Testing Shake Reduction on a K100D (camera+washing machine)

If you can't get 1/30th at 50mm, then either your SR is not working or your technique isn't good enough. Here is a brief description of my technique. I have been shooting rifles since I was 9 and this is an adaptation of my off hand rifle technique. My current record is 1/8th at 200mm, so it does seem to work, at least for me.

Hold the camera as lightly as possible with the thumb and three fingers of your right hand. The shape of the grip should make it possible to apply almost no pressure without risk of dropping the camera. With your left hand, support but do not hold the lens. AF really helps with this since your left hand has nothing to do except support. If you must use MF, then again use as light a grip as possible.

Brace your elbows against your chest. Take two deep breaths, and let the second one about 2/3 out before holding (as Chris said, holding your breath at either end will introduce shakes). Very gently increase the pressure on the shutter button until it trips and "follow through", that is to say, don't move or even release the button for a short time after the shutter closes. Done right, the shutter should catch you slightly by surprise when it goes off. If shooting for REALLY silly shutter times (like the1/8th at 200 mentioned above) I shoot on continuous drive and let 3 frames go off before I release. The middle one is usually the best.

Hope this helps, it takes some practice but it works for me.