Canon Mode II IS (for panning)

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geebus

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Dave
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Probably looking to get a 70-300 with stabilisation.
Primarily for motorsports, but I'd like the stabilisation for other stuff (for instance some dusk shots at Glastonbury where it'd be very useful).
Will be used with my 60d.

Some years ago I have used a friend's 100-400's etc, but can't recall if having the mode II is actually made a difference for me.
Talked to a friend (semi-pro, much better than me) recently who said he never bothered with the IS at all for panning in such situations.

So, does the mode II make much of a difference?
If it doesn't, I'm veering towards the Tamron stabilised 70-300.
 
It seems to work. It's a technique that I'm no good at though :'( :thinking: :lol:
 
I never use the IS when panning as I haven't seen any difference and the image in the viewfinder sems to jump or act strangely.
 
It's lets you handhold while panning at slower shutter speeds by only stabilising vertical movements, so the panning motion is unaffected. If you have it set to mode two while you're not panning it'll look weird because it's only stabilising vertically.

Basically, if you're shooting at speeds slow enough to show motion blur around the car, mode 2 may let you do that while you're handholding without getting camera shake from the slow speed.
I can't comment on how well it does that though.
 
I never use Mode II IS for panning motorsports, tried it a few times with my xxD bodies and it always interfered with my panning.

Perhaps it works better when panning slowly . . ?
 
Cheers. (Am aware of how it works, just looking for real world experiences.)

When you say it interfered, in what way?
Also, did you have a media pass (so trackside etc) which tends to do need a bit quicker panning? Though I appreciate for some places you can get pretty close in public areas too, especially as I'd just be at trackdays and possibly club events.
 
As mentioned above the image in the viewfinder would jump as the gyros in the Image Stabiliser system kicked-in, very annoying when all you want to do is pan that rare moment when you're there at the right place at the right time!
I find I get more useable shots with Mode II switched off.
 
I found it useful when doing safari - but only because the animals would be moving fairly slowly (at least relative to motorsports).. would imagine as people have said that you probably need it to 'just work' so might be best to leave it off!
 
Cheers; think I might go for the Tamron then as it seems fairly comprehensively against it (with only single mode stabilisation) as this got good reviews recently in AP or something and isn't a bad price.
 
Don't get too hung-up on the technicalities, if the optics are good you'll reap the rewards, remember there were times when AF, IS and H&S didn't exist!
 
Indeed; my first camera was an OM10 with 35mm prime which my dad got me when I was showing an interest in photography at 7!

While that sort of level kit definitely does make you think more about the pictures; there are some pictures that just can't be got.

Have dabbled on and off since; after having various bridge cameras and similar for most of the last decade, quite impressed with what the kit I've now got is offering.

I'd never worried about stabilisation overly until I got the 60d with 18-135 IS and have been pretty impressed with the difference the can IS make.
Been out walking the dog in low light evenings and it does seem to have made a decent difference. Appreciate that it's a relatively small proportion of shots altogether it will help and in some cases means you get worse IQ for more money.
 
Ended up with the Tamron and generally happy with it's performance.
Kept forgetting and left VC on while panning, but didn't actually seem to get in the way - though need to check some that didn't come out great to see if it was just my lack of skill with too low a shutter speed.

I did consider the Canon as there were some good deals on - but looking at the 2nd hand market, both seem to be going for similar money, despite the higher RRP of the Canon. Possible this will change if there's no one discounting it, but happy enough for the moment (apart from an imperfection with the front glass, but haven't had the chance to look at it properly.)
 
I have been doing a lot of practice with my 7D and 100-400 or 300 F4 on the local seagulls to get ready for some airshows. I too get best results with the IS off altogether.
 
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