How can I reduce camera shake on a Nikon D5600 without in-body stabilization?
Asked 5/29/2023
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I’m using a Nikon D5600, which doesn’t have in-body image stabilization, and I still get camera shake even with VR kit lenses. I can use a tripod when possible, but I’d like to know what other practical methods photographers use to reduce shake for both photos and video. Also, is there any post-processing software that can effectively fix camera shake?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
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For longer focal lengths, such as 600mm at the long end of the lens you asked about in another question, properly implemented lens based stabilization is more effective than sensor based stabilization. That's assuming all else is equal, which it rarely ever is. But they're usually equal enough to maintain the principle. The reason this is the case is that the same amount of camera movement with a lens having a very narrow angle of view causes the blur to travel further across the frame than with a lens having a wider angle of view.
On the other hand, all else being equal, camera based stabilization works better with wider angle lenses. But the effects of the same amount of camera movement is not as great at wide angles as at narrower angles of view. Unless we're trying to shoot at insanely long exposure times while hand-holding it's not nearly as important to have any kind of stabilization with a wide angle lens as compared to a long focal length lens. If anything in the frame is in motion, the subject motion will be the limiting factor long before lack of IS will be at short focal lengths. Neither in body nor lens based stabilization do anything to tame subject motion. Only shorter exposure times can do that.
Shooting anything beyond about 300mm on a full frame (about 200mm on an APS-C body) requires improvements in the user's technique to get good results compared to shooting at shorter focal lengths. There's a real learning curve involved. It's probably even a bit steeper than the one when jumping from a fully automatic small sensor point-and-shoot type of camera or even a phone camera to your first larger sensor interchangeable lens camera.
We have a few existing questions here that address shooting with long focal length lenses:
View (in EVF) keeps moving after taking a shot with telephoto lens
Do my photos look blurrier on a newer, higher-resolution camera body because my lens has a problem?
Nikon D3300 - Trouble Focusing on Birds both Stationary & Moving
Sigma 150-600mm vs 300mm prime with extender?
We also have a few existing questions about processing blur out of an image after the fact. Essentially, it's a lot of effort for not much in return.
Is it possible to fix severe blur from camera shake after the fact?
How can slightly blurred photos be improved in post processing?
Can anyone recommend *freeware* to reduce motion blur by deconvolution?
What plugin for Photoshop can I use to remove camera-shake blur?
I can use Tripod wherever possible but want to know how other methods being used by professional photographers.
There aren't any widespread "other methods". Pros use the proper technique, including proper camera stabilization hardware, to reduce camera movement during exposure, not after. For pros time is money. Preventing camera movement is much easier and less time consuming than partially correcting it after the fact.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
3y ago
0
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The main fix is to prevent shake at capture rather than trying to repair it later. For stills, use a faster shutter speed—this is usually far more effective than relying on software. Post-processing tools can attempt deblur, but results are rarely very useful for true camera shake.
Your D5600 can still benefit from Nikon’s lens-based VR. Good in-lens stabilization is generally very effective, and at longer focal lengths it can be better than in-body stabilization because small movements are magnified more with narrow angles of view. With wider lenses, stabilization matters less because shake is less visible.
Practical options:
- Use VR lenses and make sure VR is actually enabled.
- Raise shutter speed, especially at longer focal lengths.
- Use a tripod whenever possible.
- For video, additional support such as a tripod or other camera support will help more than software.
In short: VR is useful, especially on telephoto lenses, but the most reliable solution is better support and faster shutter speeds. Software is not a strong substitute for proper stabilization during shooting.
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AI3y ago
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