5 Ways to Avoid Camera Shake

6) Use mirror-lockup

7) Use VR/IS (either a feature of the lens or sensor, depending)

Also the use of a large (industrial) rubber band hung from a front belt loop can be used. When ready to take a shot hook your thumb in the rubber band and raise the camera. The slight resistance will help stabilize your hand.

Don’t forget about the string tripod trick: http://bit.ly/9LpG7R

Hold the camera correctly! So many folks have their elbows up in the air as they shoot slower shutter speeds. Brace those elbows against your body and craddle the camera & lens (palm upward) with your non-shutter button hand.

If you have no other options but your camera has a way to shoot in burst mode, you can use the “poor man’s image stabilization” down to, at least for me, about 1/20. Just get a stable as possible and then hold down the shutter and take at least 3 consecutive shots minimum. Typically out of the 3 or 4, ONE would be pretty sharp if not really sharp. I’ve found in my experience, the 2nd one (I typically don’t use high speed burst but the standard one) is typically the sharpest. The first one seems to suffer from the actual press of the button, the 2nd one, you’re pretty stable now, and by the third one you are starting to move a bit.

:)

If you have a long lens, hold the camera in two places: one hand on the camera grip, one hand at the end of the lens with the elbow against your belly. Even better if you have a lens hood.

I have totally learned to love my tripod, it makes SUCH a difference – I blogged about my learning experiences with it here:

Tripod Zen

steve mccurry, from natgeo, has some great tips on alternate camera holding positions.

I like to wrap the camera strap tightly around my right hand then hold the camera. It just makes the camera feel more steady and secure in my hand?

You can always rent or buy a gyro for a professional solution!

Great stuff that everyone with a camera should know !!
If its OK I’ll link back to these tips from my own website..
Thanks..

I mainly us a monopod as I hike a lot and when I want to take a quick hand held one, I usually have the monopod under my arm and then I rest my wrist on it with my other hand on the camera controls and I find that really steadies my shots.