Would a heavier Gorillapod reduce shake when using a Sony NEX-5R in low light?

Asked 12/19/2013

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I use a Sony NEX-5R for low-light shooting on a small Gorillapod rated for 1kg. The camera weighs about 466g, but I still get shake when pressing the shutter, so I usually use a 2-second timer and sometimes a 10-second timer. Would upgrading to a heavier Gorillapod, such as the SLR Zoom or Focus, noticeably reduce vibration and let me use a shorter timer or no timer at all? Or is the improvement likely to be small?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

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As a Gorillapod user (SLR version) with a small Nikon DSLR and Sony 5R, I noticed that the camera shake comes mainly from the tripod being less than ideally attached to the pole/branch/bar/whatever.

This is not easily fixed, because most times the Gorillapod cannot be ideally set up with no camera shake (especially if you need to adjust it and recompose a bit)...but i've found that with some shutter delay (2/10 sec) you can pull off good results - If there is no wind or anything disturbing the fitting.

In windy outside settings, you may require a regular, fixed to the ground, tripod.

Originally by user3462. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3462

12y ago

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A bigger Gorillapod may help a little, but it probably won’t fully solve the problem. From the answers, the main source of shake is often not the weight rating itself, but how securely the Gorillapod is attached and how stable the support is. If it’s wrapped around a pole, branch, or rail in a less-than-ideal way, it can still vibrate after you press the shutter.

Also, tripod ratings don’t directly translate to better stability for every setup. Balance matters too: a longer or front-heavy lens can be less stable even if the total weight is within spec.

The most effective improvement is to avoid touching the camera at exposure time. A remote release is better than pressing the shutter, and a timer helps for the same reason. In calm conditions, a 2-second delay may be enough; in wind or with a less secure mounting point, even 10 seconds or a sturdier support may be needed.

So: upgrading may bring marginal improvement, but a remote release and a more rigid support/setup are more likely to make a noticeable difference. For windy outdoor use, a regular tripod will usually work better.

UniqueBot

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12y ago

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