200L 5-stop Image Stabilization?

Sooooo, I was reading up on the 2008-released 200mm f/2L IS and realized that its IS system is rated for a gain of 5-stops. The other two "best" are the 4-stop IS (introduced with the 70-200 f/4 IS), and the Hybrid IS (introduced with the 100L).

Question: Is the 200 f/2 L image stabilization motor design different from the standard IS being added to new lens releases (take the 2010 release 70200 II with 4-stop IS for example)? Why is the 200 f/2 L the only lens in the Canon lineup rated for 5-stops?

Don't know the answer to your question, but I can say using 200L IS with my 1D3, I've had great keepers at t=1/20 but hit and miss at t=1/10. That would be about 4-5 stops of stabilisation.

MOkoFOko wrote in post #12602335
Question: Is the 200 f/2 L image stabilization motor design different from the standard IS being added to new lens releases (take the 2010 release 70200 II with 4-stop IS for example)? Why is the 200 f/2 L the only lens in the Canon lineup rated for 5-stops?

The *lens* is different so the IS requirement is different.

The rule of thumb is that you can hand hold at 1/focal length.

So with the 200 the 5 stop IS system is challenged to stabilise an exposure of 1/6 second. On the 800, the 4 stop IS system is trying to stabilise a 1/100 exposure.

I'm sure that there are two entirely different problems. The technology might be the same in both lenses, but it would appear that it is better at solving the 200mm 1/6 second problem than it is at solving the 800mm 1/100 second problem.

Andrew