Using a Camera Support to Counter Camera Shake

While image stabilization (IS) is extremely useful for wildlife photographers using telephoto lenses, it is a fairly recent innovation. Before the advent of IS, photographers had to rely on some form of camera support to eliminate camera shake. For many years photographers produced stunning wildlife images using film cameras, slow transparency film, slow shutter speeds, and no image stabilization, relying instead on a camera support to counter camera shake.

The most obvious form of camera support is a solid tripod and that’s still the best option in situations where you can use one. But what if you’re on a game drive in a safari vehicle with six or seven other people? It’s very difficult, and inconvenient to your fellow passengers, setting up a tripod in such circumstances. This is where image stabilization can come to the rescue, allowing you to shoot hand-held pictures at shutter speeds that would previously have been impossible.

Now, although I’m a big fan of Canon IS lenses in such situations, I also am coming to the realization that it’s still better to use a camera support where possible. Too often I’ve been disappointed with images taken hand-held, hoping that the IS would save the day, then blaming the lens for unsharp photos. When shooting with a digital SLR with a sensor that’s smaller than full-frame, it’s easy to forget the lens magnification factor of 1.5x or 1.6x is also magnifying camera shake.

The reality is that your Canon EF 100-400mm zoom at 400mm is mimicking a 640mm lens on a full-frame camera. Ask any old-timers whether they’d consider using a 640mm lens without a tripod and they’ll look at you in bewilderment, wondering if you’ve lost your senses.

For shooting from the type of open game drive vehicle used by most safari operators in southern Africa, you can use a beanbag to help steady the camera, lash a monopod to the inside of the vehicle with cable-ties, or use a set-up as in the picture below, where your tripod column (B) with suitable head (A) are inserted into a bracket (C) attached to the vehicle’s arm-rest. This is a good alternative to a standard tripod as you can raise or lower the column and also use the tripod head of your choice.