IS Precautions?

[Johnnynf]

I finally got my new 28-135 IS delievered last week, and all I can say is WOW. For the money, I think this is a wonderful lens. I went on a little hike yesterday with some friends and my dogs, and it had enough on the wide end for some great scenery photos, and enough zoom to take pictures of the dogs as they were off running around in the trees.

However, as this is my first IS lens, I was wondering if there are any precautions (other than those in the manual--like not using it on a tripod) that I need to keep in mind. This lens was a lot of money (for me), so I don't want to screw it up by doing something dumb with it. Like yesterday when hiking, can I just carry the camera around with the IS on, or do I have to carry it with the IS off, stop, turn the IS on, take the picture, turn the IS back off, then begin walking again? As I was walking, I did hear something in the lens "making noise" (maybe the IS?), but I didn't know if it was normal. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[timmyquest]

I've yet to even hold an IS lens but i do happen to know that noise is normal.

I dont think you have to treat it any differnt then any other lens. Only thing i can say is when your using a tripod dont have the IS on or it wil lcause the reverse effects (ie a blured image) or so i'm told.

[GenEOS]

I am not familiar with your lens but I treat my two L series IS's like any other lens. IS is only active when you have your finger on the trigger, so your worries are not needed. The only thing I would warn you to do is watch the power consumption, the IS feature will eat up a little more power....The whirring noise is normal, mine even clunks every now and then...all normal. For tripod use, it is best to take IS off, you won't need it... If your lens has the panning IS feature, then you can use it while on a tripod or monopod when you are panning. I am told the new 70-200 L IS will turn itself off somehow when it senses it is mounted on a tripod...
Best to turn it off though.

[chris.bailey]

My 28-135 has been on Planes Trains and Automobiles as well as having its fair share of drops and knocks. All still functions just fine and dandy.

[evilenglishman]

The only thing I would warn you to do is watch the power consumption, the IS feature will eat up a little more power....

a little? Mine emptied 2 full batteries after 1 hr of shooting :shock:

[Jesper]

The only thing I would warn you to do is watch the power consumption, the IS feature will eat up a little more power....

a little? Mine emptied 2 full batteries after 1 hr of shooting :shock:

Two full batteries in an hour?! How much did you shoot? I can shoot for hours, hundreds of photos with my 28-135 IS and I always have the IS on.

[MarkH]

I have used my 28-135 IS for most of my 7000+ images since I got my 10D.

Leave IS on most of the time. When you look through the viewfinder, press the shutter release half way and let the lens focus, take your finger off the shutter release while still looking through the viewfinder. You will notice that the IS comes on very quickly when you press the shutter release and it turns off after a second or so once you take your finger off the shutter release. IS is not constantly active while you walk around.

Turn IS off when using a tripod or panning. The IS on that lens has no panning mode and should be turned off when panning.

Battery usage should not be a problem, if your battery does not last as long as you wish then buy another battery. If the Canon batteries cost too much, don't worry there are after market batteries that are both better and cheaper. I have bought a couple of Power 2000 batteries from B&H, they have 1500mAh instead of the 1100mAh that the Canon batteries have.

The lens is excellent for the price with features like:
IS
Ring type USM with full time manual focusing
EXTREMELY useful zoom range
Good image quality


And the IS really does work well! Usable shots with quarter the shutter speed that you could get away with if you didn't have IS.


These pics were taken with the 28-135:
http://arrdee.net/%7Eflyinass/markpics/RotoRally_2003.htm
http://arrdee.net/%7Eflyinass/markpics/Karts.htm
http://arrdee.net/%7Eflyinass/markpics/Water.htm
http://arrdee.net/%7Eflyinass/markpics/Sunrise.htm

BTW
Do you have a lens hood? It does reduce flare, but you need to remove it for wide shots if using the cameras built in flash.

[Jesper]

However, as this is my first IS lens, I was wondering if there are any precautions (other than those in the manual--like not using it on a tripod) that I need to keep in mind. This lens was a lot of money (for me), so I don't want to screw it up by doing something dumb with it. Like yesterday when hiking, can I just carry the camera around with the IS on, or do I have to carry it with the IS off, stop, turn the IS on, take the picture, turn the IS back off, then begin walking again? As I was walking, I did hear something in the lens "making noise" (maybe the IS?), but I didn't know if it was normal. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

The IS is only activated when you half-press the shutter. You can leave the switch in the ON position all the time. I always have it on on my 28-135 IS. If you put the camera on a tripod, switch it off - not because it can damage the lens, but because the IS will get confused if the camera doesn't move at all. As the manual says, don't take the lens off the camera when the IS is engaged - that doesn't mean you have to switch it off before changing lenses, but if you've just pressed the shutter button half way, wait a few seconds for the IS to disengage before removing the lens. The whirring noise is normal.

[Johnnynf]

Turn IS off when using a tripod or panning. The IS on that lens has no panning mode and should be turned off when panning.

So what about sports shots then. I like to shoot HS basketball, and the state playoffs are coming soon. Can I use the IS when "following" the players with the camera and then taking action shots?

Thanks for all of the replies!!

[ssim]

The only thing I would warn you to do is watch the power consumption, the IS feature will eat up a little more power....

a little? Mine emptied 2 full batteries after 1 hr of shooting :shock:

I shot about 400 images at an Indy Car race last summer with my 100-400 IS and only had to change batteries at about the 300th image. That's a powerful draw in 1 hour.

[sparktography]

The only thing I would warn you to do is watch the power consumption, the IS feature will eat up a little more power....

a little? Mine emptied 2 full batteries after 1 hr of shooting :shock:

Wow - yeah, thats unusual. I use my 28-135 as my primary lens and usualy get 300-400 shots per battery...

[toddb]

I shoot primarily this lens (after buying the 10D, it's all I can afford). So 10,000 shots since last June and still kicking like new. The only thing I found with the IS is that if I was taking fast shots, meaning needing to shoot quickly, I would tun the IS off, because there seems to be that little delay while the IS spins up. You can see this in the view finder while shaking it slightly. So for those shots I know I probably won't be able to let the IS steady out, I just turn it off.

[MarkH]

Turn IS off when using a tripod or panning. The IS on that lens has no panning mode and should be turned off when panning.

So what about sports shots then. I like to shoot HS basketball, and the state playoffs are coming soon. Can I use the IS when "following" the players with the camera and then taking action shots?

Thanks for all of the replies!!

If you are shooting while panning then have IS turned off.