Help, please...

[bradleygibson]

I just received a new Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM today and would like to ask others with one if they are seeing the same behavior that I am with mine.

I mount the camera on a tripod, turn on live view on my 5D Mark II focus on a distant scene (although I suspect the distance doesn't matter) and zoom the live view to 10x.

With image stabilizer turned on, the image slowly wanders, never settling.  (This prevents the use of slow shutter speeds).  If I disable IS, the image does settle and is rock solid.

Please, let's not turn this into a debate on whether IS should be on or off when tripod mounted, that issue has been discussed--I'd like to know if others (ideally with a 5D II, but with any camera with Live View) are seeing this same behavior or not with this particular lens.  If my lens should be steady, then I will return my 200/2 for another copy.

Thanks in advance for your help!
-Brad

[Jim Pascoe]

Please, let's not turn this into a debate on whether IS should be on or off when tripod mounted, that issue has been discussed--

Not sure if there really is a debate on this, surely it is just best to switch off the IS with this lens mounted on a tripod.  I seem to remember reading that some of the newer lenses work fine on a tripod with IS on, but is this lens an older design?

Jim

[bradleygibson]

*sigh*

Let me repeat.

I am seeking assistance from owners of the Canon 200/2 who would be kind enough to tell me the behavior of their lens on a tripod with IS engaged, with Live View enabled at x10.  Help there would be greatly appreciated.

To do this test, you'll need to pop your camera + 200/2 onto a tripod, ensuring IS is on. Then press the Live View button, press the + button twice to magnify to x10, and touch the shutter release to wake up the system--that's it!  My question is I'd like to know if the image on your LCD stablizes or not.

Thanks, all,
-Brad

[Paul Sumi]

I am seeking assistance from owners of the Canon 200/2 who would be kind enough to tell me the behavior of their lens on a tripod with IS engaged, with Live View enabled at x10.  Help there would be greatly appreciated.

If you have not already done so, you might also repeat this request on the appropriate fora on Fred Miranda and DPReview, which probably get considerably more traffic than LuLa's fora.

Paul

[bradleygibson]

If you have not already done so, you might also repeat this request on the appropriate fora on Fred Miranda and DPReview, which probably get considerably more traffic than LuLa's fora.

Paul

A good thought--thanks, Paul!

[Jim Pascoe]

*sigh*

Let me repeat.

I am seeking assistance from owners of the Canon 200/2 who would be kind enough to tell me the behavior of their lens on a tripod with IS engaged, with Live View enabled at x10.  Help there would be greatly appreciated.

Well thank you for the acknowledgement.  At least I bothered spending a few minutes replying to your post, perhaps there are no users of that lens on this forum, or if there are maybe they cannot be troubled responding to you.  My reply may not exactly answer your question, but lots of other people read these posts trying to glean information.

However, for the many forum members who have the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS, I have just experimented with mine.  With the IS engaged, the lens does hunt around when tripod mounted.  On a five second exposure the IS stayed activated the whole time, with the image presumably wandering around.  I cannot speak for the 200mm lens though.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... on the appropriate fora on Fred Miranda and DPReview, which probably get considerably more traffic than LuLa's fora...

I apologize in advance for this digression, but I keep seeing this term fora [sic] from time to time on various internet forums. I guess the idea behind it is that words of Latin origin often end on "-a" in plural (e.g., criterion - criteria). This is the case for the Latin word "forum" as well, but apparently only for one of its (archaic) meanings: "... (in an ancient Roman city) a public square or marketplace used for judicial and other business..." (from a dictionary entry). The word "forum", however, in its more conventional and contemporary meaning, as "... a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged..." has a regular plural as "forums". I would appreciate though if someone with better linguistic skills than mine would weigh in on this.

[Paul Sumi]

I apologize in advance for this digression, but I keep seeing this term fora [sic] from time to time on various internet forums.

From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: the plural of "forum" is "forums," although "fora" is an acceptable option.

But I'm also one who says "these data" (plural) and "this datum" (singular).  I do dangle participles, though.  

Paul

[nazdravanul]

The IS on the Canon long tele lenses is tripod sensitive. It turns itself off once the camera/lens is tripod mounted, in order to avoid "erratic behavior". Both my 200 2 is and 300 2.8 IS did this. But I don't own them anymore, so maybe I shouldn't have replied to your post  .
The only way to have your lens stabilized once tripod mounted is sturdy head / tripod combo + appropriate remote composing /shooting techniques  .