IS On or Off & More On Image Stabilization

[Arthur Morris]

A cut and paste from yesterday's blog post here.

IS On or Off?

Despite the fact that the requested information is on Page 2 of The Art of Bird Photography II, I often receive e-mails that go something like this: “I heard on line that you should turn IS off when you are working on a tripod with a big lens. Is that true?”

Here, adapted from what I wrote on page 2 of ABP II, is what I have to say on the matter:

The current super-telephoto lenses lenses (the 300 & 400 f/2.8L IS and the 500 & 600 f/4L IS) feature a tripod-sensing IS system that eliminates the vibration
caused by both equipment shake and by mirror slap. Despite contradictory statements both on line and in many editions of the lens instructions, the IS switch on these lenses should be set at the “On” position at ll times, even when the lens is mounted on a tripod. (The same will be true when the Series II lenses are released.)

The next e-mail usually says, “OK. I believe you. I will keep IS on with my big lens on a tripod. Should I be in IS Mode 1 or IS Mode 2?”

To this I again reply with info adapted from Page 2 of ABP II.

With the four current super-telephotos it is best to set IS Mode 2 for all applications. Why? Because with these lenses IS Mode 2 performs exactly the same as IS Mode 1 when the lens is mounted on a tripod.

With all of the intermediate telephoto IS lenses (including but not limited to all of the 70-200mm IS lenses, the 300 f/4, and the 100-400mm) it is advised by the manufacturer (and just about everyone else) that IS be turned off when using lenses in this class on a tripod. When I do use these lenses on a tripod, I always leave IS on (set to Mode 2). Why do I disregard the manufacturer’s advise? In all the years I have been working with intermediate telephoto lenses with IS Mode 2 on, I have had only a single frame (film actually) that was affected by the IS system. The lens elements shifted during the exposure. The result was a very pleasingly blurred image. Having to remember to turn IS off and then on again while hand holding is far too great a price to pay for me. I believe that simpler is better.

More On Image Stabilization

Whether on a tripod or hand holding, Image Stabilization will help photographers using sloppy sharpness techniques to make sharper images but those photographers employing excellent sharpness techniques will be able to push the envelope much further than their sloppy, careless counterparts. (See Advanced Sharpness Techniques in Chapter VI of ABP II.

Item last. When working with the intermediate telephoto lenses and zoom lenses like those mentioned above it is recommended that IS Mode 1 should be set when photographing static subjects and that IS Mode 2 be set when panning with moving subjects. I sometimes remember to do this when hand holding but for the most part I simply set IS Mode2 and let it fly (as in the featured image here).

Nikon folks are invited to let us know how they utilize VR.

 

[arash_hazeghi]

Interesting Artie,
When I was in Florida we had a discussion about this with Jim and Doug, although I don't use a tripod for bird photography I have noticed that none of the Canon lenses I have used, that is 24-105, 500 f/4, 300 f/2.8 or 300f/4 actually turns IS off when on tripod. The IS mechanism is active and you can hear the acoustic jitters.

If you put your camera on tripod and set your camera to LV you will see the image "float" on the rear LCD if IS is ON. When I do MA or sharpness test on tripod I always set IS to OFF because I have seen many times that it blurs the images, Doug can confirm this too.

After our discussions we called CPS 800 number and the person on the phone mentioned that he was not aware of any tripod-detection mechanism and recommended IS set to OFF. We also searched the lense's manuals and did not find anything indicating this feature.

Can you confirm if you have seen a Canon document that recommends IS ON on tripod?

When shooting hand hold I always use IS (and VR with Nikon).

 

[Arthur Morris]

Arash,

re:

]Interesting Artie. When I was in Florida we had a discussion about this with Jim and Doug, although I don't use a tripod for bird photography I have noticed that none of the Canon lenses I have used, that is 24-105, 500 f/4, 300 f/2.8 or 300f/4 actually turns IS off when on tripod.

I am confused as to what you mean.... A lens does not turn IS off, the photographer turns IS off by moving the switch. Please explain. Thanks.

The IS mechanism is active and you can hear the acoustic jitters.

Are you saying that when IS is turned off that you still hear it acting as if it is on?

If you put your camera on tripod and set your camera to LV you will see the image "float" on the rear LCD if IS is ON. When I do MA or sharpness test on tripod I always set IS to OFF because I have seen many times that it blurs the images, Doug can confirm this too.

I am not sure on that.... If IS makes images soft, the why are we using it? My experience is that IS improves sharpness. We do recommend that you give the image a moment to settle before depressing the shutter button while doing an alignment.

After our discussions we called CPS 800 number and the person on the phone mentioned that he was not aware of any tripod-detection mechanism and recommended IS set to OFF. We also searched the lens manuals and did not find anything indicating this feature.

I am not saying that IS will turn off when the lens is on a tripod. I am saying that the IS system will sense that the lens is on a tripod and perform differently.

Can you confirm if you have seen a Canon document that recommends IS ON on tripod?

No. I am 99.99% sure that I got that info directly from Chuck Westfall. I will write him and let you know what I learn.

When shooting hand hold I always use IS (and VR with Nikon).

Do you change from Mode 1 to Mode 2 as recommended with Canon?

 

[arash_hazeghi]

Artie,

Looks like I did explain well, what I meant was that in my experience the IS system did not seem to perform correctly when on tripod and delivered soft images, I can post some examples later.

I have not seen Canon advertise this feature in their manuals, white papers or other publications, in fact as I mentioned CPS recommended IS be set to OFF on tripod. That's why I asked.

I agree IS improves sharpness when handheld, it also helps with keeping the bird centered while tracking. I always use mode 2.

Please let us know if he can provide point us to a Canon document that explains how this feature is supposed to work.

 

[John Chardine]

Interesting Artie,
When I was in Florida we had a discussion about this with Jim and Doug, although I don't use a tripod for bird photography I have noticed that none of the Canon lenses I have used, that is 24-105, 500 f/4, 300 f/2.8 or 300f/4 actually turns IS off when on tripod. The IS mechanism is active and you can hear the acoustic jitters.

If you put your camera on tripod and set your camera to LV you will see the image "float" on the rear LCD if IS is ON. When I do MA or sharpness test on tripod I always set IS to OFF because I have seen many times that it blurs the images, Doug can confirm this too.

After our discussions we called CPS 800 number and the person on the phone mentioned that he was not aware of any tripod-detection mechanism and recommended IS set to OFF. We also searched the lense's manuals and did not find anything indicating this feature.

Can you confirm if you have seen a Canon document that recommends IS ON on tripod?

When shooting hand hold I always use IS (and VR with Nikon).

Arash- Only a select number of L-series tele lenses are supposed to have tripod detection and one of them isn't the 24-105, so that explains that one. I don't think the 300/4 is in that category either (nor is the 100-400 for example). Having said this, I see what you mean about this not being in the Canon manuals. What about the Canon Lens Works book? You do see reference to this here and there, e.g., at Adencamera.com you read for the 70-300L:
"The EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM features a function that prevents erroneous operation when the lens is mounted on a tripod or monopod."

But where do they get this information? It's not in the manual as far as I can see. I have read (maybe from Canon) that on lenses with tripod detection, the IS doesn't turn off but somehow changes function to deal with mirror slap. It must be somewhere in Canon's bumph.

BTW I've done some tests of this as well- 500/4 on locked down tripod, IS on (mode doesn't matter), Live view on and set to max. magnification, press the shutter release half way and the image drifts across the screen as the functioning IS attempts to correct, finger off shutter release and image jumps back to starting position. This test suggests that IS functions on a tripod as it does off but maybe there is still something subtly different about the way it is working while on a tripod.

 

[Don Lacy]

This is from Canons website on the 500 f/4 IS

This lens has also "camera shake correction mode 2" which corrects shaking of the viewfinder image when, for example, shooting a moving object, and a tripod can be used with the camera shake correction function ON.

and here is the website http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/ef/data/super_telephoto/ef_500_4lis_usm.html

 

[John Chardine]

Don- That is IS mode 2 for panning. I think tripod detection is something different.

 

[arash_hazeghi]

John,

I do have Canon lens works III, can you point me to the page where "tripod detection" is mentioned?

Thanks.

 

[John Chardine]

As far as I can see a reference to it is on page 187. It doesn't say much but here's the text:

"Tripod-compatible Image Stabilizer
When the first IS lenses were used with a tripod, the image stabilizer malfunctioned, requiring the photographer to turn off the image stabilizer function. However, the EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM and other new models in the super telephoto L type IS series are equipped with an image stabilizer that can be used with a tripod, which prevents malfunctioning. Since the system uses a vibration gyro to automatically detect when the camera is mounted on a tripod, the photographer can focus on the photograph without having to think about turning the stabilizer on and off. And when a monopod is used with any lens in the IS series, image stabilization is identical to that achieved during hand-held photography."

 

[arash_hazeghi]

As far as I can see a reference to it is on page 187. It doesn't say much but here's the text:

"Tripod-compatible Image Stabilizer
When the first IS lenses were used with a tripod, the image stabilizer malfunctioned, requiring the photographer to turn off the image stabilizer function. However, the EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM and other new models in the super telephoto L type IS series are equipped with an image stabilizer that can be used with a tripod, which prevents malfunctioning. Since the system uses a vibration gyro to automatically detect when the camera is mounted on a tripod, the photographer can focus on the photograph without having to think about turning the stabilizer on and off. And when a monopod is used with any lens in the IS series, image stabilization is identical to that achieved during hand-held photography."

Thanks John,
So in my case the system failed to "detect" that it was on tripod. I should mention that the shutter speeds that I was using were in the range of 1/250sec to 1/10 sec.
In a few occasions, I had also accidentally kept IS ON for a series of night shots, all of which came out like motion blurs as the IS had shifted the image during the long exposure. :w3

 

[arash_hazeghi]

I just looked at my Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 MKII manual. This is the latest telephoto so it should the latest IS module. Here is what it says on page 11:

" Using a tripod also stabilizes the image. However, depending on the kind of tripod and shooting conditions, sometimes it may be better to turn off the image stabilizer function "

What I make from this is that it is not a very reliable system so I will just play safe and keep mine OFF.

BTW, the new IS seems to have improved for handheld shots, now I can easily get sharp shots at 1/20sec at 200m.

 

[John Chardine]

Arash- the manual to my new 70-300L (fantastic lens BTW) has the same wording. This must be the boilerplate Canon is using for the new 4th gen. IS which both lenses have.

 

[Roger Clark]

A note on the 300 f/4 L IS: it is an older IS version and the IS actually harms image sharpness when shutter speeds are on the order of or faster than 1/2000 second. I read this online many years ago and confirmed it with my own test. I have not observed the problem with the 500 f/4 or 300 f/2.8 L IS lenses.

Roger

 

[Arthur Morris]

Arash et al, my e-mail conversation with Canon's Chuck Westfall:

CW: Hi, Arthur:

re:

AM: My recollection is that you either told me the stuff below (or sent me a link that contained the info). Am I correct?

CW: My responses are indicated below:

AM: 1-The current super-telephoto lenses lenses (the 300 & 400 f/2.8L IS and the 500 & 600 f/4L IS) feature a tripod-sensing IS system...

CW: Yes.

AM:...that eliminates the vibration caused by both equipment shake and by mirror slap.

CW: I would say "minimizes" rather than "eliminates." You still need to use Silent Shooting Mode 1 or 2 in Live View on a 5D Mark II, 7D, 40D, 50D, or 60D for maximum stability due to the electronic 1st curtain shutter operation on those models.

AM: 2-Despite contradictory statements both on line and in many editions of the lens instructions, the IS switch on these lenses should be set at the “On” position at all times, even when the lens is mounted on a tripod.

CW: In most cases, we recommend using IS and other vibration-reducing techniques such as a cable release with mirror lock or Live View electronic 1st curtain shutter release for best results when these lenses are mounted on a tripod, but all of these techniques are optional. Also, keep in mind that IS must be fully operational for best results; that means it has to be running long enough to achieve maximum stability. When the IS super-telephotos are mounted on a tripod, it may take several seconds of operation before this level of performance is achieved. (You can see it through the viewfinder if you're paying attention.) IS cannot be achieved instantaneously. If it becomes necessary to release the shutter before IS can become fully functional, it may be better to shut it off.

AM: 3-With the four current super-telephotos it is best to set IS Mode 2 for all applications. Why? Because with these lenses IS Mode 2 performs exactly the same as IS Mode 1 when the lens is mounted on a tripod (except in one very rare instance: photographing a static subject from a moving vehicle).

CW: Tripod or not, Mode 2 IS makes most sense when there is a possibility of panning. When the lens is locked down on a tripod with no intention of moving it, there is no advantage to IS Mode 2. However, it's correct that IS Mode 2 acts like IS Mode 1 unless or until panning movement is detected.

AM: Is there a link to any or all of the above in any Canon documents or white papers on line?

CW: No.

Best Regards,

Chuck Westfall
Advisor, Technical Information
ITC Group Professional Engineering & Solutions I Division
Canon U.S.A., Inc.

 

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks Artie for posting this, appreciate sharing it with us. From CW statements looks like the system is not very effective and I think that is why Canon does not advertise it widely. I am not sure using live view or silent mode with several seconds of delay is best for avian photography, maybe for perched birds that are not moving but for action you will miss the shot :t3

 

[David Stephens]

...

CW: In most cases, we recommend using IS and other vibration-reducing techniques such as a cable release with mirror lock or Live View electronic 1st curtain shutter release for best results when these lenses are mounted on a tripod, but all of these techniques are optional. Also, keep in mind that IS must be fully operational for best results; that means it has to be running long enough to achieve maximum stability. When the IS super-telephotos are mounted on a tripod, it may take several seconds of operation before this level of performance is achieved. (You can see it through the viewfinder if you're paying attention.) IS cannot be achieved instantaneously. If it becomes necessary to release the shutter before IS can become fully functional, it may be better to shut it off. ...

I think that this may help explain why some get bad test results.

Not long ago, I took some moon shots with my 500/f4 and a 1.4x TC, on the tripod, in live view and cable release. It was clear to see the moon move and shake when I pressed the release half way down, but in a second or two things cleared nicely and I released the shutter for a sharp shot. If you'd already focused and merely pushed the shutter without a pause at half way down, I think you'd likely get a poor result.

 

[Arthur Morris]

Arash, You are entitled to your opinion but as I said above, I have been using IS Mode 2 on a tripod with big lenses (600 f/4, 500/f4, and more recently 800/f5.6) since the 600 f/4 came out with great success, routinely making sharp images with teleconverters down to 1/60 sec and 1/30 sec. with the lenses alone. And I have worked at even slower speeds with the 800.

Not sure what your motivation is to say something negative about using IS on a tripod with Canon gear when by your own admission you do not use a long lens on a tripod....

 

[Arthur Morris]

I think that this may help explain why some get bad test results.

Not long ago, I took some moon shots with my 500/f4 and a 1.4x TC, on the tripod, in live view and cable release. It was clear to see the moon move and shake when I pressed the release half way down, but in a second or two things cleared nicely and I released the shutter for a sharp shot. If you'd already focused and merely pushed the shutter without a pause at half way down, I think you'd likely get a poor result.

I agree that when working at very slow shutter speeds that waiting for the IS to calm down is best, bu I have never waited at all when photographing birds (as above) with my big lenses on a tripod. Is every image that I make sharp? No. But that is true for a great variety of reasons with operator error at the top of the list. I have never seen a long lens image ruined because IS was on while on a tripod.

 

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash, You are entitled to your opinion but as I said above, I have been using IS Mode 2 on a tripod with big lenses (600 f/4, 500/f4, and more recently 800/f5.6) since the 600 f/4 came out with great success, routinely making sharp images with teleconverters down to 1/60 sec and 1/30 sec. with the lenses alone. And I have worked at even slower speeds with the 800.

Not sure what your motivation is to say something negative about using IS on a tripod with Canon gear when by your own admission you do not use a long lens on a tripod....

Artie,

I assure you I did not have any negative intentions. I just stated that in my experience the system was not effective and my purpose was to learn what Canon's official recommendation was in this case and if I was missing something, thanks for posting CW's comments.

It is true that I don't use long lenses on tripod for bird photography, but I do use the 300 and occasionally the 500 for long distance landscape shots on tripod quite often. I sometimes make huge prints for clients and critical sharpness at pixel level is very important to me. Here is an example, it is 45 photos that have been stitched, made with the 5D2 and 300 f/2.8 on tripod.

http://ari1982.smugmug.com/Landscapes/pano/10758501_CPbaS#749855925_c6JnZ-O-LB

Any ways, thanks for sharing CW's response and also your experience.

Best

 

[Sid Garige]

Here is an example, it is 45 photos that have been stitched, made with the 5D2 and 300 f/2.8 on tripod.

http://ari1982.smugmug.com/Landscapes/pano/10758501_CPbaS#749855925_c6JnZ-O-LB
Best

Excellent job Arash. Looked at it on a 30" screen and you did an exceptional job with stitching.