shutter speed and IS?

Cloggie

Cloggie

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Martyn
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I keep reading specs for cameras that state that image stabilisation is equivalent to 4 stops. If the minimum recommended shutter speed for a hand held shot on a particular camera is 1/60 sec without IS, am I correct in thinking that on the same camera with IS switched on I should be able to hand hold a shot with a shutter speed of 1/4 sec (putting aside other variables such as ISO and aperture) and get the same results?
 
Yes, that is correct. But you need to remember that IS only counters camera shake, not subject movement.
 
And also that it isn't 100%

At 4 stops different you probably want to be firing off a few shots to increase the likelihood of getting a sharp shot.
 
Thanks for the replies guys! I just wanted to make sure I understood the principle of the 4 stops correctly!
 
Yep, 1/60 - 1/30 - 1/15 - 1/8 - 1/4

Or really 1/15 - 1/7.5 - 1/3.75 :D

But like I said, don't expect every shot to come out sharp when pushing the system that far.
 
Tests employ some fairly fine margins when it comes to what the manufacturers claim.

At the end of the day it depends how 'shaky' you are.

Best advice is to play about with it on and off with a static subject and figure out how far you can push it.
 
The 4 stops usually drops off at these mush slower shutter speeds. VR/IS/OS/VC reduces vibrations but has a much harder time dealing with gross movements that inevitably creep in at around 1/15th (depending on the user). It (VR) is much better at dealing with the tiny movements that occur at higher shutter speeds and at longer lengths, so making a 500mm lens handholdable (again, depending on user) at a little over 1/30th or so. Since the 1/focal length "rule" is very much a rule of thumb, users need to check with their own kit what they can get away with with (and without) VR and remember that it depends on many factors (and one's HH capabilities drop with age...)
 
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