Image Stabilization Lenses

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chebba@hbci.com - 12 Oct 2004 02:05 GMT

Can IS be turned off in a lense?
Does IS degrade the quality of pics in any way?
Is IS necessary when using a tripod?
Is IS worth the money if you take a lot of hand held pics?

thanks for your help. Ed

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rob - 01 Jan 2002 06:00 GMT

:>Can IS be turned off in a lense?

Yes. There's a switch on the lens barrel.

:>Does IS degrade the quality of pics in any way?

Not if used properly. For example, with a 28-135 the IS function should be
turned off while panning. Some of the more expensive lenses have an IS Mode
switch (1-for normal use, 2-when panning). I have 28-135 & 100-400L lenses and
the mode switch on the 100-400 makes a HUGE difference when panning.

:>Is IS necessary when using a tripod?

You're supposed to turn IS off when using a tripod. You won't harm the lens
leaving it on, but your pictures may not be as sharp as they should be. Canon
have a long technical explanation about this.
My Elan 7e disables IS automatically when I use the cameras timer function
(this feature isn't documented anywhere).

:>Is IS worth the money if you take a lot of hand held pics?

Yes!!

:>thanks for your help. Ed

Rob
www.rcp.ca

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chebba@hbci.com - 13 Oct 2004 00:30 GMT

Thanks All.

>Can IS be turned off in a lense?
>Does IS degrade the quality of pics in any way?
>Is IS necessary when using a tripod?
>Is IS worth the money if you take a lot of hand held pics?
>
>thanks for your help. Ed

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PLB49 - 13 Oct 2004 01:21 GMT

I have recently purchased the 28-135 and 75-300 for my digital rebel.

IS is switchable on each, like the AF/MF switch

IS does not degrade the picture quality

I don't use a tripod.

IS is worth it to me as a middle school teacher assigned photography of sports
and events as my extra-curricular assignment.

http://scienceteacher.biz/MSsoccerWeb/IMG_4256.html

was taken from across a soccer field-at 300 setting (480 equiv.) It made a
very nice 8x10--72 dpi doesn't do it justice!

Paul B.

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Randall Ainsworth - 13 Oct 2004 03:13 GMT

> Can IS be turned off in a lense?

Yes

> Does IS degrade the quality of pics in any way?

> Is IS necessary when using a tripod?

> Is IS worth the money if you take a lot of hand held pics?

Yes

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KBob - 12 Nov 2004 04:05 GMT

I don't use these for the following reasons:
(1) IS adds weight
(2) IS is delicate, and such lenses require expensive repair
(3) IS adds substantial cost to the lens
(4) IS makes the lens bulkier

About the only good thing I can think of is that it adds resale value
to the lens when you go to dump it. Suggest you look at high-end
primes, get a monopod and use it--it will turn ALL your lenses into
IS.

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rob - 01 Jan 2002 06:00 GMT

:>>Can IS be turned off in a lense?
:>>Does IS degrade the quality of pics in any way?
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
:>primes, get a monopod and use it--it will turn ALL your lenses into
:>IS.

I do use IS lenses..

- IS can be turned off (why not use it all the time, except for tripod work).
- IS does not degrade the image
- It's best to turn IS off when using a tripod, the newer lenses sense a
tripod (lack of movement) and disable IS automatically. On my Elan 7E, the
camera disables IS automatically when you use the timer function (not a
documented feature).
- Definitely worth it for hand held work. I've used it taking pictures of bald
eagles while standing in a boat, a tripod would've been useless in this
situation.
- IS seems to be very rugged, although I don't bash my lenses around either.

Hope this helps.

Rob
www.rcp.ca

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