Image Stabilized Lens Use/1d3...first time user

[michaelnotar]

My 24-105/4 IS arrives tomorrow. I tried a friends lens the other day with my 1d mark III, handheld, relatively stable, static subject/portrait, and I swear without IS the image was much sharper than with IS. Is this me or what, I had a TV a 250th with at 70mm so I should of been ok.

Also any general tips for using IS would be appreciated (other than use it in low light...duh). First time IS user, 10 years pro photography.

[dalethorn]

My 24-105/4 IS arrives tomorrow. I tried a friends lens the other day with my 1d mark III, handheld, relatively stable, static subject/portrait, and I swear without IS the image was much sharper than with IS. Is this me or what, I had a TV a 250th with at 70mm so I should of been ok.
Also any general tips for using IS would be appreciated (other than use it in low light...duh). First time IS user, 10 years pro photography.

If the camera is already stable, on a tripod, table top, etc., the IS might make things worse and cause blur.  If the subject is moving, and you're following it with the camera, certain IS settings may not work or cause a problem.  That's all I can think of off the top of my head - there may be other things to watch out for.

[dwdallam]

Since I don't won the 105IS but the 70-200L IS what I can say is that if you do use IS when the camera is on a sturdy, non moving platform you will get a blurry image. In your situation, you could try turning the IS off, since you are shooting at 250th anyway. Remember there is the focal plane effect also, which could make a specific part of your image soft because of recomposing after focus with larger apertures. Maybe you held the camera so steady it acted like it was on a tripod, thus a blurry or soft image. I would take teh same picture with the same lens with IS off and see what you get.

[DaveCurtis]

My 24-105/4 IS arrives tomorrow. I tried a friends lens the other day with my 1d mark III, handheld, relatively stable, static subject/portrait, and I swear without IS the image was much sharper than with IS. Is this me or what, I had a TV a 250th with at 70mm so I should of been ok.

Also any general tips for using IS would be appreciated (other than use it in low light...duh). First time IS user, 10 years pro photography.

I've used this lens on the 1Ds3 and haven't noticed this problem.

Perhaps it maybe a slight variation in focus between the shots?