Mode 2 IS and panning. A good or a bad thing?

^^Gord^^

^^Gord^^

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I thought I'd kick this thread off to see what people think of mode 2 IS on Canon lenses.

Mode 1 (stablisation on both axis for shooting static images) works well and I can see the difference but I'm unsure if mode 2 (stabilsation on one axis to allow panning) is a good thing or not.

I've spoke to a few people about this and views seem very mixed. Some people never use it, some people use it all the time and others only use it for low shutter speed shots.

I've tried using it and not using it but not come to any conclusions.

Let me give a scenario....

You have an object coming towards you at speed (could be a car, a plane or a bird for example). You have your body set to AI Servo and IS set to mode 2. The object is head on with you but will come past you where you hope to pan it.

You acquire a good AF lock whilst it's head on and the AI Servo is doing it's job to keep it locked on. The IS would have already kicked in and which ever axis you start to move on will be selected as the axis you will pan on and the other axis will be locked.

This is where I can potentially see a problem, well, in fact two potential problems. If the object is moving vertically or you start to focus the camera and then move it vertically to find your subject the vertical axis will be selected as the panning axis and horizontal will be locked. When you then come to pan it horizontally you will be fighting the IS.

The second potential problem is if the correct axis (vertical is locked) and you begin to pan horizontally put the subject starts to move up or down. Again, you start to fight the IS.

Is my scenario flawed or is mode 2 IS only workable if you have an object that is aquired whilst moving in the correct axis and continue to move in that axis?
 
I tend to leave mine left on Mode 1. That way if I'm hand holding rather than on a tripod I don't need to check. (Usually forget until after the shot)

I can understand the rational. If you are panning, the lens may ( will) try to compensate for the movement. This may degrade the image. But having said that I don't do to much panning on a tripod so I can't say if there is any real difference. .
 
Just found this on another web site. Should answer the question straight from the horses mouth so to speak



Every Canon SLR lens that has an Image Stabilizer built in has two so-called "gyro sensors" oriented at right angles to each other. With this design, the level of IS functionality is the same whether the camera is in landscape or portrait orientation. When the camera is in portrait orientation, the level of IS functionality is the same whether the hand grip of the camera is on the top or the bottom.

In all of these cases, IS lenses that have a Mode 2 setting operate as follows when Mode 2 is selected: Both gyro sensors sample the direction and amplitude of lens shake simultaneously and continuously whenever the IS system is activated. The resulting data is analyzed by a dedicated microcomputer in the lens, and that microcomputer in turn controls the behavior of the electromagnets surrounding the movable optical components of the IS lens. These electromagnets are also oriented at right angles to each other. If the lens is set to Mode 2 *and* the microcomputer determines that intentional panning is taking place, it shuts off stabilization in the panning direction regardless of camera orientation. If, on the other hand, the microcomputer does not detect intentional panning, then horizontal and vertical stabilization is executed simultaneously, just as it is in Mode 1.

Canon anticipates that in most cases, the camera and lens will be held either horizontally or vertically, in order to keep horizon lines straight in the resulting picture. In such cases, the typical behavior of the IS system is covered by the explanation above. If, on the other hand, the panning direction is diagonal with respect to the orientation of the gyro sensors, and Mode 2 is selected, there is a possibility that the level of panning detected by each gyro sensor will be sufficient to cause the microcomputer in the lens to shut off stabilization in both directions at once. Since the decision to shut off stabilization in Mode 2 is made by the microcomputer, there is no overt way for the photographer to control it.

Let me know if this helps to answer your question.

Best Regards,

Chuck Westfall
Director/Media & Customer Relationship
Camera Marketing Group/Canon U.S.A., Inc.
 
Chappers said:
Just found this on another web site. Should answer the question straight from the horses mouth so to speak
Click to expand...
That's very helpful, Chappers. Thanks.
 
Chappers, that is pretty much my understanding of how it all works (in theory anyhow). It also seems to confirm that once the axis of movement is decided and IS applied to the other axis it doesn't re-evaluate the direction. This would mean you could get IS working against you in one axis or both if it doesn't see movement in either when it first activates.
 
^^Gord^^ said:
It also seems to confirm that once the axis of movement is decided and IS applied to the other axis it doesn't re-evaluate the direction. This would mean you could get IS working against you in one axis or both if it doesn't see movement in either when it first activates.
Click to expand...
I didn't read it like that, Gord. Chuck Westfall says that the two gyro sensors sample the direction and amplitude of shake simultaneously and continuously. To me that implies that they're capable of changing their minds as to whether or not intentional panning is taking place, and in which direction.
 
I think Stuart may have the right idea here , that the sensors constantly re evaluate their decisions and would re enable the horizontal stabilisation. It would seem from your tests that
this seems to be the case.

If I get time this weekend I,ll trawl the web to see if I can get confirmation of this. No promises though
 
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