Canon 55-250 IS is Jerky on occasion...

Just purchased the lens brand new and would like to know if this is normal behavior for this lens.

When on a half press to focus I have noticed the image seems to wonder and snap back as it locks. It only does it when the IS is switched on. It seems to be the IS causing the image to shift in the viewfinder before locking on. It does not do it every time. Maybe 1 in 10 images.

The IS does work fine, tested both on and off in dim light and images are far better with it on, but the apparent looseness when the IS is engaged seems weird.

Thanks for your opinions.

Yes. This is what IS does, ie stabilise the image when the lens is moving about. It's perfectly normal, and is more noticable on long lens as the image shifts more due to the longer focal length.

I have noticed this behavior in my lens as well. I believe it is because the camera has too many objects at varying focal lengths and cannot immediately center on one. It's that fraction of a second of re-focus that is seen.

Maybe I am wrong here but that is what I think is happening. It does not really effect the shot but can be distracting.

Hillbille

mine well jerk the image when in IS and half press sometimes untill the focus is locked on. I thought it was a defect and almost sent it back for replacement but found out here it's normal. Never had the image jump in the 18-55IS like the 55-250 in IS.

Thanks, I've two other IS lenses, the kit 18-55 IS and the 15-85 IS and they both do not do this, or if they do it is hardly noticeable.

It is odd that is only does it sometimes though....even if i move to a different shot.

And it appears to move a mm or 2 when it shifts!

Plantman2000 wrote in post #11930112
Thanks, I've two other IS lenses, the kit 18-55 IS and the 15-85 IS and they both do not do this, or if they do it is hardly noticeable.

Because if you move a lens at 18 mm a couple of mm, the image in the viewfinder won't move that much.

If you zoom in to 250mm and move the lens a couple of mm, the picture moves a lot.

This is what is happening, and you'll see more IS effect at the long end than at the wide end of the 55-250.

It's normal, it's the IS, and it's a good feature. If you don't want it, switch the IS off, and it won't do it.

talbot_sunbeam wrote in post #11930278
Because if you move a lens at 18 mm a couple of mm, the image in the viewfinder won't move that much.

If you zoom in to 250mm and move the lens a couple of mm, the picture moves a lot.

This is what is happening, and you'll see more IS effect at the long end than at the wide end of the 55-250.

It's normal, it's the IS, and it's a good feature. If you don't want it, switch the IS off, and it won't do it.

Much better explanation than mine!! Thanks! Helps me to understand too.

Hillbille

Many thanks for your responses all. Appreciated!

Nice to know the lens is working ok! >

i purchased a refurbed canon 17-55 f2.8 IS at one time, the IS would make the image jump considerably when initiated, i sent it back, got a new one that didn't 'jump' so much when IS locked on.