Image Stabilization on a Tripod

Marc

Marc

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I have seen many posts asking whether the image stabilization should be switched of when the camera is on a tripod. I thought I'd try it out myself. Now my camera has in body stabilization so i'm not sure how it will compare to IS/VR lenses, but i was shocked at the difference it made. Now these were done at small aperture and long shutter speeds so they are extreme examples but nonetheless....

#1 - With stabilization

DSC05933.jpg


#2 - Without stabilization

DSC05932.jpg


Does this answer the question conclusively? Anyone care to try this with IS/VR lenses? These were both done at f32 and 15 seconds.
 
I've done this by mistake with IS lenses at night, f3.5 for 30 seconds of satellite passes. And instead of having lovely clear straight line tracks, they shift around just like that. I did think at one point I had something wrong with my shutted as I could hear this odd grinding sound... Turned out to be the IS working away correcting the non motion of the camera.
 
jgs001 said:
I've done this by mistake with IS lenses at night, f3.5 for 30 seconds of satellite passes. And instead of having lovely clear straight line tracks, they shift around just like that. I did think at one point I had something wrong with my shutted as I could hear this odd grinding sound... Turned out to be the IS working away correcting the non motion of the camera.
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Also explains why my night shots weren't as sharp as I would have liked on Sunday, despite my borrowing Nigel's tripod. Just didn't think about it at the time! :bang:
 
Yeah, it's easy for me to switch it off on the lens though, just flick a switch. How difficult is it to adjust in body IS ?
 
jgs001 said:
Yeah, it's easy for me to switch it off on the lens though, just flick a switch. How difficult is it to adjust in body IS ?
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Just a switch on the back of the body. Problem is when you have taken the shot it looks pin sharp on the LCD but when you upload it you realise your error, when it's too late.
 
Wow!

and there was me assuming that it was on a tripod so wouldn't need to kick in.......
 
Rob.7wood said:
Wow!

and there was me assuming that it was on a tripod so wouldn't need to kick in.......
Click to expand...

Which is what I originally thought. You should have heard it whirring away trying to correct a problem that wasn't there! :eek:

stan the man said:
marc...it's the same when panning shots...turn the SSS off as it confuses the heck out of it...
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Cheers Stan, I hadn't thought of that! :thumbs:
 
Ironic though, Image Stabilisation can't cope with stable images! :lol:
 
Yeah, weird isn't it...
 
Some lenses can detect that they're on a tripod.

Also, my understanding is that with big lenses like the 600mm Gary's talking about, there can still be some work for the IS/VR to do even on a tripod.
 
StewartR said:
Some lenses can detect that they're on a tripod.

Also, my understanding is that with big lenses like the 600mm Gary's talking about, there can still be some work for the IS/VR to do even on a tripod.
Click to expand...
Just checked the manual for the Nikon 500/600 VR. The VR system has a "normal" mode and a "tripod" mode. Speaks for itself really.
 
stan the man said:
isn't it true that with certain cameras/lens..you can still use IS/SSS/VR if the camera is only moving on one plane,ie: either vertically or horizontally :shrug:
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With the EF-S 55-250 IS the IS is designed to work correctly and accurately for panning. Seems to be true... Just not on long static exposures on a tripod.
 
I know at least the big canon primes like the 500 and 600 have a tripod sensing mode in their IS and automatically go into a different mode that's designed to reduce mirror slap vibrations.
So it does indeed depend on the lens being used.
 
Werecow said:
I know at least the big canon primes like the 500 and 600 have a tripod sensing mode in their IS and automatically go into a different mode that's designed to reduce mirror slap vibrations.
So it does indeed depend on the lens being used.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify this point.....

All Canon IS primes from 200mm upwards (except the 300/4) and all zooms (except the 75-300 IS) have tripod sensing.
In the case of the 300/4 and the zooms, the IS simply switches off the correction motors...if your motors are still active then it's a good sign that your tripod is not stable enough.
The primes from the 200/2 upwards remain in IS mode and, as Werecow states, will attempt to dampen out vibrations associated with mirror slap and other movement sensed by the gyros. (this is based on details from Canon's North American CEO)

Bob
 
fabs said:
I have seen many posts asking whether the image stabilization should be switched of when the camera is on a tripod. I thought I'd try it out myself. Now my camera has in body stabilization so i'm not sure how it will compare to IS/VR lenses, but i was shocked at the difference it made. Now these were done at small aperture and long shutter speeds so they are extreme examples but nonetheless....

#1 - With stabilization

DSC05933.jpg


#2 - Without stabilization

DSC05932.jpg


Does this answer the question conclusively? Anyone care to try this with IS/VR lenses? These were both done at f32 and 15 seconds.
Click to expand...

I'm very surprised by your results Fabs. I shot a load of test shots to see what difference SSS made to tripod shots when I first got my A100 and couldn't see any difference between them at all. :thinking:

I've not tested the A700, I just assumed it would be the same as the A100. I'll give it a bash.
 
spannerdude said:
I'm very surprised by your results Fabs. I shot a load of test shots to see what difference SSS made to tripod shots when I first got my A100 and couldn't see any difference between them at all. :thinking:

I've not tested the A700, I just assumed it would be the same as the A100. I'll give it a bash.
Click to expand...

This was quite extreme at 15 seconds exposure so it probably wouldn't make that much difference on an exposure of less than a couple of seconds. I may repeat the experiment with the A100 though.
 
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