Monopods, tripods and VR/OS/IS...

[tandeejay]

I had an opportunity to borrow a monopod on sunday to attach to my new sigma, and immediately reached for the switch to disable the optical stabilization of the lens.

Then while I was trying to photograph birds on the island in the lake at Forest Lake, I noticed there was still movement.

But it got me thinking.

I know that when you place a camera on a tripod, that it is always a good idea to disable optical stabilization, as the 3 legs provide a "very stable" base of operations

BUT

when a camera is on a monopod, the monopod can only provide stabilization in the vertical plain, and horizontal movement is still a real possibility.

so, how is the "rule" of "turn off image stabilization when using a tripod" affected if you are using a monopod?

[Tannin]

The need to switch IS off when using a tripod or monopod was real ... back in 1998 when IS was first manufactured. Canon produced (from memory) two or three IS lenses that needed to have the system switched off with tripods. All those lenses are long out of production, of course.

One by one, the other manufacturers introduced their own versions of IS (and a bewildering variety of different initials for it), and basically followed the same steps as Canon had. I'm guessing, but I'd take a bet that no manufacturer has introduced a tripod-incompatible stabilised lens since ... oh ... let's say 2002, and none has had one still in production since (another guess) maybe 2006 or so.

Simple rule with IS: turn it off for hand-held birds in flight. For everything else, leave it on. Always.

[tandeejay]

Simple rule with IS: turn it off for hand-held birds in flight. For everything else, leave it on. Always.

Interesting... but then what about the mode 2 OS which states it is for use when panning as it disables one of the axes :confused013

[J.davis]

I leave my IS 'off' when shooting birds, SS is high enough not to bother, unless you have a stationary subject.

[ameerat42]

...Simple rule with IS: turn it off for hand-held birds in flight...
Tannin, I can think why? :confused013


For everything else, leave it on. Always.
I agree with this from my own experience, even if it is, as you say, only for modern lenses.

[tandeejay]

Interesting. I just read this article about this:

http://www.outdoorphotoacademy.com/turn-off-image-stabilization-using-tripod/

Sent from my LG-M700 using Tapatalk

[Gazza]

A little light reading here (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?146364-Stupid-Dumb-Question-for-the-Week&highlight=monopod) as well (Just to add confusion)

[ameerat42]

That's interesting. I will retry it next time I (bother to) get out the old scope mount
I sometimes use as a stable platform for shooting the moon.

[Tannin]

Interesting... but then what about the mode 2 OS which states it is for use when panning as it disables one of the axes :confused013

It does exactly what it says on the label. Use it when panning.

Also, the most recent lenses have Mode 3 IS, which is utterly brilliant. Mode 3 IS only stabilises the lens at the moment when you are taking the picture. It watches and calculates but takes no action at other times. This enables you to track a moving subject more accurately, and see exactly what you are doing so that you can hold the lens steadier. The result is another stop or two of effective stabilisation.

Example: 1/30th of a second, hand-held at 400mm. http://tannin.net.au/page.php?image=190414_113853-.jpg

When do you use IS Mode 3? All the time. (Unless (e.g.) panning at the car races (mode 2) or doing birds in flight (off).

[tandeejay]

From the sounds of all this, I should do some experimenting of my own, and then go with what works :)

[ameerat42]

Sounds like a plan... - then you can tell us :D

[tandeejay]

well I'll be able to tell you all specifically about a sigma 15-600 and a sigma 105 macro, and if I feel up to it I could pull out my 55-300mm nikon - all on a D7200. I don't yet have a monopod so won't be able to test that...