IS lens - advice on using required

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/25/2004 05:33:37 PM · #1

Ok, I have my first IS lens :)

The, Canon, lens has 2 modes:

1) Full IS

2) IS for panning

Ok, understand the basics, no problem.

What I do not understand is the following ....

Using full IS for a nice stationary object is pretty obvious, but what about fully moving objects? Say I am trying to shoot photos of motorbikes jumping dirt, a football game, even people walking down the street.

Is IS strictly for stationary, relative to the lens, objects?

Or as long as the camera is stationary (ignoring the IS panning mode) can it then be used for anything?

I have no idea how IS works, but being a dSLR I assume the lens has motion sensors, in which case it would make sense to be that the objects can be moving but the lens is attempting to remain static.

Any info appreciated :)

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

05/25/2004 05:40:45 PM · #2

//www.usa.canon.com/html/eflenses/technology/imagestabilizer.html

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

05/25/2004 06:43:56 PM · #3

Thanks Doctornick, nice link on how the technology works .....

SO, does that mean I cam correct when I assume, as it didn;t explain use, that I should use IS for moving objects if I am trying to keep the lens stationary?

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

05/25/2004 06:53:31 PM · #4

Canon's IS system compensates for CAMERA movement due to unsteady handheld conditions.
It is a mechanical system (electrically controlled) that physically moves a lens in the aperture to reduce image displacement due to camera shake.
If you are shooting a stationary subject, use the stationary mode. For panning shots, the camera turns off the HORIZONTAL compensation so that there is no image lag when panning with the subject.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/25/2004 06:54:44 PM · #5

Subject motion is irrelevant. The IS functions by monitoring the angular motion of the camera, and compensating by shifting the image. It will keep the whole frame still, so whether your subject is in motion will not matter. Neither will the IS help to keep the subject sharp, however, as it is compensating for the entire image (trying to maintain zero shift of the frame).
BTW, which IS lens do you have? There are differences in the IS implementations. the latest version is the one used on, for example, the 70-200 2.8L IS, and (I think) the 400/4 DO/IS.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/25/2004 06:56:43 PM · #6

You can use it all the time, even when you are using the tripod. If you are shooting a moving subject, you can use the pan mode, or if you plan to have the camera stationary you use the regular mode. However you have to remember that if the object is moving fast you will need a high shutter speed to freeze motion, IS only helps reduce image blur from camera shake NOT from subject movement.

05/25/2004 07:42:41 PM · #7

Thanks everyone, that is what I thought was the case, but needed to make sure I had not made stupid assumptions. All is now perfectly clear :)

The lens, Kiric, is the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L USM version, and therefore might be using slightly older technology.

Sensational lens though for what I need :)

Thanks again peeps :)

Glacierwolf

Canon EOS-10D

05/26/2004 02:55:43 AM · #8

Originally posted by doctornick:

You can use it all the time, even when you are using the tripod.

This is so NOT TRUE. It's clearly stated in all the IS lens manuals never to use IS with a tripod or anything that holds the camera stationary. Having IS turned 'on' while the camera is mounted on a tripod will cause the internal servos to 'hunt'. This means the lens will move at random - and if your shutter speed is slow enough the result is a blurred picture.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Canon

05/26/2004 05:20:06 AM · #9

Originally posted by Glacierwolf:

Originally posted by doctornick:
You can use it all the time, even when you are using the tripod.

This is so NOT TRUE. It's clearly stated in all the IS lens manuals never to use IS with a tripod or anything that holds the camera stationary. Having IS turned 'on' while the camera is mounted on a tripod will cause the internal servos to 'hunt'. This means the lens will move at random - and if your shutter speed is slow enough the result is a blurred picture.

Yes, I saw that in the manual as well.

However, I have seen a heap of user reports where people think IS still works well on a tripod. Maybe they either haven't used a slow shutter speed, or do not have the best tripod and there is movement even on a tripod (partly as the lens is a heavy one????) and therefore the IS compensates for the movement.

Just a guess.

garlic

Canon EOS-10D

05/26/2004 05:56:39 AM · #10

Originally posted by Natator:

Using full IS for a nice stationary object is pretty obvious, but what about fully moving objects? Say I am trying to shoot photos of motorbikes jumping dirt, a football game, even people walking down the street.

Just wondering.
If you are shooting motorbikes jumping dirt or a football game do you need IS? DonÂ´t you shoot at high shutter speed where IS is unneccisary?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/26/2004 06:07:39 AM · #11

Originally posted by garlic:

Just wondering.
If you are shooting motorbikes jumping dirt or a football game do you need IS? DonÂ´t you shoot at high shutter speed where IS is unneccisary?

Neither in particular. They were simply examples of moving objects.

Also remember that IS is meant to save you a couple of stops, so if you are a using high zoom levels and/or the light is bad and you are forced to use a slower shutter speed then IS can still come in handy for even those shots.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

05/26/2004 06:42:37 AM · #12

Originally posted by Glacierwolf:

This is so NOT TRUE.

No, it is only "NOT TRUE" for certain IS revisions.

Please read this post (from March, 2004) by Chuck Westfall, Canon's Director of Technical Information, USA.

Originally posted by Natator:

On my 70-200/2.8L IS, I always have IS turned on, even on a tripod (because it is fine to do so with that lens). But I especially make sure it is on any time I am hand-holding this lens, regardless of whether the subject is moving or not. IS will help eliminate one type of motion blur -- that caused by camera shake. Leaving it off would potentially result not only in motion blur caused by the subject (which will happen regardless of whether IS is used or not unless you can get your shutter speeds fast enough), but also by you not being able to hold the lens steady. As always, YMMV.

Message edited by author 2004-05-26 06:55:45.