Pictures folks, post some pictures. Preferably at less than 1/FL.....

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

The term "IS" (meaning image stabilization) misleads. The stabilization effect occurs in the lens by a gyro moving a lens element in response to minute movements induced by body activity like heartbeats. IS does not work on the subject itself, only the lens element. If the subject moves during exposure at a slow shutter speed, then the subject will likely appear blurred in the image.

IS takes getting used to. The IS on my 17-55mm lens settles down camera shake to a fluid motion in the viewfinder after about 1 to 2 seconds following my pressing the shutter button halfway. So wait until the IS fully kicks in before pressing the shutter button all the way. I have also found that jabbing the shutter button induces a gross movement that often causes image blur because the IS mechanism apparently cannot correct for such movement. Press the shutter button slowly and gradually for best results.

Used correctly, the IS on my lens has allowed me to take pictures at ¼ second handheld.

I turn off IS at higher shutter speeds, because not needed and because it slows down shooting.

Here’s one, already posted, taken at ¼ second handheld, in November 2008.

I can't do 1/20 without it.

Let me mention other obvious benefits of IS seldom noted explicitly: It reduces the need to carry a tripod. In turn, it reduces the time necessary to set up a shot. It reduces the need for fill flash because the camera captures the available light for exposure.

The image of the bomber aircraft indoors in the museum illustrates how the available light reaches more of the main subject at the slower shutter speed which IS makes possible. The overhead lights do cast a shadow from the aircraft on the floor, yet the light reflected from the various nearby surfaces reaches under the aircraft to illuminate this subject area. Thus the image more pleases and informs the visual perception.

Brain0: You say, “if you look at the picture of the squirrel, you'll note that the rail on which it is sitting is pretty sharp. If you look at the lines of the wood grain, there isn't any noticeable motion blur.”

This focus may result from using the setting for multiple automatic focus points instead of the center AF point. Using multiple focus points, the camera will sometimes pick a focus point in the foreground, throwing the farther elements out of focus. Hence, this automatic focus action may mimic front focus.

For this reason, when shooting a subject like a squirrel, I will set the AF to the center focus point, thereby putting the focus on the main subject.

anotherview wrote:
Let me mention other obvious benefits of IS seldom noted explicitly: It reduces the need to carry a tripod. In turn, it reduces the time necessary to set up a shot. It reduces the need for fill flash because the camera captures the available light for exposure.

One can argue that tripod slows you down and make you think more about composition. Much like a prime lens, or so they say. Given the choice, I will pick a sturdy tripod over IS any day.

anotherview wrote: Brain0: You say, “if you look at the picture of the squirrel, you'll note that the rail on which it is sitting is pretty sharp. If you look at the lines of the wood grain, there isn't any noticeable motion blur.”

This focus may result from using the setting for multiple automatic focus points instead of the center AF point. Using multiple focus points, the camera will sometimes pick a focus point in the foreground, throwing the farther elements out of focus. Hence, this automatic focus action may mimic front focus.

Yep, that's why I prefer to use the center focus point, and then lock focus and recompose. Sometimes, if I have time, I'll manually select a different focus point using the "joystick," but usually it's faster and easier to use the center point.

I never use automatic focus point selection. How would the camera know where I want to focus?

Nope; I NEVER use it. Not ever. Wouldn't even consider it.








Except I checked, and sure enough; for some reason it was set to automatic.

The next question is why I didn't notice the flashing red focus point indicators in the viewfinder. Maybe I'm totally losing it.

BrianO wrote:
The next question is why I didn't notice the flashing red focus point indicators in the viewfinder. Maybe I'm totally losing it.

If you have the 'Ring of Fire' enabled in AI servo AF mode the focus points do not light up. Not sure why... But they don't.

n0b0: I see your point: "One can argue that a tripod slows you down and makes you think more about composition." But I cannot agree it applies to all photographers.

For my part, I think very carefully about image composition at all times, with IS or a tripod. Typically, I will study a scene with my naked eye before looking at it via the viewfinder. I study it more in the viewfinder. Only after this forethought do I press the shutter button. As a result, most of the time now my images need little or no cropping during editing. I try to follow the dictum of getting it right in the camera.

IS used correctly and with the principles of photography in mind can reduce the need for a tripod.

If anyone thinks that the majority of people can achieve critical sharpness at 1/FL, consistently, using the 20+ megapixels of the newer crop of cameras they are living in a pipe dream. Personally I believe the above is true even at the 13 megapixels of the 5D.

FWIW, I always manually select the AF point and seldom (~10%) it is in the center. This is because I generally find the composition in this case a bit boring.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

There's some really great photos in this thread that make me want to abuse the IS feature on my 70-200 2.8IS.

Thanks for the inspiration guys!

Love IS!!

300mm 480 effective with 300/2.8 on a 50D at 1/15th

Forgot these ones. 300/2.8 IS at 1/60 and 1/90.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

dehowie; awesome image of the Herc!

Thanks helimat one more Herk for you..

1/100th 600mm

It's late and I'm too tired to upload. I put some here:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/792081/0#7290265

5D MarkII, 70-300DO with a 500D diopter in my shady garden. I find that stabilizing the viewfinder image makes things easier. Canon needs to put it in a 100 macro.

Very nice images dehowie, too bad you don't want to share the location. I can understand if you're scared.

dehowie wrote: ...1/40th 600mm on the 50D 960 effective..

Hi n0b0
Sorry mate been tied up on getting my website happen.
All the mil stuff is at the Avalon airshow this year down in Melbourne.
Herks are based at Richmond outside Sydney im sure you would get some good shots there or take the drive to Williamtown for Hornets and Hawks..
Dazz

Taken at about 11.30 on friday night on the way home from the pub. Not the last word in sharpness, but i think its ok.