Experimental Investigation of Camera Shake

Abstract

Measurements were made of the degree of blurring of photographs taken under varying conditions by groups of 16 men holding a camera. A cable release with the plunger end mounted on the camera and requiring a pressure of about 3 lb. to operate was reliably worse (p<0.01) than the built-in camera release which required 13 oz. pressure. A microswitch release operated by pressure towards the face was found to give reliably (p<0.05) less blurring than a microswitch release operated by downwards pressure. Downwards pressure gave more downwards camera shake, and correspondingly less circular shake, than horizontal pressure. A delay of 0 5 sec. between pressing the microswitch release and the operation of the camera shutter was found to be an advantage (p<0.05). A delay of even half this time might help. Lying prone with the camera supported from the elbows resting on the ground was better (p<0.05) than crouching. In two-thirds of the photographs the camera shake was directional. The predominant direction was from up to the left to down to the right: this vector made an angle of about 20° with the horizontal.