Bird toggers with L series lens (no pic)

[u8myufo]

Please move Mods if in wrong place. I was wondering how many owners of either 70-200L etc: Or a prime actually use the IS function if they have it? Would I be right in thinking that when sitting out in a hide you would try and use a tripod when circumstances allow you to?

 

[Deleted member 3428]

None of my lenses have IS and I don't use them or a tripod for my bird images, I'm happy with the results I get so I'd say IS is a gimmick as far as I'm concerned but not having it I know no different

 

[OneTen]

None of my lenses have IS and I don't use them or a tripod for my bird images, I'm happy with the results I get so I'd say IS is a gimmick as far as I'm concerned but not having it I know no different

That's pretty much how I see it too.

 

[Deleted member 3428]

Richard, there is no substitute for good camera technique in my mind. Glad I'm not alone in thinking IS isn't the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[dfrear]

I always found that IS took a little while to stabilize, and by the time it's done stabilizing most birds have upped and left! Need to be quite quick when it comes to bird photography.

It certainly has its uses, my 55-250 IS is great and has allowed me to get some shots that I simply wouldn't have been able to without it - but most of those are not of wildlife/birds, can't beat good support and/or something like f/2.8 glass for that sort of thing.

 

[OneTen]

IS stabilises at slower shutter speeds but there's still motion blur to consider, I don't feel as though I'm missing anything by not using IS.

I've only been using autofocus for around a year though and find that frustrating at times.

 

[hollis_f]

I couldn't do without the IS on my birding lenses. Yes, good technique helps but there's always a point at which it's not going to be enough - that's where IS can help. Using a 300 with a 1.4x TC I'm not too bad at 1/250th - but IS does increase the number of keepers.

Hardly ever use a tripod. If waiting for IS to stabilise means the bird's flown then setting up the tripod means its migrated to Africa before you're ready for the shot.

Most hides aren't designed to use a tripod. There's not enough room in front of the (fixed) seats to set one up properly, so you have to set up at the back of the hide, with the camera about 4 foot high. There's no seats at the back so you have to squat down to look through the viewfinder. If the hide is at all crowded then you'll get people sitting in front of you, blocking your view.

The big 'hide' at WWT Welney (the heated one, with comfy seats and free foot rubs) is OK with cameras - except that it has nice reflective windows.

 

[HoppyUK]

It seems that the only folks that don't rate IS are those that haven't got it

I use it all the time, well almost, and often on a tripod too. Yes, I know, I know, but when you've got 400mm x 1.4 x 1.6 sitting on the camera, it damn well shakes and IS makes a huge difference. With that combo, it's not often that I can get the shutter speed up to 1/1000sec for a shake-free shot, and also IS makes tracking and framing moving subjects very much easier.

I can only think that those people who say IS doesn't make any difference have never tried it.

 

[malla1962]

It seems that the only folks that don't rate IS are those that haven't got it

I use it all the time, well almost, and often on a tripod too. Yes, I know, I know, but when you've got 400mm x 1.4 x 1.6 sitting on the camera, it damn well shakes and IS makes a huge difference. With that combo, it's not often that I can get the shutter speed up to 1/1000sec for a shake-free shot, and also IS makes tracking and framing moving subjects very much easier.

I can only think that those people who say IS doesn't make any difference have never tried it.

I agree, if you have it use it, when you have 500mm 1/200th it comes in handy.

 

[u8myufo]

It seems that the only folks that don't rate IS are those that haven't got it

I use it all the time, well almost, and often on a tripod too. Yes, I know, I know, but when you've got 400mm x 1.4 x 1.6 sitting on the camera, it damn well shakes and IS makes a huge difference. With that combo, it's not often that I can get the shutter speed up to 1/1000sec for a shake-free shot, and also IS makes tracking and framing moving subjects very much easier.

I can only think that those people who say IS doesn't make any difference have never tried it.

I had a 70-200 F4L and then sold it to buy a 300 F4L IS. And I preferred the 70-200. The 300 seemed to distract me waiting to make sure the IS had kicked in and was locked.

 

[seriousrikk]

Using an IS lens can be a whole new technique in itself.
When I was using a 100-400L I would usually have the IS activated as the camera is on the way up to my eye - then the image is already getting a degree of stabilisation the moment I look through the viewfinder. By the time I have got the subject in frame and AL lock the lens is also about 90% stable and shooting can commence.