Image stabilisation

[Jonathan Cross]

I have been looking at Forum members' amazing photos of birds.  It has reminded me of advice I was given, which is to switch off all image stabilisation if using shutter speeds quicker than 1/500 second as it can fight against any intended camera movement and similarly turn it off if using a tripod.

Is this good advice?

Jonathan

[mcbroomf]

I was reading a section of one of Canon's Lenswork books recently and they said that the 1st gen lenses with OS had to have it turned off when  on a tripod but they resolved it for the next gen (ie a long time ago).  I frequently leave mine on with my Sony (by mistake) and check results of the captures indicates no issues.

Not a birder so no extensive experience with high shutter speeds and long lenses though I do use it for big stormy waves and probably the same as landscape images, forgetting to turn it off a good portion of the time.

[kers]

Nikon lenses ( and probably others ) may have the option of an action-VR ;
that is_ It uses VR to keep your view steady, but does not work at the moment of taking the photo.
Especially handy with telelenses and short shutter speeds.

[Simon J.A. Simpson]

My Canon EF 70–200 has three IS settings for ‘still objects, panning, and irregular movement’.

However, I did notice something interesting when using a Canon 100 macro lens.  After carefully composing using the ‘live’ preview on the back of the camera when the shutter was slightly depressed to activate the IS the composition would move slightly.  So I turned the IS off.

[digitaldog]

So here's an offshoot question about stabilization.
Camera A is said to have 8-stops IBIS.
Camera B doesn't but I'm using an IS lens (spec's say: Optical Image Stabilization with up to 5 Stops of Shake Correction).
So if I place IS lens on Camera A with IBIS, I still get 8-stops, more or less?
If one is using IS lens, is IBIS worth the extra money?

[mcbroomf]

So here's an offshoot question about stabilization.
Camera A is said to have 8-stops IBIS.
Camera B doesn't but I'm using an IS lens (spec's say: Optical Image Stabilization with up to 5 Stops of Shake Correction).
So if I place IS lens on Camera A with IBIS, I still get 8-stops, more or less?
If one is using IS lens, is IBIS worth the extra money?

With Sony, the camera (ie Sony engineering) has the lens take over IS from the body if they both have, this is up to the A7R5.  So if I try to turn IS off on the body it tells me I have to turn it off on the lens.  On the new A7R5 on some lenses (after a firmware update to the lens) it can combine the 2 to get improved overall IS.  Not on every lens with IS though (there is probably a list somewhere) and I'm not sure about 3rd party (I don't have any with IS)

So I think you have to examine the specs of the camera system you plan to use as they may be different from each other.

[digitaldog]

I'm specifically looking at either the Canon R6 Mark II (IBIS) or the R8 (doesn't have it) but using IS lens/

[Arlen]

On some camera lines (e.g., Olympus), and some cameras and lenses, image stabilization on each can work together to increase the stabilization. On my older Canon camera and lenses, the instructions always said to turn off IS on a tripod, and I did. I've found that on my Olympus setups it doesn't make a difference, so I don't turn it off. Which is a good thing, because it's hard to remember to do it every time.

[digitaldog]

...and some cameras and lenses, image stabilization on each can work together to increase the stabilization.

Thanks. That's what I'm trying to determine and help decide between the two Canon's.
Searching the web (and ugh, DP Review which might have been a mistake), the opinions about IBIS is all over the map. Some say they would never buy a body without, some say it's not necessary with IS lens. I suppose I'm looking for an excuse to drop a grand on the more expensive body that's currently available but the new R8 seems like all I need. 

[mcbroomf]

I can't comment on those cameras but will you always be using a lens with IS on it?  (including any adapted lenses)

[digitaldog]

Yes, always IS.

[Jonathan Cross]

Interesting about IS on body and lens as I have a Fuji X-T4 with IS and three lenses all with IS.

As I am the OP, I did write that I was advised to switch off IS if the shutter was faster than 1/500 sec., e.g for wildlife or sport.  Is this good advice?

Jonathan

[bobfriedman]

I have stabilization always turned off.. occasionally for low-light low shutter speeds when I have no other choice I will turn it on, but only for stationary subjects.

[digitaldog]

So I finally discovered that the R6 Mark II would work with both IS systems in conjunction. My camera body should arrive tomorrow.

[BobShaw]

I have been looking at Forum members' amazing photos of birds.  It has reminded me of advice I was given, which is to switch off all image stabilisation if using shutter speeds quicker than 1/500 second as it can fight against any intended camera movement and similarly turn it off if using a tripod.

Is this good advice?

Jonathan

Yes. For shorter lenses even slower shutters.
Apart from image issues, the IS assembly is expensive to replace and also uses a lot of battery. Sometimes it even makes a noise.