To Stabilise Or Not To Stabilise - That Is The Question

[Top-Cat]

I am going to an air display tomorrow and am taking my 70-200mm 2.8L and my 100-400mm 4.5-5.6IS L.
I am not sure, do I use IS if I am hand holding the camera to shoot the air displays? :?
Any help would be very much appreciated.

Top-Cat

_____________________

www.rosswilliamsphotos.com

Eos 10D With Grip
16-35mm f2.8L
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200 f2.8L
100-400mm IS f4.5-5.6L
100mm Macro
550EX Speedlight

[robertwgross]

Isn't that the whole point of IS, for handheld shots?

---Bob Gross---

[Persian-Rice]

This might be a stupid response <- newbs these days............

If you are shooting right into the sky, chances are you might need to use pretty high shutters anyway, considering the speed and light levels................

Not sure if IS is a big must. Take a backpack and take both...........take shots from all sorts of FL's that way..........

[Top-Cat]

As this is a new lens for me.
I was not sure how it would work following a fast a fast moving subject.
Also do I set it to position 1 or 2

__________________

www.rosswilliamsphotos.com

Eos 10D With Grip
16-35mm f2.8L
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200 f2.8L
100-400mm IS f4.5-5.6L
100mm Macro
550EX Speedlight

[FrenchAmateur]

IS 2 I think...

[Aylwin]

For flying objects, I assume longer reach would be very useful. Regarding IS though, well, if you tracking horizontally moving objects then it's position 2 (or the one that only activates IS vertically). But if the planes are going left, right, up, down and in circles then I think IS might be more of a hindrance.

[rudrasen]

Check your IS manual. If you lens does not have "Panning IS" then turn it off. BTW I never knew that IS should been turned off when the lens mounted on tripod & not handheld. Most IS lends are for use when hand holding but not for fast motion/action photography.
Correct me if I am wrong here.

[Jesper]

Check your IS manual. If you lens does not have "Panning IS" then turn it off. BTW I never knew that IS should been turned off when the lens mounted on tripod & not handheld. Most IS lends are for use when hand holding but not for fast motion/action photography.
Correct me if I am wrong here.

If you have to switch IS off when using a tripod depends on the lens. There are several versions of Canon's IS system (I think there are three versions until now).

Some lenses, like the 28-135 IS and 75-300 IS, have the oldest version of IS. You must turn IS off when you use these lenses on a tripod, otherwise the IS system gets confused by the lack of vibration and the image will "drift" - you can see this through the viewfinder while half-pressing the shutter button.

In other lenses, with a newer version of IS, the IS shuts itself off automatically if you put the lens on a tripod. I've read a description one from someone who explained that the newest IS lenses even have a special tripod mode, in which IS isn't completely switched off, but it goes into a special mode for tripod shooting.

Anyway, the manual of my 70-300 DO IS, which has the newest version of IS, advises to switch off IS on a tripod - it doesn't cause problems like in the older IS lenses, but it isn't needed when shooting on a tripod and still consumes battery power if left switched on.

I don't think IS lenses are "not meant for fast action photography". The panning mode (mode 2) is especially meant for tracking horizontally or vertically moving objects.

[perror]

I've had some experience shooting air shows and I have had more luck with the IS off than on. I'm using the 28-135 IS and from what I understand, the IS thought that the camera was shaking and thus attempted to compensate and this resulted in a somewhat less than sharp picture..:)

[Jesper]

I've had some experience shooting air shows and I have had more luck with the IS off than on. I'm using the 28-135 IS and from what I understand, the IS thought that the camera was shaking and thus attempted to compensate and this resulted in a somewhat less than sharp picture..:)

The 28-135 doesn't have the advanced 2-mode IS. You cannot use the 28-135 with IS on while panning.

[ijohnson]

OFF

[cmM]

IS or not, 200 will most likely not be enough for your purpose. The 100-400 will give you longer reach, and, as it was said before, on a sunny day shooting the sky you'll need very fast shutter speeds... not much need for IS there. Also, you'll be panning big time, so your motion sensor on the IS will go nuts. ;)

[Top-Cat]

Well I’m back from work now, and have read all the responses and I think the general conclusion is to turn the IS off.
Thanks everyone for your input :D and I just hope to have some blue skies to shoot with tomorrow (Not looking to good at the moment) :(

Thanks Again

Top-Cat


__________________

www.rosswilliamsphotos.com

Eos 10D With Grip
16-35mm f2.8L
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200 f2.8L
100-400mm IS f4.5-5.6L
100mm Macro
550EX Speedlight

[RichardtheSane]

Just a little tip from someone who did an airshow a couple of weeks ago with the 100-400L...

If your shutter speed will be above 1/500th definitl flick the IS off, it will be of no real use while panning.

If however you will be shooting aircraft that are prop driven you want your shutter speed to be slower, ideally 1/250th or even 1/125th of a second to get the props blurred nicely. Obviously this will need IS mode 2 because you'll be at 400mm most of the time!

If you want to get the full circle prop blur you'll need to drop the shutter speed to 1/60th or below... unless you are very skilled at panning this is only really suitable for taxing shots.. then because the motion will be slow you can use either mode IS.

Good luck on the day!

[rick barclay]

I believe the directions for the 100-400mm IS say to use IS Mode 2 for
panning a steadily moving object and to use IS Mode one if you are
tracking an erratically moving object. The directions also say to give the
IS a second to lock onto the object before releasing the shutter. I've
found that last bit of advice very helpful in obtaining clear focus.

[johneo]

I was at an airshow just a few weeks ago and shot with my 100-400 IS L on my 10D and had the IS on the entire time in panning mode. I couldn't tell you how the shots would have come out without the IS but the link below shows that IS does a pretty good job (100-400 L not used for the pilot and Governor/1st lady photos, all others were.)


http://www.riview.com/as04/airshow04.htm