Best IS modes?

So, I have 2 telephoto lenses that have 3 modes of IS, one is the Tamron 70-200 G2 and the other is the Canon 100-400L II. I have been shooting both of them in mode 1 for sports but after doing some more reading, maybe I should be using mode 3? I mostly shoot track & field and cross country. Sometimes the shot is coming right at you but many times the runner is on a curve and they may be moving more in a left-right or right-left manner.

Thanks for any thoughts on the issue

duckster wrote in post #18990454
So, I have 2 telephoto lenses that have 3 modes of IS, one is the Tamron 70-200 G2 and the other is the Canon 100-400L II. I have been shooting both of them in mode 1 for sports but after doing some more reading, maybe I should be using mode 3? I mostly shoot track & field and cross country. Sometimes the shot is coming right at you but many times the runner is on a curve and they may be moving more in a left-right or right-left manner.

Thanks for any thoughts on the issue

Personally I would turn IS off. If you are shooting sports then you will be using shutter speeds in the region of 1/1000, so there is no need to use IS.

I almost never turn IS off when shooting sports, even when using a fast shutter. Even if it isn't necessary to remove movement blur, I find it helps when framing at long focal lengths.

As for the different modes, I can only talk to the Canon system.

Mode 1 is 'conventional' IS, i.e. it stabilises the image on both axes, reducing both vertical and horizontal movement. I use this mode for still subjects and for subjects approaching me more or less head-on.

Mode 2 is designed specifically for panning and so only corrects for vertical movement. Obviously, I use this mode when panning in either direction. It seems to work fine, though I haven't performed a rigorous comparison between modes 1 & 2 for panned shots. I 'think' I get more keepers with it on.

Mode 3 is designed to actuate the IS only just before the shutter fires, thus (I presume) saving battery life and wear on the IS mechanism. I never use this mode because I find permanent IS useful for framing and exploring, just like IS-equipped binoculars.

The Tamron modes are basically the same description as Canon. And I agree, I am usually at shutter speeds of 1/800 or faster so maybe it is a non-question.

In the early iterations of IS it was found to cause issues when used at higher shutter speeds and also when on tripods (and possibly monopods). That isn't the case any more and I never turn it off when shooting sports (both my 70-200 and 100-400 are IS II).

Battery life, one less thing for the camera to process while I'm shooting... Add my vote to the "Turn it off" crowd.

Dan - Which mode do you use?

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I just keep mine on the main mode and leave it there always, no matter what.

I have never had it be any problem when I am on a tripod, or when I am panning. . Having IS on mode 1 always works out well, even in the situations that all the instructions and manuals tell you not to have it on for, or not to have it in mode 1 for. . I ignore all that advice and just leave it on mode 1 at all times and shoot away, regardless of which IS lens I am using or what camera body I am using.

There has never been a time when that has not worked out for me. . Somebody could weld my IS switch so that it could never be moved again, and I doubt I would even notice. . Ever.

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sfinkernagel wrote in post #18990990
Battery life, one less thing for the camera to process while I'm shooting... Add my vote to the "Turn it off" crowd.

I spent an entire day shooting golf yesterday, with IS on. Didn't even get through a single battery. If battery is an issue turn off image preview.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #18991091
I spent an entire day shooting golf yesterday, with IS on. Didn't even get through a single battery. If battery is an issue turn off image preview.

there are two types of photographer, one that always carries a spare battery and the other that d

duckster wrote in post #18991050
Dan - Which mode do you use?

Mode 1 all the time. I am too busy thinking about the actual photograph I am creating to worry about switching from one mode to another. Same with AF case modes (I have a 5DIII). I looked at all the different case modes and thought "yep, my subjects do all of those things" so instead I selected the one that was designed not to do something (Case 2 - not autofocus on something entering your VF).

Maybe I would get 0.1% more keepers if I religiously adjusted every mode and switch all the time but I just work better if I keep the camera to my eye and keep shooting.

joeseph wrote in post #18991092
there are two types of photographer, one that always carries a spare battery and the other that d

Especially with my memory. I am very likely to go out with a half charged battery cos I forgot to recharge after the last shoot. So a spare is essential.

I even have an emergency SD card in my wallet as I could easily forget to put a card in the camera AND forget to take my pouch of spare cards.

I take spare batteries to every event but I reckon I have only needed to pop a new battery in once or twice, in the last few years. That's with 5sec image review enabled, and frequent checking of the last shot.

I do of course start each day with a fresh battery in each camera. I would average 300-400 shots with each body, each day.

And IS (mode 1 or 2) is enabled 100% of the time. I shoot handheld, never on a tripod or monopod.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #18991096
I even have an emergency SD card in my wallet as I could easily forget to put a card in the camera AND forget to take my pouch of spare cards.

got my son out of the cactus the other week by taking the SD card out of the car audio, formatting it & handing it over...

Whether it has a big impact on the battery or not- it has an impact. I can't see turning something on that doesn't provide a benefit.

Certainly, it's minimal either way. TBH- mine may often be on from a portrait shoot, and I don't think about it enough to turn it off.

If I'm going to think about it at all- I'm turning it off for the fast shutter speeds of shooting sports.