IS for BIF Poll

[cadams]

Curious on others thoughts on this matter?

Chris

[hollis_f]

You haven't got my option listed:

Yes, but only when I forget to switch it off.

[Here and There]

You haven't got my option listed:

Yes, but only when I forget to switch it off.

That gets my vote!

[cadams]

That gets my vote!

Well lets change it to: Ideally do you have IS on for birds in flight?

[Here and There]

Well lets change it to: Ideally do you have IS on for birds in flight?

Ideally I would have IS off for birds in flight, but in reality it's usually on cause I forgot to turn it off.

[snowyowl13]

My problem is trying to remember to switch it to the "Stabilizer 2" setting which I understand is the right setting for pans.

[cadams]

My only worry with setting 2 is that its meant to "correct" in one direction. Which is great for an eagle soaring etc, but not necessarily and eagle going for a fish or other eratic flight patterns of birds.

I've always shot on 1 but now I'm not sure that is the right way to go. It is certainly nice for shooting birds in trees etc.

[Fiddlefingers]

My answer would be sometimes. It all depends on the lens I'm using and whether I think IS will help in a particular situation.

[Jim Neiger]

Generaly, IS is not beneficial for birds in flight. There are exceptions to this. Most IS lenses automatically disable horizontal IS (mode 2) when panning anyway. Some photogs say that shutting off IS will improve Af speed. I have tried it both ways and I can't see any difference in AF speed. I usualy leave IS on mode 2 all the time on my 500mm F4. There are times when IS is very helpful and it never seems to hurt anything leaving it on. I suppose it could drain the battery faster or shorten the life of the IS motor, but I'm not concerned about that.

[Hawkman]

What about
* when appropriate?

I only use IS on my 500/4L when I need to. Many time I am shooting at high shutter speeds and turn it off. Also, if the shutter speed is low enough (1/2s or slower), the drift of the IS element becomes significant and blurs the image.

- Gene

[Roy C]

I use a 400/5.6 which has not even got IS and yet it is rated highly as a BIF lens by many a top pro.

[Hawkman]

You haven't got my option listed:

Yes, but only when I forget to switch it off.

+=1

[sugarzebra]

Always with the 500/4 never with the 400/5.6 :)

[Methodical]

I'm just subscribing to be in on the exchange of ideas here.

[LordBrian]

+=1
+=1

[highcountry]

I have found that with either of my IS lenses, that leaving the IS on doesn't affect the IQ. And I cannot remember to turn it off anyway. :oops: :lol:

[Methodical]

Yes with the 500L, no with non-500L lens

[tdodd]

Depends on shutter speed, but if my SS is a bit iffy for the focal length (usually 400mm) then....

- Mode 1 for birds approaching me (almost) head on;
- Mode 2 for birds flying across my FOV;
- Off for birds darting all over the place, including compound (diagonal) movements such as landing.

All the above depends on me having the wherewithal to select the appropriate mode in time.

I have found that having IS on and in the wrong mode can make tracking especially tricky, as the IS doesn't know what it is supposed to be doing and follows the track in jerky movements as it first tries to correct the motion, fails, falls behind, and then tries to catch up. I used to wonder just what was wrong with my panning technique until I realised that panning in Mode 1 was a bit of a mistake.

P.S. I cannot complete the poll since it doesn't offer the "maybe/sometimes/when appropriate" option.

[HKGuns]

I started using it on my 100-400L and got mixed results. My keeper rate with this lens has improved very much since turning it off in all BIF situations. I think it impacts this lens in two aspects. 1. It slows initial focus acquisition and 2. Slows re-acquisition if you loose or change focus points.

That is my experience with this particular lens. YMMV

[Methodical]

I agree when using my 400 5.6 for BIF (doesn't have IS) or the 300 f4, but I've used IS when hand holding the 500 and 1.4 because it's a bit heavier. I can't get SS up real high without jacking up the ISO and I want to keep my ISO 400 and below but will go higher if absolutely needed...this is for BIF shots.

The impacts you mention goes for non BIF shots too. I often turn it off when the 500 is on the tripod and for all other lens when the SS is high. Basically, I don't use it that much unless the situation dictates it's usie, i.e. low light, SS etc.

I started using it on my 100-400L and got mixed results. My keeper rate with this lens has improved very much since turning it off in all BIF situations. I think it impacts this lens in two aspects. 1. It slows initial focus acquisition and 2. Slows re-acquisition if you loose or change focus points.

That is my experience with this particular lens. YMMV