Image Stabilisation

As long as the camera is off the tripod (and it's not faulty, as it is now!!) I have it turned on all the time.
 
With the exception of magnified, hand held Liveview then I keep mine switched off for all moving subjects and I keep the shutter speed above the reciprocal focal length guideline for non-tripod stuff.

Bob
 
I keep mine on on the monopod wit a 70/200.
Shutter speed wise, I would guess at something like, above 250th and below 30th it's unlikely to help.
Huge caveat. That depends on how steady you hand is and the telephocity (Made up word) of your lens.
 
Off on a tripod. On the rest of the time. You may see no improvement at high shutter speeds, but it's doing no harm. Some camera's feature different modes of IS for different occasions (such as panning). Worth checking the manual.
 
Depends on what lens you are using it with, If one of the Canon big whites which is tripod sensing it is beneficial to leave it on even when on a tripod.

According to the digital picture review of the 300/2.8 "The IS version on this lens is tripod-sensing. The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens knows that a tripod is being used when vibrations go below a certain level. Keep IS turned on when mounting this lens on a tripod to take advantage of the secondary IS mode - reducing mirror slap, shutter and tripod vibrations."

This is also supported by Canon's Chuck Westfall who states that using I.S.on a tripod is actually beneficial for the tripod sensing lenses "In 2000 Canon released the next generation IS professional lenses. These lenses feature a "tripod-detection" mode which means that there is no problem using IS on a tripod. Even more than that - IS will correct vibrations caused by the mirror operations of the camera".
 
Roy C said:
Depends on what lens you are using it with, If one of the Canon big whites which is tripod sensing it is beneficial to leave it on even when on a tripod.

According to the digital picture review of the 300/2.8 "The IS version on this lens is tripod-sensing. The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens knows that a tripod is being used when vibrations go below a certain level. Keep IS turned on when mounting this lens on a tripod to take advantage of the secondary IS mode - reducing mirror slap, shutter and tripod vibrations."

This is also supported by Canon's Chuck Westfall who states that using I.S.on a tripod is actually beneficial for the tripod sensing lenses "In 2000 Canon released the next generation IS professional lenses. These lenses feature a "tripod-detection" mode which means that there is no problem using IS on a tripod. Even more than that - IS will correct vibrations caused by the mirror operations of the camera".
Click to expand...

Interesting! I didn't know this. So all L series lenses with IS support tripod recognition?
 
I've posted some of the article here, but the whole thing is very much worth reading :)

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/image_stabilization_lenses.do

Special mode
Canon addressed the ‘feedback loop’ in later model IS lenses by introducing an algorithm to the IS detection system to automatically recognise when the lens is mounted to a tripod. When these lenses are mounted on a tripod and the shutter button is pressed halfway, the IS system kicks in and the image in the viewfinder can be seen to go through a very slow vertical shift for about one second.

If the shutter button remains depressed halfway the IS system detects the lack of motion and automatically switches into a special mode. In this mode IS detects and corrects for mirror slap and shutter movement at slow speeds, but not for ‘normal’ lens shake. There is no advantage to be gained in turning off the IS function or locking the mirror prior to exposure.

The early model lenses which do not have this automatic function and which should have IS turned off (ie lock the IS correction lens group in place) when mounted on a tripod include the following lenses:

  • EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
  • EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
  • EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
  • EF300mm f/4L IS USM
 
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It's not exactly clear from the link, but does the 24-105 need IS turned off when it's on a tripod?
 
Thanks, that's what I've been doing, but page two of the URL above almost seemed to be saying otherwise...
 
From my 70-200 f4 IS L manual which suggests turning IS off when on a tripod to conserve batter power.


Tips on Using the Image Stabilizer
•
The Image Stabilizer cannot compensate for a
blurred shot caused by a subject that moved.
•
Set the STABILIZER switch to when you are
taking pictures using the Bulb setting (long
exposures). If the STABILIZER switch is set to ,
the image stabilizer function may introduce errors.
•
The Image Stabilizer might not be fully effective
in the following cases:
•You shoot while riding on a bumpy road.
•You move the camera dramatically for a
panning shot in Mode 1.
•You shoot using techniques other than
following shots in Mode 2.
•
The Image Stabilizer consumes more power
than normal shooting, so fewer shots can be
taken if you use the function.
•
The image stabilizer operates for about two
seconds even when your finger is off the shutter
button. Do not remove the lens while the stabilizer
is in operation. This will cause a malfunction
.
•With the EOS-1V/HS, 3, ELAN 7E/ELAN
7/30/33, ELAN 7NE/ELAN 7N/30V/33V, ELAN
II/ELAN IIE/50/50E, REBEL 2000/300, IX, and
D30, the Image Stabilizer will not work during
self-timer operation.
•
When you use a tripod, the Image Stabilizer
should be turned off to save battery power.
•
The stabilizer is equally effective for hand-held
photography and photography with a monopod.
•
The Image Stabilizer function also operates when
the lens is used with the EF12 II or EF25 II
Extension Tube, and the EF1.4X II Extender.
•
With Extender EF2X II attached to the lens, the
Image Stabilizer will work with the following
cameras:
EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-
1D Mark lll, EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-
1D, EOS 40D, 30D, 20D, 20Da, 10D, 5D, DIGITAL
REBEL XSi/450D, DIGITAL REBEL XTi/400D
DIGITAL, DIGITAL REBEL XT/350D DIGITAL,
DIGITAL REBEL/300D DIGITAL, D60, D30, EOS
DCS1, DCS3, D2000, D6000, EOS-1V/HS, EOS-
1N/DP/HS/RS, 3, ELAN 7E/ELAN 7/30/33, ELAN
7NE/ELAN 7N/30V/33V, ELAN II/ELAN IIE/50/50E,
REBEL X/REBEL XS/500, REBEL G/500N, REBEL
2000/300, REBEL Ti/300V, REBEL T2/300X, REBEL
K2/3000V, IX, IX Lite/IX7, 3000/88, 5000/888
•
Pictures may look distorted after being taken
depending on the camera, but this doesn't affect
shooting.
•
If you set the camera’s Custom Function to
change the assigned button to operate the AF, the
Image Stabilizer will operate when you press the
newly assigned AF button
 
Canon certainly claim that you don't need to turn IS off on newer lenses and I must admit I haven't gone through the hold it for a second routine which is maybe why I always get blurred pics leaving it on on the tripod. However, it seems to me to be easier to just turn the thing off. All you can do is try it for yourself, see if it works and then decide what you prefer to do.

Canon also say "In this mode IS detects and corrects for mirror slap and shutter movement at slow speeds, but not for ‘normal’ lens shake." Where that leaves us I don't know as you, or at least I, can introduce shake just by pressing the button. Also I wonder if when using back focus you hold down the shutter release for over a second before you fully depress it does it go into tripod mode?
 
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On for general stuff, off for football/other sports and about 50/50 for motorsport depending on the lens I'm using and the shot I'm going for.

The exception being my 100-400mkII which is pretty much always in mode 3 regardless of what I'm shooting.
 
digital said:
It's not exactly clear from the link, but does the 24-105 need IS turned off when it's on a tripod?
Click to expand...

Definitely and I speak from bitter experience of trying to take night shots and wondering why I was getting blurred photos. I gave up and later on it dawned on me-a senior moment
 
digital said:
It's not exactly clear from the link, but does the 24-105 need IS turned off when it's on a tripod?
Click to expand...

Nope.

24-105 Tripod-mounted IS on/off

IS%20on-off%2024-105.jpg


100-400 Tripod mounted IS on/off

IS%20on-off%20100-400.jpg
 
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