IS or not to IS

guybrush

guybrush

Messages
358
Name
Rebecca
Edit My Images
Yes
I understand that IS is to reduce camera shake, and I hear it is quite effective, but just how effective is it for me to consider?

I'm looking for a decent telephoto lens, would it be criminal of me to go out and buy a 250mm + lens without IS on it? As long as the image quality is the same, sharp and clear, I'm very tempted to go for a non IS lens, especially if it saves me double the price just for IS. I'd just have to use my tripod more often I guess..

But before I make that potentially ludicrous decision, I'm wondering if anyone knows of somewhere with comparison shots of what an image would look like with or without IS.

Thanks for any help, and apologies if what I suggested really was as bad as I thought so. :p
 
bottle1.jpg


bottle2.jpg
 
I guess we can consider this thread redundant now, apologies for wasting forum space.

:D
 
If the cost of an IS lens is a concern for you, just buy a non-IS one and use a sufficiently fast shutter speed and/or other steps to reduce camera-shake.

Modern aids to photography (AF, IS, VR) are not essential to making good images. How on earth did photographers manage in the 'old days'!?
 
It all depends on the subject matter and what you are trying to achieve. The images above are great example of what IS can do for you but also illustrate a subject that would easily lend itself to tripod use as it isn't moving. Having said that if the subject was on a supermarket shelf (ignoring the legalities) you wouldn't want to be setting up a tripod in a busy supermarket.
 
If you can afford it, I dont think you would ever regret paying the extra, especially at 250mm +
 
IS is useful when the light is such that you can't use the ideal shutter speed to combat camera shake and where setting up a tripod isn't feasible. If you find yourself shooting in that sort of situation, then you'll welcome IS.
 
The only disadvantage to image stabilisation is cost. No other downside.

Personally, I think it is one of the most significant technological advances of recent years. It really makes a huge difference. I never bother to take a tripod on casual walkabout now.

The other thing to consider, bearing in mind the very high resolution that the lastest cameras are capable of, is that camera shake is always present. High shutter speeds only reduce it to a minimum acceptable level. If you've got 15-20mp, that minimum level has just gone up a lot and the old focal-length-equals-shutter-speed thing is just not good enough these days.
 
if you can afford it then IS would be definetly for me
 
Bear in mind that IS is only stabilising the camera. If the subject is moving you still need to use a fast shutter speed, or flash, to freeze the subject.

A wide aperture, like f/2.8, is generally more useful for low light photos.

Also, the IS gubbins adds more weight to a lens, which can be a pain, literally, if shooting for long periods of time.
 
Hi Andrew,

As has been suggested IS or VR in Nikon terms is very useful and good for 2 or 3 stops depending on which information you wish to believe.

Should you get a lens with IS, don't forget to turn it off if you are using a tripod as it becomes detremental to the image.

As has also been suggested you will not improve your pictures if the subject is is moving.

Regards

Chris
 
G2EWS said:
Hi Andrew,

As has been suggested IS or VR in Nikon terms is very useful and good for 2 or 3 stops depending on which information you wish to believe.

Should you get a lens with IS, don't forget to turn it off if you are using a tripod as it becomes detremental to the image.

As has also been suggested you will not improve your pictures if the subject is is moving.

Regards

Chris
Click to expand...

That's interesting, I didn't know that - would you be able to explain further the mechanics behind it? If not, it's no problem, I'll have a quick scout around google. :)
 
The only lenses which I have which don't have IS are an 18-55mm kit lens, a 75-300mm zoom lens and a recently acquired 100mm F2.8 Macro.

The 75-300mm zoom lens I got before I realised the difficulty (for me) of holding a 300mm lens steady at a reasonable shutter speed.

The 100mm Macro actually doesn't need IS if you want it mainly for Macro work on a tripod bcause IS and a tripod don't mix.

But apart from that I personally would want every lens I buy to have IS because the difference it makes to a shot is INCREDIBLE!

And on a telephoto it's almost essential if you don't want to carry a tripod everywhere.

I personally consider IS almost as essential as the lens itself.
 
guybrush said:
That's interesting, I didn't know that - would you be able to explain further the mechanics behind it? If not, it's no problem, I'll have a quick scout around google. :)
Click to expand...

With most of the latest image stabilisation systems, it's actully not necessary to turn off the IS on a tripod. Certainly not with Canon. Older systems yes (eg 100-400L, though even that's sometimes debatable, because it's so long) and maybe other brands - lens handbook should advise.

New systems have tripod-sensing and if no movement is detected, they shut down. However, IS drains battery power and since it cannot have any benefit, it's as well to turn it off. There is also the slight danger that a feedback loop might develop between the gyros and the IS motors and this could cause the image to drift slightly which could obviously ruin a long exposure.
 
Hi Andrew,

I think Richard has explained as near as I understand the situation. I do know that it is very frustrating when looking in the view finder and the camera/lens moves when you preview!

Regards

Chris
 
Funny that Lieca dont list any IS or VR type lenses.


Dave.
 
You can manage perfectly well without IS.
But... given the choice of two similar lenses, one with IS, the other without, and if money isn't an overiding consideration, then I'd always pick the one with IS.

You can always switch it off.
 
I haven't got IS on any of my lenses and have never used an IS lens, so I don't know what I'm missing. I'm hiring a 500/4 this summer and am quite looking forward to trying the IS.
 
dizidav said:
Funny that Lieca dont list any IS or VR type lenses.


Dave.
Click to expand...

Not so funny if you're a Leica user ;) They haven't got the technology and Panasonic won't let them put theirs in Leica rangefinder cameras.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top