Image Stabilization not working?

I just bought a 28-135 IS lens and while I do hear the IS whirring when I press down the shutter, the pictures still have motion blur even though I'm holding it as still as I can.

Also I heard that the image is suppose to jump a little at first in the viewfinder which I don't have at all. Is my lens not working correctly? I have a Digital Rebel XTi

The viewfinder does not always jump, seldom does in my 24-105 or 70-200 but look at the 135 end at something further away and see how the image looks then depress the shutter half way and see if you notice any change. On my 24-105 IS does not do a whole lot for me (it was my first IS lens and I was not sure it was working either for quite a while). Hopefully someone else will give you a better tip for checking it out.

I just remembered the one thing that convinced me IS was forking on my 24-105 was I was photographing a crane against a plain sky the the crane tower started drifting around a lot.

The IS on the 200 is very noticeable for me BTW. I use a 5D so hopefully your 135 end will be as noticeable on your XTi.


Also welcome aboard.

Can you post an example? IS helps a lot but it does not handle subject motion at all and though it does take care of camera shake, it only does so much.

On all my lenses the jump is not as noticeable as the smoothing out of the motion. Anyway, an example or two of pics you though should have been ISed but weren't would help.

Examples please!!

Also, you need to hold the shutter at half-press for a few seconds (not sure how long on that lens) in order to give the IS a chance to "warm-up" and get full advantage of the IS.

note that the IS system on your lens is an old system, being a 2 stop effective system. It is not nearly as visible as todays 4th gen IS, like in the 55-250 IS or 70-200 IS.