Camera stabilization on Cruise Ship ?: Accessories Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

MIC37 wrote:

Taking pictures and videos from the cruise ships sometimes is not easy because of wind, vibration etc. In some cases the Vibration Reduction and Image Stabilization do not work. Please share your experiences how you deal with stabilization. Any Manfrotto Magic arm experience on Cruise Ship ?

No experience on a cruise ship, only smaller tour boats. You're on a moving platform, so unless you're in dead calm seas IS and VR will do little. Clamping anything to the ship won't help. Keep the shutter speed as fast as you can by using as wide an aperture and as high an ISO as you need to.

Of course, if you're shooting the ship itself whilst on the ship then by all means clamp it down IS can also help when shooting people while on board, as long as they aren't moving in response to the ship moving.

1

The first challenge is to frame the shot.
Train your balance, so you can compensate for the ship’s movements. Balance boards or even better a Sensoboard are good training devices.
http://www.sensosports.com/SENSOBOARD/US

Brace your hips against something - you need your upper body to move freely to frame.
Use a camera with good VR and short enough shutter speeds.

I’ve done lots of free hand shots from ferry boats with long focal lengths.

270 mm equivalent

535 mm equivalent

MIC37 wrote:

Taking pictures and videos from the cruise ships sometimes is not easy because of wind, vibration etc. In some cases the Vibration Reduction and Image Stabilization do not work. Please share your experiences how you deal with stabilization.

I found that wind can be a problem, given that the ship's cruise speed adds that much wind already. Hand-held with IS (or VR or whatever) turned on is best when windy.

When shooting a long telephoto from the deck, I use a tripod with the head not locked-down and with IS turned on.

I've been on 10 cruises and I never found engine vibration to be a problem.

Any Manfrotto Magic arm experience on Cruise Ship ?

No.

pixseal wrote:

MIC37 wrote:

Taking pictures and videos from the cruise ships sometimes is not easy because of wind, vibration etc. In some cases the Vibration Reduction and Image Stabilization do not work. Please share your experiences how you deal with stabilization.

I found that wind can be a problem, given that the ship's cruise speed adds that much wind already. Hand-held with IS (or VR or whatever) turned on is best when windy.

When shooting a long telephoto from the deck, I use a tripod with the head not locked-down and with IS turned on.

I've been on 10 cruises and I never found engine vibration to be a problem.

Any Manfrotto Magic arm experience on Cruise Ship ?

No.

Thanks, Dave. What do you think about the tripod vs monopod for this particular situation?

MIC37 wrote:

pixseal wrote:

I found that wind can be a problem, given that the ship's cruise speed adds that much wind already. Hand-held with IS (or VR or whatever) turned on is best when windy.

When shooting a long telephoto from the deck, I use a tripod with the head not locked-down and with IS turned on.

I've been on 10 cruises and I never found engine vibration to be a problem.

Thanks, Dave. What do you think about the tripod vs monopod for this particular situation?

A monopod would be better on a crowded deck, a tripod for your stateroom balcony**.

** the image below is how I shoot from my stateroom (IS on, tripod unlocked).

Tripod resting on the railing

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