AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK

I've got a Tamron 150-600 G2. On a tripod, I'll turn the VC off . . . But not sure what I should do when using a Monopod. . . I think things could still be pretty shakey at 600 with a monopod. . . . When the weather is better (another couple months) I'll be able to do some testing, but for now, I'm Seeking Advise . . .

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Follow the user’s manual’s advice.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'd use the VC on a monopod. "I" can't keep a monopod as still as a tripod would be!

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Some of your bigger lenses have two settings for VC. One is for tripods and one is for monopods. I would bump up the ISO to get a shutter speed fast enough to take camera shake out of the picture, no pun intended.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You have the G2 model with multi position VC, the manual that came with your lens details their uses perfectly. I highly recommend reading it to better understand them.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

If you are using shutter speeds of 1/500 or faster, turn VC off.

On a monopod with shutter speeds less than 1/500 it would be good to use VC.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Generally, tripod off, monopod on.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I have vc on one camera and steady shot on the others. I leave them on with the monopod. I also have a hi-end pentax medium format that has no form of vc.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

I have different thought concerning shutter speed with IS/VC. I shoot with spot metering and AF most of the time. Birds, mostly small, flitty and deep within trees or bushes, are my primary subjects. I find that without IS, even with SS at 1/1000 I have a hard time keeping the AF spot on the birds head or eye handholding or with a monopod. Yes, there a short lag time until the lens acquires stabilization, but I find I get many more sharply focused shots this way. I use a Canon 500 f/4.0 and a 100-400ii. I set the IS on position 1 so the IS starts as soon as I press the BBF button.

spoolatmeekerpark Loc: Moscow, Idaho

Oh dear. I really *am* getting old. When I read the abbreviation "VC" I think of "variable contrast" B&W print papers. Used them a lot when overseas in the early 70's. It's obviously used here in a totally different context, designed no doubt to confuse the stuffing out of me. What will the modern world think up next?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Whether or not you should do that depends upon what you mean by "on a tripod".

The real questions should be...

1. Is there is any movement for the stabilization system to correct?
2. In the event that there is no movement what-so-ever, how will the stabilization system react?
3. Does the stabilization system have any effect on other camera functions?

There are techniques and situations when using a tripod that there is movement and stabilization can be helpful. For example, if using a gimbal mount "loose" to be able to track a moving subject, there's a lot of movement. Heck, with a large, long telephoto lens even a breeze can cause movements.... or the camera's mirror and shutter might cause vibrations.

Conversely, there also can be situations when there's no movement what-so-ever when using a lens on a monopod of even when hand-holding it, such as when resting the camera on a surface to help steady your shot.

So it's actually more about movement.... whether there is some or not.... than if the lens is "on a tripod".

The next concern is how any particular stabilization system reacts to lack of movement.

I don't know about the Tamron VC system in particular... haven't personally used any lenses with it. For fifteen years or so I have been using a lot of Canon lenses with their IS system (which might be different.... in fact probably is, considering patent protections). Most Canon lenses it's best to leave it turned on. Most of the 30 or so Canon IS lenses self-detect and turn off IS automatically, when it's not needed. All the various Canon lens user manuals I've looked at recommend turning it off "when using the lens on a tripod". However Canon USA's tech guru Chuck Westfall admits that in most cases this is just to save a little battery power. The stabilization system draws some power from the camera's main, rechargeable battery (but not very much, in my experience).

Among Canon lenses there are five that are widely recognized to have an IS that can go into sort of a feedback loop if left on when there is absolutely no movement. Those particular lenses' IS will actually cause motion blur in images, in that situation. You can see it happening, too.... a rapid shaking of the image in the viewfinder (not to be confused with a slower "image drift" that occurs with most stabilization at times, which won't have negative effect on most images).

If you forget to turn it off and the stabilization reacts that way, with Canon lenses and cameras, no harm done (other than possibly some blurred images). It doesn't damage the camera or lens in any way. So if it's seen happening, simply turn the IS off.

With my Canon IS lenses, I virtually never turn it off. Two models of lenses I use are the type that doesn't turn itself off. But those are lenses that lend themselves to handheld or, at most, monopod or gimbal use. Other lenses I use self-detect and handle it automatically. Same results as if I turn it off manually. In fact, on several lenses I have gaffer tape over the switches, to prevent accidentally turning it off.

You also might need to turn off stabilization in certain situations.... For example, shooting video or a precisely framed image, where even the slow "drift" might cause problems. (However, video shooters... which I'm not...tell me they appreciate stabilization a lot for handheld shots.)

Also, some stabilization systems are said to effect other camera functions.... Many Nikon shooters feel that VR slows down autofocus a little, and there's some evidence to support that. Personally I feel Canon IS does just the opposite, helps Canon AF acquire faster and track better. I really don't have any test data to support this... it's just based upon my fifteen years using IS lenses.

All these things may or may not apply to Tamron's VC.... or Sigma's OS... or Sony's OSS.... etc. No doubt all the stabilization systems are different in some ways, even though their basic intent and purpose is the same.

Look for Tamron-specific info (such as on their website or by sending them an email). And experiment with the lens to see for yourself how it works.

A side benefit of in-lens stabilization (as opposed to in-camera, sensor-based) is that it also stabilizes the image in the optical viewfinder. Particularly when working with longer focal length lenses, this can be helpful, much like stabilized binoculars. You don't get this with in-camera stabilization and optical viewfinders (but may see some similar assistance with an electronic viewfinder or in Live View).

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Thank you for a thought provoking (and correct in my opinion as a Canon shooter also) response.