mikek1357 From Netherlands, joined Jun 2006, 4 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1104 times:
I'm wondering how many of you use your lens stabilizer at airshows, where planes make sudden movements. Mode 2 or active mode with vr is used for panning, but when a plane makes sudden changes in one of its axes, I can imagine it'll work against you.
So do you use it at airshows or not and what's your reason to turn it on or off?
ckw From UK - England, joined Aug 2010, 530 posts, RR: 18 Reply 1, posted (3 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
Yes, in mode 2.
Mode 2 should automatically switch to either stabilising the vertical or horizontal axis - the camera detects which way the camera is moving. If you are moving the camera diagonally, the IS will determine which direction is the primary movement, and apply stabilisation to the other axis - in short this will be less effective.
If you are panning an aircraft horizontaly and it suddenly goes vertical, it is quite likely that the IS will temporarily become confused, but it should quite quickly reset (a second or so). Just don't shoot while you change direction of the pan - which in my experience is pretty unlikely anyway, as you generally need a moment or 2 to reframe the image.
That's of course if you are shooting stills. Video is another matter.
megatop412 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 253 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1008 times:
Once you get into the higher shutter speeds used for high-speed passes VR/IS becomes less important in getting a sharp shot. Shots of air to air refueling demos, helo demos, and the slower aerobatic teams like the Geico Skytypers do actually benefit from image stabilizing.
Same here, when using a lens that has IS. But I've shot plenty at air shows without IS, since my 70-200 doesn't have it.
Quoting mikek1357 (Thread starter): I'm wondering how many of you use your lens stabilizer at airshows, where planes make sudden movements.
Quoting ckw (Reply 1): If you are panning an aircraft horizontaly and it suddenly goes vertical
I doubt there are many aircraft that will change direction so sharply that you'll lose valuable shooting time. After all, it's not like it's a sharp corner from horizontal to vertical. They have to pass through all the angles in between first.
Frankly, it's usually so bright at airshows that it doesn't make much difference if I use IS or not.
"Two and a Half Men" was filmed in front of a live ostrich.
ptrjong From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3771 posts, RR: 20 Reply 8, posted (3 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 984 times:
I read that IS/VR is better turned off if shutter speed is faster than 1/500th, unless you are panning. Which means that in aviation photography it should usually be turned on I suppose. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong please.
Peter
The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad (Salvador Dali)
ckw From UK - England, joined Aug 2010, 530 posts, RR: 18 Reply 10, posted (3 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 971 times:
Quoting ptrjong (Reply 8): I read that IS/VR is better turned off if shutter speed is faster than 1/500th, unless you are panning.
Well it would partly depend on what lens you are using. IS does drain the battery, so if you are using a safe handhold speed, maybe you don't need it. I've also had the occasional shot ruined because the IS got 'confused', but on the whole, with my lenses, I cannot see any reason not to turn it off based on image quality concerns. Of course other lenses may differ - its hard to have a general rule with so many variations out there - I think Canon alone has had at least 5 different versions. In fact it may be that the IS in any particular lens is subtly different from any other.
I prefer to leave it on all the time, because I'm certain I'll forget to turn it back on when I need it.
One definite time to turn it off are those lenses which do not automatically 'tripod detect'. Some lenses MUST have IS turned off when on a tripod.
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