This is a discussion on IS lenses within the Lenses forums, part of the Photography/Film & Equipment category; Just read an article about is lenses,if you are using a tripod the is is a waste of time? The ...
Just read an article about is lenses,if you are using a tripod the is is a waste of time? The motors? keep moving trying to detect vibration. Can you turn off IS ?
Yeah you can turn off IS its a switch on the lenses. Using a tripod with IS on can cause problems as you said it tries to correct any motion on the lens.
You can see from the image below the switches on the lenses.
The other way of looking at it is, if you have IS in your lense its the tripod thats a waste of time.
I cant see any image improvement in using a tripod with the IS off to a hand held with IS on.
I think Canons IS system is probably the greatest leap foward in recent years, I wouldnt now buy a lense without it.
Although the actual switch can be a bit of a fiddle I can only use it with my thumb nail which I keep especially long just for this purpose.
Its also recomended that you turn the IS off before detatching the lense from the camera, (Ive only remembered to do this a couple of times in the past 12 months)
The other way of looking at it is, if you have IS in your lense its the tripod thats a waste of time. Regards
Rob
I would agree that IS is very good and helps a lot with hand held shots, but i don't personally think it would replace the use of a tripod. I use a tripod for a lot of landscape/night shots as i lower the shutter speed or use bulb mode. I also think a good tripod can come in hand for macro shots of plants and other objects.
Is is great,but it can not replace the stability of a tripod.It comes into its own when you can't use a tripod,or one would not be practical.the main difference in using canon is lenses is the quality of the L glass,as its as good as its going to get.try one,you will be one over!
When i was out with the camera taking the recent photos of stags, i had IS enabled but would have done much better with a tripod. After climbing up the side of the hill the wind had picked up and it was getting dark so i could not hold the camera still enough for the shutter speeds. IS did help if i did not have IS i would have got really really poor images but if i had a tripod i think they would have been much better.
IS is great when you've nothing else to support the camera when your hands are shaking, like a Paparazi pursuing Pamela Anderson for example. Or when you are trying to photograph fast birds in flight. Other wise use a bean bag or better still a tripod, the best tripod you can afford (sell a kidney, it'll be worth it). The rule of thumb with long lenses is that the shutter speed needs to be faster than the focal length, thus a 400mm lens needs 1/400sec and faster. The IS on the 100-400L gives you a 2 stop advantage, so you could use 1/200sec. Anything slower than 1/200sec will get camera shake, unless supported. I was going to get rid of my 100-400L lens because all my shots at 400mm were focussed but soft, even though I always used a Manfrotto 190B tripod with Manfrotto pistol grip head. Then I got a chance to try out a friends Gitzo carbon fibre tripod with Kirk B1 ball head. WOW, suddenly I had sharpness. Result! I kept my 100-400, sold the wife - difficult - and bought the Gitzo and Kirk Ballhead. I've never regretted it and will never need to buy another tripod or head.
The latest generation Canon IS lenses (400 f2.8, 500, 600, 800) can be used in IS mode on a tripod with no adverse effect. In fact the IS compensates for mirror slap which resembles an earth tremor when looking through an 800mm lens.
Hope that helps.
Deer man.
Cheers for your comments chasing Pamela Anderson with a camera is a bird i would like to have caught on camera.
I do agree what what you are saying i had a cheaper tripod and i struggled as it would not stop wobbeling unless it was locked, to lock it was not always possible ie legs against the wall always seemed to be fighting it.
Ive not had much chance of using the tripod and lens combo outside but it feels so much better.
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Result! I kept my 100-400, sold the wife - difficult - and bought the Gitzo and Kirk Ballhead. I've never regretted it and will never need to buy another tripod or head.
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My 400mm doesn't have IS. Unless I can get over 1/1000 sec I don't expect to get good handheld shots so I always use a tripod.
With the 40D, which I usually use with the 400, I often use Llive view. Partly because I can get better focus but also as the mirror is already up there is no mirror slap, and I use either a remote switch or, if I haven't got the remote, then timer release.
I find this makes a huge difference to the IQ.
I never used to be bothered but once I started taking the trouble I was hooked, it made such a difference.
I often used to think the lens wasn't as good as I'd been led to believe and then as so often happens I discovered it was the jerk behind the viewfinder that wasn't up to scratch and the lens was fantastic.
Linear Mode
