IS on a monopod - on or off?

cw318is

cw318is

Messages
1,479
Name
Caleb
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, this one has kindof got me stumped.

When using a tripod which is rock solid, I always turn IS off just to avoid the lens trying to fight non existant movement. Now with a monopod there will always be a smidge of movement, so should I keep IS on or will it try and overcompensate and compound the problem? :thinking:

Thanks
 
I would keep it on too, as it would be compensating some movement. I guess you could have it off if battery life was getting low.
 
I use a 70-200 2.8 and a Siggy 150-500 for shooting rugby and both have VR/IS turned off and I've have had no problems so far.
 
Sorry to high jack thread but what is the downfall of having is on I leave it on permitly

Jamie
 
cw318is said:
Hi all, this one has kindof got me stumped.

When using a tripod which is rock solid, I always turn IS off just to avoid the lens trying to fight non existant movement. Now with a monopod there will always be a smidge of movement, so should I keep IS on or will it try and overcompensate and compound the problem? :thinking:

Thanks
Click to expand...
Depends on the lens but any Canon I.S. lens first manufactured since 2000 will have tripod sensing I.S. Not only can you leave I.S. on when shooting on a tripod (or Monopod) but it can also be beneficial to do so.
Canon's Chuck Westfall 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".
I never turn I.S. off on my 300/2.8.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the replies everyone, my '09 100-400 should be tripod sensing then so might as well leave it on. As for the Sigma OS not sure, I'll do some experimenting and let you know the outcome.
 
I have just got the new Nikon 70-200 2.8 VRII version and the handbook says if using a tripod turn VR off, but with a monopod turn it on.

Like Caleb I will experiment and see what I prefer.
 
cw318is said:
Thanks for all the replies everyone, my '09 100-400 should be tripod sensing then so might as well leave it on. As for the Sigma OS not sure, I'll do some experimenting and let you know the outcome.
Click to expand...
I think you will find that the 100-400 is one of the few lenses that is NOT tripod sensing and it is most certainly recommended that you turn I.S. of when on a tripod.
 
Last edited:
Roy C said:
I think you will find that the 100-400 is one of the few lenses that is NOT tripod sensing and it is most certainly recommended that you turn I.S. of when on a tripod.
Click to expand...

Didn't they sort this out with later versions of the 100-400L Roy? It was certainly true of earlier versions including the one I had. I agree with your earlier post though - the 500mm f4/L and 300mm f/2.8L are my most used lenses and I never turn off IS on a tripod.
 
CT said:
Didn't they sort this out with later versions of the 100-400L Roy? It was certainly true of earlier versions including the one I had. I agree with your earlier post though - the 500mm f4/L and 300mm f/2.8L are my most used lenses and I never turn off IS on a tripod.
Click to expand...
I have never seen anything to indicate that the I.S. sytem on the 100-400 has ever been updated Cedric. Every recommendation I have ever seen for this lens indicates that I.S. should be turned off when on a tripod.
 
If you got it use basically. It doesn't hurt to use it when theres slight movement. Last thing you want is to take a picture with it turned off and its not sharp enough you may well regret it if you didnt notice until you got home. So keep it on just watch battery life. :)
 
Well I experimented today - I can honestly say to me it didn't seem to make the slightest bit of difference to me whether it was on or off!
 
I recently read an article which suggested that lenses with IS when used in conjunction with a tri/mono pod should have the IS set to off. The reason given was that the IS motor can actually create a little, minute movement when used as such.

Andy
 
cw318is said:
Well I experimented today - I can honestly say to me it didn't seem to make the slightest bit of difference to me whether it was on or off!
Click to expand...

What shutter speeds were you using for your tests caleb please?
 
I think you need to define what you mean by "on a tripod."

I use IS on a tripod with a gimbal head all the time with all my lenses and on the rare occasions when I use a monopod. That's with both hands on the camera though, and operating the shutter by hand in the normal way, so there's plenty of slight movement through your hands still being detected by the IS. There's still a big benefit from IS in this situation and I've never had a corrupted image as a result of using IS in this manner. When I had a 100-400L I used it in just the same way and it worked just fine.

I did do a test just once though with the 100-400L on a tripod with IS enabled and the head locked tight (so there was no detectable movement) and using a cable release. The result was a corrupted image with horizontal bands across the image looking rather like a venetian blind. That one test was enough to convince me it wasn't a good idea - in fact Canon say that damage to the lens can be caused, so experiment at your own risk.
 
rhody said:
What shutter speeds were you using for your tests caleb please?
Click to expand...

I went down to 1/20 @ 50mm f4 testing out the 4 stop OS on the Sigma 17-70. I can't handhold at that for sure, with the monopod and OS off, it was fine and a nice sharp image. With the 100-400 I went to 1/90 @ 400 f5.6, again it was fine IS off. I think because the pod is taking most if not all of the weight, especially with the 100-400, its a lot easier to hold the camera rigid. Didn't use remotes or timer or anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top