tripod or hand hold?

[Magnus]

In MF I allways use a tripod.

The main reason why I bought a 35mm is the flexibility of use without a tripod, therefore in 99% of all pictures I don't use one.

I have a Leica M. and I can shoot nice, not perfect, but nice pictures handheld at 1/15th - 1/30th
This speed in combination with a fast 1.4 lens and 400 asa makes the leica a very verstile camera, allthough questionable is the investment required.

In pre-Leica times I shot with FM3a and a 1.4 lens, without tripod, but 1/60th was the max, and even then most pictures came out wobbly.

I shoot mostly after dark, I do clubs (folk, Jazz) and performers on stage as well as club impressions, a MF system is a no-go in these situations. So at first being very reluctant towards the Leica pricing system I am eventually happy with the results.

I have Leica a MP and M6TTL, 35mm Asph. 1.4, 50 summilux 1.4 and 75mm 1.4 lenses, really quite an investment, but paying off rather well at the moment.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Depends.

Much of my 35 mm work is closeup with flash illumination. I do nearly all of that hand-held. With flash, the only ill effect of motion (mine, subject's) is poor focus, and with mobile subjects that's an acceptable risk.

With long lenses, shooting hand-held is impossible.

Otherwise, it depends on the situation. When not shooting from tripod, I try to brace myself against something solid if that's possible.

 

[Lee Shively]

I used to shoot a lot of 35mm color and I always used an SLR on a tripod. When I started shooting more black and white, I bought a Leica and stopped using a tripod. It really wasn't the color vs black and white thing that changed my tripod use, it was due to a change in subjects. I started using 35mm for subjects that were more dynamic in nature--where the print quality was secondary to the subject matter.

 

[avandesande]

I have a terrible time composing without a tripod. the horizon looks like a velodrome.

 

[BruceN]

Depends on the situation. For street-type stuff the tripod can sometimes be a liability, so faster films and the same holding/breathing/triggering techniques I use for high power rifle competitions are the orders of the day. For landscape shots (yes, those CAN be done with a 35mm) I use a tripod and MLU. In those situations I've often joked that, if I could afford a forklift, I'd use a 2-ton block of concrete for a tripod. In short, I try to use the tripod with all formats whenever possible. When I shoot without one I'm prepared to accept the lower percentage of "keepers."

Bruce

 

[arigram]

When I can I use a tripod.
When I can't use a tripod I hand hold.
Simple.

 

[pmu]

Handheld 99% of the time. I shoot with M2, mainly with 35/2 lens @ f2-f4, ISO800-1600 and shutter speed usually 1/8 - 1/30.

 

[rduraoc]

I don't have a tripod. I shoot people on the street scenes and a tripod doesn´t work there, I'd be noticed. But I'm thinking of buying a tripod, because I want to try some portraits (before I have to get a Minolta wireless flash) and because I want something to put a bird telescope on. On the street, I guide myself by the focal distance=1/shutter speed rule, and when needed, I hold the camera against a wall or anything close by. It works.

 

[unohuu]

unless i am using flash (wireless or fill); studio lights and have option for untethered setup (useful with kids) or shooting sports (although need monopod with long lenses), i like to use a tripod.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Just when to use a tripod. Well, when I have it with me and am not anticipating anything which I need to be quick on the clutch with. I use a tripod for all of my wedding shots before the reception and almost never once I get there. If I am walking through the woods to a specific landscape destination, I generally carry my camera on the tripod with the legs extended so I can click in seconds if I have to. If just out for a walk, I might have my MONOPOD with me as a walking stick and shoot hand held, unless I see something that I want to attach my Minolta XG-M to the monopod. It all depends. About half and half here.

 

[rogueish]

I use my 35mm for fast subjects using fast film, tripod not req'd. I carry it when I don't want to lug around the weight of the MF camera and gear.
Always (well 99%) use a tripod with the MF camera.

 

[mawz]

I rarely shoot with a tripod, but that's because I primarily do street photography.

When I have the option, I carry my 'pod, but that doesn't occur often.

 

[Loose Gravel]

If I'm going to set up a tripod, I might as well use something bigger than 35mm, unless that's all I've got. With an image stabablized lens one can hold the camera steady enough for a long time.

 

[Shawn Mielke]

I'm rather new to photography and currently shoot 35mm exclusively. 35mm photo. technology is made for speed and that's my approach with it. Fast set ups, though with all the framing precision that may be desirable for any size format, tripod or no. Handheld, psyched, get in, get out, VR, IS, crouch, lean, work out of one small bag, 1600 iso, fast lenses, as invisible as possible. As I get more into some of my other photographic interests, urban/industrial landscapes and portraiture, my hefty tripod will get it's share of use (and my interest in MF and the square will further come to the fore). My print size at this point does not exceed 8xN, and really 5x7 and the internet are my current mainstay.

Shawn

 

[Jim Jones]

Years ago I assembled a portfolio when applying for a photographic job. After culling thousands of slides down to a few hundred, I checked them for sharpness under a 50X microscope. Many slides that had always appeared quite sharp when projected showed camera movement. Since then I use a tripod most of the time.