EF 70-200 f/4L IS II USM: Turn off IS with tripod?

[hvulpus]

Hello,

I am about to set of to take pictures of the Duomo in Monreale, Italy.  I use a tripod and have heard or read somewhere that one has to turn off the image stabilizing when using a tripod and focusing manually.  Is this indeed the case?

[deebatman316]

@hvulpus Anytime you use a tripod regardless of focus mode. You should turn off IS as it’s not needed when on a stable surface such as a tripod. Older versions of IS would hunt around to stabilize when camera shake is not detected.

[ebiggs1]

"Is this indeed the case?"

I never do it but some insist you do it. I have done extensive testing and frankly I can not see any difference. It is simple to prove or disprove try it for yourself. I doubt you can tell any difference.

Why do you think you need a tripod once again something I rarely use? Unless in studio, that is. Are you wanting to shoot indoor stuff in rather dark conditions?

[rs-eos]

Yes, turn it off as that woud remove any risk of it interfering with things. Plus, you can conserve a bit of battery power.

[hvulpus]

Thank you.

[stevet1]

hvulpus,

Think of your IS like a gyroscope. It's constantly looking around, up and down, all around, searching out movement that it can counteract against. It's like it's on a snipe hunt, always looking for little snipes.

If you're shooting on a tripod, there's no movement to find, but it's still looking.

I did some experimenting a while back, and to my surprise, thought my pictures actually looked a little better when I was on a tripod and my IS was turned off.

Steve Thomas

[ebiggs1]

"...my pictures actually looked a little better when I was on a tripod and my IS was turned off."

I'd like to see some samples and exact settings. It's not that I don't believe you it's I don't believe anyone on the ole inner web.

[ebiggs1]

Here's the thing most people do things that they hear about or read about. Sometimes this clouds there assessment as emotion then starts to take over. It's sounds good so it has to be good or it sounds right so it has to be right. Now certainly everybody has the right to do as they see fit so if it floats your boat and you believe it makes a difference by all means switch it off. 

[Waddizzle]

“ 

I never do it but some insist you do it. I have done extensive testing and frankly I can not see any difference. It is simple to prove or disprove try it for yourself. I doubt you can tell any difference.

Why do you think you need a tripod once again something I rarely use? Unless in studio, that is. Are you wanting to shoot indoor stuff in rather dark conditions?

[ebiggs1]

 Automatic IS deactivation is a feature of some lens, not the 1D X camera body.  Some top end Canon RF lenses have or claim to have tripod detection ability to disable IS, I don't have any of those lenses.

I'll repeat, "Now certainly everybody has the right to do as they see fit so if it floats your boat and you believe it makes a difference by all means switch it off."

But I doubt you will see any difference especially on the shots where SS is higher, than say 1/100, and 1/1000+ I am certain you won't.