Shutter speed to turn off IS?

I see a number of folks mention to turn off the IS on the lens with faster shutter speeds. Where is the cut off for turning it off? 1/400, 1/500?

I generally try to shoot track/cross country at 1/640 or faster so maybe I should be turning off the IS on my lens? Does that tend to help the AF?

Thanks.

duckster wrote in post #18711177
I see a number of folks mention to turn off the IS on the lens with faster shutter speeds. Where is the cut off for turning it off? 1/400, 1/500?

I generally try to shoot track/cross country at 1/640 or faster so maybe I should be turning off the IS on my lens? Does that tend to help the AF?

Thanks.

The reciprocal of the focal length.

But there again it depends on how steady your hands are.

I am pretty steady handed

As mentioned prior, rule of thumb is 1/focal length, so with a 500mm ->1/500th, 600mm -> 1/640, etc

Using a monopod, or somehow stabilized another way allows you to go a bit slower.

Why turn off IS?

The general rule is 1/focal length for handheld shots. But I see no reason to disable IS in that situation.

Just keep IS on until you use a tripod.

904canon wrote in post #18711259
Just keep IS on until you use a tripod.

You can even keep it on with a tripod depending on the generation of IS.

As I understand it, using IS when you don’t need it at fast shutter speeds slows down the autofocus and for some photography that can be important.

Hannya wrote in post #18711265
As I understand it, using IS when you don’t need it at fast shutter speeds slows down the autofocus and for some photography that can be important.

Hadn't heard that, but I don't do sports shooting either. But I haven't personally noticed this phenomenon. If there is any difference in AF speed with IS on/off, it's not discernible from what I can tell. I cannot find actual evidence that this is the case either.

You turn off IS, because during sports, there many times you raise the camera up for action to snap a shot (or series) immediately, and you don't have the luxury of waiting for the IS to stabilize. IS can actually hurt results, and why the heck would you want the battery drain if your shutter speeds are 1/1000th or more.

Definitely turn off the IS... Save your battery, save your IS wear and tear, and no tossed images due to IS messing up the result. There is absolutely no advantage to leaving it on. Many will argue the opposite, but after nearly a decade of shooting sports, I have found no situations where I wish I had the IS on, but several where I realized I left it on and wish I hadn't.

Thanks for all the insights

I've shot sports as long as there has been IS.... and I have never seen the need to shut off IS unless I am panning. Otherwise I haven't found a benefit of removing it. Just my milage though...

Thanks for that information. I appreciate it.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18711342
You turn off IS, because during sports, there many times you raise the camera up for action to snap a shot (or series) immediately, and you don't have the luxury of waiting for the IS to stabilize. IS can actually hurt results, and why the heck would you want the battery drain if your shutter speeds are 1/1000th or more.

Definitely turn off the IS... Save your battery, save your IS wear and tear, and no tossed images due to IS messing up the result. There is absolutely no advantage to leaving it on. Many will argue the opposite, but after nearly a decade of shooting sports, I have found no situations where I wish I had the IS on, but several where I realized I left it on and wish I hadn't.

If the IS hasn't stabilized yet, then isn't it like shooting without IS at that point?

I find the IS helps me hit the intended subject with the AF point at longer focal lengths.

I've gotten 2000+ shots on battery in a 5DIII with IS on so it can't be hurting too much.

No, IS isn't on/off, it has a lead in and out time. You can capture those moments, ruining that shot at those points. I rarely have IS on, I have never found an advantage, even regarding finding my targets, even at 600m. If my shutter speeds are close to the reciprocal of the focal length, then I turn on IS, else it is off.