topic Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime in EF & RF Lenses

Two options for IS on 300mm prime

pixeltaker — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:27:39 GMT

I just purchased this lens and I am wondering what the difference is between the two IS options. Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

kvbarkley — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:37:00 GMT

Mode 2 is for panning:

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

pixeltaker — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:42:06 GMT

Thank you. Also, I have read two different opinion on turning IS off when on a tripod. Which is correct? Leave it on, or turn it off.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

kvbarkley — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 22:13:58 GMT

Page 8 of the manual says to turn it off for tripod use. The reason for the confusion is that newer IS systems can sense when they are on a tripod and turn themselves off.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

pixeltaker — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 22:16:05 GMT

Wonderful! That clears that up. Thanks.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

MikeSowsun — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 01:39:46 GMT

@pixeltaker wrote:
Thank you. Also, I have read two different opinion on turning IS off when on a tripod. Which is correct? Leave it on, or turn it off.

That depends on which 300mm IS you have..... And it also depends a lot on personal opinion and personal experience.

The 300mm f/4 IS from 1997 says to always turn off the IS when ever using a tripod.

The EF 300mm f/2.8 IS from 1999 seems to imply you only need to turn off the IS if you want to conserve battery power.

The EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II from 2011 says it may be better to turn off the IS when using a tripod, but it depends on the tripod and the shooting conditions

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

kvbarkley — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 02:38:46 GMT

She can't have the 2.8/II because she only has 2 IS modes, not 3.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

ebiggs1 — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 09:58:56 GMT

"I have read two different opinion on turning IS off when on a tripod. ... Leave it on, or turn it off."

I am aware of what the manuals say but in my experience I can not tell the difference in leaving IS on or turning it off. Of course I use good heavy duty tripods and that may make the difference. As a rule I never turn IS off unless I have another specific reason. The best thing to do is try it for yourself but I leave it on.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

Waddizzle — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:16:55 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Page 8 of the manual says to turn it off for tripod use. The reason for the confusion is that newer IS systems can sense when they are on a tripod and turn themselves off.

Automatic disabling of the IS is also dependent on the camera body in use, too. The behavior is only found in certain combinations professional camera bodies and lenses, usually super telephoto lenses and EOS-1D bodies.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

pixeltaker — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:25:57 GMT

Thanks! That's pretty much the consensus all around.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

TCampbell — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:16:21 GMT

Mode 2 is great for "panning" shots. When you shoot a moving subject at a slower shutter speed and follow them... a fast shutter would just "freeze" the shot (and make it look like nothing is moving). A slower shutter will result in the background blurring and implies the sense of speed or motion.

This blurs the background and the wheel spokes... but everything else looks reasonably sharp. For this example, the camera needs to be following the car as it drives by ... but you don't need to be on a tripod because mode 2 will correct for up/down shake ... but it wont fight you as you swing the camera left-to-right (mode 1 would fight you).

It's a somewhat common technique used when capturing racing. I use it when I shoot bike races.

Some newer lenses have a mode 3. Mode 3 is basically mode 1 with the exception that it is _only_ active when the shutter opens (so it wont fight you as you try to frame & focus a subject). This is because mode 1 activates the image stabilization anytime you wake-up the focusing system (whether the camera is taking a shot or not.)

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

pixeltaker — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:34:54 GMT

This is a great example for option 2. Thank you for sharing. I am a visual learner, so this helped a lot.

Re: Two options for IS on 300mm prime

wq9nsc — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 19:28:52 GMT

I have the prior version 300 F2.8 and I very rarely activate IS but I have used Mode 2 for panning shots of runners and as Tim illustrates it is very useful for that type of capture.

Mostly I am shooting field sports with a very fast shutter speed so IS doesn't offer any significant benefits for me and does increase battery drain. For use on a tripod I would disable it unless you are shotting in an earthquake zone 😞

Rodger