How low can you expect to go in speed

[ethan]

Using a monopod with a 300mm f2.8? I won't know for certain until later but I'm after a Kingfisher I regularly bump into but don't usually see it until it starts getting dark.

Edit: I gave up at 3:15 despite seeing it due to the footfall along the canal with it being Sunday.

 

[ethan]

Thanks, it's quite useful, but I meant when it was standing still in limited light. Hence the monopod. Sunday walkers kept disturbing it so I had no chance with the 300mm.

 

[ethan]

Why not go out late afternoon and photograph a few static objects and see for yourself how low you can go in respect of shutter speed.

That's what I intended to do with the 300mm but unfortunately the joggers, cyclists and walkers kept frightening the kingfisher so I gave up in frustration . I'll have to wait mid week for the weather to improve before trying again.
I know what I can get on 24-85 & a 50 mm etc, I just wondered if anybody could have given a guesstimate prior to an attempt to which I could judge my technique.

 

[ethan]

start with the rule of thumb, 1/focal length. that would be 1/300th on FF, 1/450 on crop. But this tends to be a lower limit. expect about 4/5 images sharp if you have steady hands. Halving the shutter speed helps. This is for static

A monopod helps stop some notion bit not rotations. The above tends to apply but keeper rste is a little higher.

Just curious and maybe this is a stupid question, but would you expect VR to have any bearing on this?

 

[ethan]

Much obliged.

 

[ethan]

I hadn't considered the breathing. Normally, hand held I would be around 1/640-1600 in good conditions.