No. However, I can certainly see the advantage for video.
I also think Canon throws it on a lens for feature
reasons. They are less likely to do that on L lenses.
Wide means many things to different people. I see little need for IS on a lens less than about 100mm, and it really becomes reasonably useful at 200mm or more on a FF body.
Divide those focal lengths by 1.6 for a Canon 1.6 crop body.
Depends on what one wants to shoot at what lighting conditions and what end result is the objective. I remember our member Jeff was at least for while very much into the kind of photography where a landscape or cityscape was sharp while moving people through it were unsharp. Another type of application is handheld nightshots. With a good handholding technique,and a little luck, using IS, exposures of several seconds can lead to good results. Our member Jae (member FlyPenFly) has shown several great handheld cityscapes by night, though these were (mostly) shot with m43 OM-D camera with IBIS instead of optical IS the effect is practically the same. So yes, I guess if you have some kind of creative style or a need to shoot with wide angle lenses at long shutter exposures there is definitely a place for IS. The need is defined by yourself rather then the lens. Have EOSfun
I often read that there is no need for IS for focal lengths shorter than 100mm but many of us were disappointed when the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II didn't come equipped with it.
I think it's helpful when shooting at 1/30s and slower, but I believe that the need for it will be even more evident once we have a high megapixel body and camera shake blur becomes more perceptible.
My feeling on IS is that I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. It should definitely be a consideration when looking at potential purchases, maybe not the deciding factor unless your primary usage is video. Personally I hate lugging around a tripod so I'd definitely consider IS a big plus in a wide angle if it meant I could go without something extra to carry.
17mm WA lens on Canon 40D, cropped section taken from complete frame area. Without IS top row, with IS bottom row.
Shutter speed (left to right) 1/25, 1/13, 1/6
Yes, IS is not as effective in the wide range as it is with tele. So what. When light is fading and you need the shot, even an extra stop of blur free shooting is a God send. Yes, we should all duct tape a tripod to our arises but lots of places won't let you in if carrying a tripod, so IS it is.
