Simple Shooting Question

[jwinst]

Ok, so... I'm new to the Leica game. I just finally got some glass to go with the M6 I've been sitting on for a few months. Its still only on its third roll but I'm in love.

Anyways, so I've taken to shooting with my thumb on the film wind lever as its out from the body(I'm not quite sure how to phrase this, but ya know, with it extended in the free play of 30degrees or so off the body) I like this grip because then your thumb's reach of the shutter speed dial is unobstructed, and it just feels solid.

Anyways, when the shutter is released, and the tension in the film wind lever is gone, the camera jerks as you would expect. My understanding is that this happens after the shutter has finished firing, so any camera vibration or movement is not affecting the picture. Is this correct?

Thanks for any thoughts on this...

[Ken Ford]

You're keeping tension on the wind lever by keeping your thumb between the body and lever? I'm not sure I would do that - you're putting stress on the geartrain, which is why the camera jerks when it unlocks after you shoot.

[back alley]

i'm with ken.
there should be no jerks with any rf camera.

with a slr the mirror movement sometimes moves the camera in hand.

[kinoglass]

Ken is right. When the shutter is coked the spoke wheel is also locked so that the film is firm in place after advancing. Once the shutter cicle ended the shutter/advancing is unlock and the pressure you're putting on the advancing lever is brought to bear on the free gear. I strongly suggest to you not to hold the camera this way (jamming can occur) and relieve any pressure from the advancing lever prior to shooting. If the shutter brake is adjusted correcctly you should hardly notice the shutter action.

[jwinst]

Originally Posted by kinoglass

Ken is right. When the shutter is coked the spoke wheel is also locked so that the film is firm in place after advancing. Once the shutter cicle ended the shutter/advancing is unlock and the pressure you're putting on the advancing lever is brought to bear on the free gear. I strongly suggest to you not to hold the camera this way (jamming can occur) and relieve any pressure from the advancing lever prior to shooting. If the shutter brake is adjusted correcctly you should hardly notice the shutter action.

This is a much better description than I could muster, and now I wont do it any more. Normally theres is absolutely no shake with the shutter, which is why I thought this worth investigating. Thanks.

[FrankS]

Go ahead and hold the camera this way with your thumb on the wind lever, just don't be applying any pressure during release of the shutter. There should be no jerking!

[tedwhite]

"I would do anything for love, but I would never do that."

-- Meatloaf --

[PATB]

I am also using the thumb behind the lever grip while adjusting the focus or aperture (my ight hand bears most of the weight, so need the right thumb to put pressure on the lever for stability). After adjustments, I use my left hand to firmly hold the camera body on the side, so I release the pressure on the lever at that moment. Just to be clear, this is safe, right? (I am a Leica newbie too)

[Topdog1]

To hold the camera (any camera) steady, you should cradle it in your left hand, palm up, elbow braced against your body. Then wrap your right hand around the body , place index finger on shutter, exhale-relax, fire. There should be no tension anywhere in your arms or fingers or you will cause camera shake, even at high speeds. Has nothing to do with whether the camera jerks or not after firing. You'll find that you take much better pictures, especially at slow speeds, with this technique.

/Ira

[3opkuu]

You're 'Right Eyed', right?
The RHS of the brain is supposed to be the creative side. Lefties couldn't try your technique even if we wanted to - we'd get poked in the eye!

Anyway, Frank's right, you should shoot however you want, but it helps if you forget the camera.
Topdog makes the point. Relax everything - don't think about your thumb, drivetrain gears, tension in the whatever. Just let go and get lost in the image - everything else will dissapear - camera, you, everything except the scene you're looking at. For me that's how it is anyway.

Z.

[mike goldberg]

I'm with Ken & the guys above with a slight difference.
I'm left-eye-dominant; thus, when shooting with my M2,
the film advance lever is touching my forehead. I leave it
protruding just a bit, so my thumb can catch it easily
for a rapid advance, if necessary. This works, and there's
no stress on the gear train. mike

[tedwhite]

I always thought the brain's right hemisphere controled the left side of the body, to include the left eye. Optic Chiasma comes to mind.

[FrankS]

The field of vision of each eye is split and goes to each side of the brain. So, the left field of vision of each eye is sent via optic nerve to the vision center on the right side of the brain, and the left field of vision of each eye is sent to the right side of the brain.

[tedwhite]

You're right, Frank, I had forgotten about that not-so-subtle distinction. The nerves do the mix (I guess) at the chiasma juncture.

Ted