D70 camera shake

[rkm]

I just got a Nikon D70 and it seems to have a vertical camera shake (caused by the mirror slap?). I noticed it when I started shooting with a 200-400mm zoom at 400mm. (I've used this lens before with an N80 with great results).

Here's the setup:
- Tripod mounted, indoors (no wind blowing)
- Aperture f/4, exposure 1/1000 sec
- Self-timer release (no hands touching the setup during shutter release)

Result:

Vertical lines seem to be perfectly fine, sharp and in focus. But horizonal
lines in the image are CLEARLY blurred, as if the camera shook as a result
of the mirror slap. These images would be unusable anywhere.

I'm trying various arrangements to see if it is indeed a problem with the
camera body. In the meantime, has anyone had such an experience, or
know of other explanations for such behavior?

Thanks,
Ravi.

[dbevis]

Certainly likely. Actually, you could discover that a hand ON the lens improves stability, as it will add mass to the lens/camera and dampen vibration.


Don

[gparr]

Try mirror lockup, if the feature is available, or a remote release?
Gary

[alparsons]

Is it possible you bought one of the flimsy little tripods that seem to be so common now. My usual test for a tripod is in the store I will raise it to eye level and place a finger or two on top of the head and see if it will move at all. If there is any wiggle to the head at this level I won't buy that model tripod.

[mombemoo]

it must be nice to live in a city where you can go try these tripods. where i live it's kinda you order it and hope it holds up.


Is it possible you bought one of the flimsy little tripods that seem to be so common now. My usual test for a tripod is in the store I will raise it to eye level and place a finger or two on top of the head and see if it will move at all. If there is any wiggle to the head at this level I won't buy that model tripod.

[dwig]

Since you are testing indoors, I suggest you try an experiment using a camera support known to be more stable than a tripod. Use a bean bag, or suitable substitutel like a small bag of clothes, placed on a solid piece of furnature or kitchen counter. If you can, place a second bean bag on top of the camera/lens package. If the pix are sharper, as I would expect, the tripod is proved to be the weak link.

[alparsons]

I don't know where the information came from that a beanbag is more stable than a good tripod, but that hasn't been the case from my experience. although good tripods are quite rare these days. Possibly a good profesional studio stand may be somewhat more stable than a tripod, but you would never want to move it around on location.

[rkm]

Thanks for all the replies. First of all, I have to (sheepishly) say that nothing
is wrong with the camera body. I tried several other tests under controlled
conditions and everything is fine. (Incidentally, the tripod is Gitzo with an
Arca-Swiss ballhead, and I used the self-timer for shutter-release, which is
about the same as using a remote.) So I'm not sure what went wrong with
my first tests. The only thing I can think of is that I had the tripod in a
funny splayed out position.

Anyway, thanks again for the response; I'm just relieved I don't have to mess
with sending the camera in for service.

Ravi.