My SX10is and a monopod?

[Joe M]

I read that when you shoot with the camera attached to a tripod, Canon recommend you set [IS Mode] to [Off]. Is this the same with a monopod? I need a monopod when a tripod is to much or too heavy. I had a stroke and my right side is numb all the time and holding a camera is very hard. The monopod makes it great. I use a Stoney Point shooting pod with a 1/4-20 thread and a Manfrotto quick release. The setup weight is 1.25 lbs. Just what I needed.
I thank you all for your answers.

Joe M

[jasonstiller]

I would think that you should keep IS on with a monopod. I never knew about canons reccommendation to turn it off with a tripod. Can anyone chime in with the reasoning behind this? I wouldnt think it would matter.

[Jon]

Yep. Use IS with a monopod - it's not anything like as steady as a tripod. Canon recommends not using IS with a tripod so you don't get into a "feedback" situation, where the IS is looking so hard for non-existent vibrations that it starts making its own. Smarter (and newer IS EOS lenses recognixe when they're on a tripod and stop the IS but the PowerShots aren't typically used on tripods so Canon didn't include that capability. And older IS lenses (100-400 IS springs to mind of those currently in production) don't have tripod recognition.

[Joe M]

Hi Jon and jasonstiller, I thank you for your info. This is a photo I shot with my SX10is and my new monopod. It is in Lancaster,Pa. Have a great day. Joe M

[gitarmac]

It will be obvious if IS is interferring with your monopod efforts. Mine did that feedback thing once, it was like the screen was vibrating. It doesn't do it every single time. I turn mine off (when I remember) when I use a tripod, but a monopod isn't as steady.

At any rate, just turn it on and if you see a problem turn it off.

[eosphotomanoftennessee]

In your situation I would use IS, but I would set it to "shot only" mode so that it freezes the movement only during the click of the shutter. This mode generally produces better results since you will less likely to have the lens moving into a corrected movement during the moment of capture (according to Canon). If you are having steadiness issues due to your stroke you also may find it easier when you set a delay timer of 2 seconds after shutter activation to take the photo because you won't be "moving" at the time of capture.