki Nishi of UEC.

When a tripod is used, the above measurements were carried out after disabling the image stabilizer, as directed in instruction manuals of cameras and lenses. And, to make sure, the researchers conducted the measurements using several cameras with the image stabilizer function turned on and confirmed that camera shake worsens.

The Nishi Lab and Tani Electronics improved the LED display used to measure the effect of camera shake correction and enabled to measure vibration caused by the mirrors and the shutter. As a result, they succeeded in detecting and quantifying the trajectory of camera shake with an enhanced temporal resolution. With the new measuring tool, various kinds of vibration can be measured and quantitatively evaluated directly from pictures taken by a camera.

"We hope that this measurement tool will be used to totally evaluate various kinds of vibration such as caused by a tripod, not just camera shake," Nishi said.

[OldClicker]

"The resolution of an SLR camera was substantially reduced to 1/4 or lower by the mirror shock..." What does this mean? 1/4 of what?

Still quite vague.

TF

[SmartWombat]

1/4 of what it was without the tripod I assume
I guess they bolted it down to a large metal block or something.

[Frog]

I'm just dense, I guess.
I understand that the mirror and shutter can cause vibration but don't know what the tripod has to do with it.
Perhaps there should be a study of ground movement caused by freeway traffic and by what means we can overcome it.

[GB1]

I'm just dense, I guess.
I understand that the mirror and shutter can cause vibration but don't know what the tripod has to do with it.
Perhaps there should be a study of ground movement caused by freeway traffic and by what means we can overcome it.

Ask "Dr. Solomon", Frog..

[Dylan8i]

a tripod just amplifies the movement. think of a tall building that sways in the wind, the taller the building the more movement at the top of the building

[PRB]

Dylan is talking about the palm tree effect which I admit that I have heard of but, in all my years of photography, I have never experienced. The center column of my Gitzo has a hook for weights, I've never put any on it. Even in STRONG wind, I've never had a problem with the old Gitzo. Moose Peterson recommended the particular model that I have and, its been phenomenal.

[GB1]

I don't think they're the same. A tall skinny object will probably be inherently unstable, esp in wind, but a tripod is designed to be very stable with it's three legs and wide stance.

I guess the real Q is though, can a person hold a camera more steady than a tripod? Everything I've ever read says No - the two may look the same initially, but when enlarged, the pix taken with a tripod will always enlarge better than hand-held shots.

[shootme]

I think they are talking about "Pogo Sticks" when shooting kangaroos...but the shake is only vertical...

[Frog]

The tool invented(?) can be useful to measure vibration caused by mirror and shutter in different cameras and may be useful to manufacturers for design purposes.
If you have a choice between $1,000 brand x and $1,000 brand y and brand y vibrates less from shutter and mirror the information could be useful.
They'd get vibration no matter what the camera was on be it tripod, monopod, hand held, a rock, or magically suspended in the air.

[Ultra Magnus]

If you guys don't understand how unstable a cheap tripod is, go to walmart, buy a $20 tripod, mount camera, and then just tap the camera. Like flick it with your fingter. You will see it oscillate for several seconds before it calms down. The mirror slap is like a slight tap on the camera, which causes the oscillation. I've not yet had the pleasure to use a quality tripod, so can't say how much worse it is than a good one. Adding weight to it, imo, won't do much to help either, though I've not tried it. The flex in the tripod is in the interface between the camera and the tripod mount. Wiehgt will steady the legs, but do nothing to help wiht the cheap plastic in the mount.

My favorite quote from the article- "As a result, they succeeded in detecting and quantifying the trajectory of camera shake with an enhanced temporal resolution." Any sentence with "temporal" in it is ok w/ me...

BM