p.1 #1 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
I've been having some issues with some slightly blurry photos with shutter speeds of 1/100 to 1/250 second with my 600 III. There is almost a "ghosting" of the image, but it is only in a vertical axis. Photos have been okay with shutter speeds faster than this. These are being shot on a 5DIV and I did have the 1.4X TC III attached recently. I found a few photos with 1DX2 and 2X TC III attached with 1/200 second shutter speed with similar effects. These are not motion artifacts from the bird moving; notice that the stationary objects in the photo display the vertical blurring. I do not recall having any issues with this in 3 years of use of the 600 II. I have one photo attached that shows what I'm describing, posted at original resolution.
p.1 #2 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
I’ve had similar blurring while shooting through car windows. You may want to test a higher SS shooting from the car with IS off to see whether the blurring is from the car’s windows or the IS system.
Does the issue present itself when shooting outside the car?
p.1 #5 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
I was shocked when my 13 month old 400mm DO II lens was determined to have a faulty IS unit by Canon CPS. A bit of argument, and then they covered the part ($1050) and labor for the repair. Since then, I have had a jaundiced eye toward buying used out of warranty high-end lenses.
So, it happens. Send it in.
p.1 #6 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
It seems similar to what some users report for the Nikon 300mm f/4 PF. The shutter is probably the main cause here. If you can use EFCS (electronic front curtain shutter), it should solve the issue. Anyway, 1/100s to 1/250s is probably a little optimistic for a 600mm or 840mm lens.
p.1 #7 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
KINGOFKNGS wrote:
This was shot with window down, no temperature gradient, etc. I will do more extensive testing tomorrow if I get the chance.
I would certainly test some more before shipping that large/expensive lens off to Canon. I'm always suspect of shooting from indoors to outdoors (car or house) as I've rarely had the temp equalize enough to make it work.
That said, the example does show the vertical blurring as you pointed out and that isn't typically what I see with atmosphere problems.
Maybe some kind of resonance with the shutter combined with the door frame and the IS? I'd try some from tripod (Canon claims you can leave IS on on the tripod and it detects that) and handheld. Also try IS mode 3 to see if that changes things. Also trying from LV with Silent mode which should eliminate possible shutter shock?
p.1 #8 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
Agree that 1/160 ss @ 840mm seems to be cutting it a bit close. Clearly this is motion blur mainly along the vertical as can be seen on the water bubbles.
p.1 #9 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
I find with my 600v2 and 200-400 - that if I leave the engine on, the vibrations cause blur. I have a new jeep coming in a week with auto stop engine when idle - so it is going away (and I will freeze at minus 30).
p.1 #11 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
Yes, IS is clearly engaged
lighthound wrote:
Agree that 1/160 ss @ 840mm seems to be cutting it a bit close. Clearly this is motion blur mainly along the vertical as can be seen on the water bubbles.
p.1 #14 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
Scott Stoness wrote:
I find with my 600v2 and 200-400 - that if I leave the engine on, the vibrations cause blur. I have a new jeep coming in a week with auto stop engine when idle - so it is going away (and I will freeze at minus 30).
p.1 #15 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
It turns out that the problem is strictly with the 5D Mark IV. I had zero issues with the 1DX Mark II and 5DSR when I did handheld and tripod shots with those, but I was having fairly consistent vertical blur only, as discussed in my opening thread. I was able to get sharp handheld photos down to 1/50 consistently with the 1DX Mark ii and a good number sharp at 1/25 second. With the 5DSR, I was able to get consistently sharp around the same, although I didn't look as closely. When I shot with live view with the 5D IV and on the tripod, I was able to get sharp photos at 1/100. I will have to try and shoot with a different IS lens at 1/100 with the 5D IV and see if I get similar results. Any other suggestions? I will probably contact Canon as it's odd this is limited to one body.
p.1 #16 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
KINGOFKNGS wrote:
It turns out that the problem is strictly with the 5D Mark IV. I had zero issues with the 1DX Mark II and 5DSR when I did handheld and tripod shots with those, but I was having fairly consistent vertical blur only, as discussed in my opening thread. I was able to get sharp handheld photos down to 1/50 consistently with the 1DX Mark ii and a good number sharp at 1/25 second. With the 5DSR, I was able to get consistently sharp around the same, although I didn't look as closely. When I shot with live view with the 5D IV and on the tripod, I was able to get sharp photos at 1/100. I will have to try and shoot with a different IS lens at 1/100 with the 5D IV and see if I get similar results. Any other suggestions? I will probably contact Canon as it's odd this is limited to one body....Show more →
Makes sense. Lots of pixels on that sensor, but obviously less than the 5DSR. I find the 5D Mark IV is the finickiest body I've used in terms of autofocus and I've had to get used to that and learn what works and what doesn't.
p.1 #17 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
Here are several test images, all taken with 600 IS III and 1.4X TC III. I took some handheld shots, some shots on Wimberley Gimbal head and Gitzo 5 series tripod without everything locked down, and a few shots fully locked down. IS was on for all photos. Photos without IS were worse across the board than photos with IS, although the 5D Mark IV photos were unacceptable when 1/200 and below. IS all on mode 1. By and large I would almost state that my 5D Mark IV and 600 III combo is not acceptable at 1/250 or below when IS is on and handheld, but I can CONSISTENTLY get sharp shots on 5DSR and 1DX Mark II at 1/25.
Further testing I need to do is check my 5D Mark IV and 400 DO II at similar shutter speeds and perhaps even 100-400 IS and 70-200 IS and see if there are similar issues.
I'm debating sending the 5D Mark IV to Canon to evaluate further. Any thoughts?
Original scene taken with 5D Mark IV. This is with mirror lock up and live view focus. I will put several crops in from 5D Mark IV and 5DSR.
p.1 #18 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
KINGOFKNGS wrote:
Here are several test images, all taken with 600 IS III and 1.4X TC III. I took some handheld shots, some shots on Wimberley Gimbal head and Gitzo 5 series tripod without everything locked down, and a few shots fully locked down. IS was on for all photos. Photos without IS were worse across the board than photos with IS, although the 5D Mark IV photos were unacceptable when 1/200 and below. IS all on mode 1. By and large I would almost state that my 5D Mark IV and 600 III combo is not acceptable at 1/250 or below when IS is on and handheld, but I can CONSISTENTLY get sharp shots on 5DSR and 1DX Mark II at 1/25.
Further testing I need to do is check my 5D Mark IV and 400 DO II at similar shutter speeds and perhaps even 100-400 IS and 70-200 IS and see if there are similar issues.
I'm debating sending the 5D Mark IV to Canon to evaluate further. Any thoughts?
Original scene taken with 5D Mark IV. This is with mirror lock up and live view focus. I will put several crops in from 5D Mark IV and 5DSR.
I guess it could be one of two things:
1) The shutter of the 5D4 has some weird resonance with the lens in that shutter speed range. This is what happened with Nikon's 300PF. People saw a difference depending on which camera and whether there was a battery grip on the camera or not. Nikon claimed they fixed it on later serial numbers but my serial number is much later than the "fix" and still had issues. For Nikon you could put the D850 in Qc with EFCS and it solved it so was certainly a resonance issue with the normal shutter movement.
2) Something wrong with the 5D4 that can be fixed? I can't think of what it would be though...if IS is turning on it isn't a communication issue (and you said IS off was certainly worse on the 5D4).
Can you confirm it is getting sharp shots via LV silent mode in that low SS range? If so then I'd think it is more an odd shutter shock vibration with the 5D4. Also try the normal "silent" regular shutter (non-LV) shutter mode to see if any difference.
Do you have a grip on 5D4? Could be worth trying with and without grip to see if any difference.
Try with the 400DOII with 1.4TC and 2.0TC if you have it and see if that is fine.
p.1 #19 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
I did further testing between 5DIV, 1DX2, 5DSR, 600 III, 400 DO IS II with and without 2X TC III. The ONLY combo I get these shutter issues with are 5DIV and 600 IS III at shutter speeds of 1/200 or less. I'd request that anyone with 5DIV and 600IS III would do a few tests. Every variable I could think of was optimized and controlled with my testing. When live view was enabled, there was no blur on the 5D IV.
I called Canon and will be sending off my 5D IV for further evaluation but I have a strong suspicion that this is not a problem specific to my particular body and lens combo.
p.1 #20 · NEW FIRMWARE FROM CANON!!! 600 III image stabilization issues
Let us know what you find out. I should have some time to test mine this week.
KINGOFKNGS wrote:
I did further testing between 5DIV, 1DX2, 5DSR, 600 III, 400 DO IS II with and without 2X TC III. The ONLY combo I get these shutter issues with are 5DIV and 600 IS III at shutter speeds of 1/200 or less. I'd request that anyone with 5DIV and 600IS III would do a few tests. Every variable I could think of was optimized and controlled with my testing. When live view was enabled, there was no blur on the 5D IV.
I called Canon and will be sending off my 5D IV for further evaluation but I have a strong suspicion that this is not a problem specific to my particular body and lens combo....Show more →
