Image Stabiliser

P

peter6bee

Suspended / Banned
Messages
18
Name
Pete
Edit My Images
Yes
I am looking at a lens with Image Stabiliser and am wondering why they have a switch to turn this off?

Why would you want to turn it off?

The lens I am looking at has a faulty switch so you the IS can't be turned off. Is this an easy / inexpensive fix ?
 
Most lenses with IS require that you have it turned off if you're using a tripod, as it confuses the lens and can cause all sorts of problems. Also, you may need to turn it off to preserve battery life if you've been using it all day. I don't know how easy/inexpensive it would be to fix. What lens are you looking at?
 
I was looking at a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.

So if I wanted to use the lens plus tripod I would have problems then? What problems would I have?
 
I have done a bit of searching and have found the following information which I believe may be usefull to others as uninformed as myself

"The IS mechanism operates by correcting shake. When there is no shake, or when the level of shake is below the threshold of the system's detection capability, use of the IS feature may actually *add* unwanted blur to the photograph, therefore you should shut it off in this situation. Remember that the IS lens group is normally locked into place. When the IS function is active, the IS lens group is unlocked so it can be moved by the electromagnetic coil surrounding the elements. When there's not enough motion for the IS system to detect, the result can sometimes be a sort of electronic 'feedback loop,' somewhat analogous to the ringing noise of an audio feedback loop we're all familiar with. As a result, the IS lens group might move while the lens is on a tripod, unless the IS function is switched off and the IS lens group is locked into place."
Click to expand...

Source: http://www.dlcphotography.net/TripodAndIS.htm
 
Interesting... is this the same with Nikon's VR?
 
This is what the manual says for the Canon 300 & 400 f2.8 & 500 & 600 f4...

Even if the image stabilizer switch is set to | (on), the IS fucntion does not operate because the electronic circuits in the lens automatically detect that a tripod is being used. However, because electrical power is still being supplied to the image stabilizer unit, the number of available shots is roughly 20% fewer than it would be with the switch set to O (off)
Click to expand...

the 70-200 f2.8 IS manual just says ...
When you use a tripod, the image stabilizer should be turned off to save battery power.
Click to expand...

So certainly the large primes appear to be saying that the old bit about having it turned on on a tripod inducing shake is not correct? Or maybe that's just these lenses?
 
IS is too slow for fast moving sport (maybe panning?) .. hardly ever gets turned on here.. would ruin a perfectly good lens having it on... you can hear it clunk into action... thus the rreason for the off switch is because its useless to some people :)
 
I can't remember the last time I turned off IS on any of my lenses and I almost always use a tripod.

I think you need to differentiate between 'On a tripod' with the head locked off and releasing the shutter with a remote release, and 'on a tripod' but using both hands on the camera.

In the former case, there's no movement to be detected anyway so IS would be redundant.

In the latter case, the IS system is still detecting enough movement through your hands, however slight, for the IS to work and to be of benefit.
 
KIPAX said:
IS is too slow for fast moving sport (maybe panning?) .. hardly ever gets turned on here.. would ruin a perfectly good lens having it on... you can hear it clunk into action... thus the rreason for the off switch is because its useless to some people :)
Click to expand...


On some the IS should be turned off for panning shots

On others the IS should be set to mode 2 for Panning shots

Not all lenses have the mode 2 option.

Paul
 
KIPAX said:
IS is too slow for fast moving sport (maybe panning?) .. hardly ever gets turned on here.. would ruin a perfectly good lens having it on... you can hear it clunk into action... thus the rreason for the off switch is because its useless to some people :)
Click to expand...

Image stabilisation is designed to combat camera shake. It does not correct the blur of subject movement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top