Image Stabilization On or Off?
Jan 16, 2020 16:10:50 #
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
Jan 16, 2020 16:32:01 #
If you're using a tripod.......off. Otherwise what's it gonna hurt to leave it on?
Jan 16, 2020 16:54:50 #
jradose wrote:
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
It isn't providing much effectiveness at speeds faster than that, but I'd leave it on.
The formula is 1/(focal length X the crop factor) or faster.
Whether you need to switch it OFF when using a tripod depends on the particular camera, so see your manual. With some models of some brands, it makes no difference. With others, you HAVE to turn it off for sharp photos. If in doubt, do a controlled test both ways.
Jan 16, 2020 17:13:07 #
burkphoto wrote:
It isn't providing much effectiveness at speeds faster than that, but I'd leave it on.
The formula is 1/(focal length X the crop factor) or faster.
Whether you need to switch it OFF when using a tripod depends on the particular camera, so see your manual. With some models of some brands, it makes no difference. With others, you HAVE to turn it off for sharp photos. If in doubt, do a controlled test both ways.
The formula is 1/(focal length X the crop factor) or faster.
Whether you need to switch it OFF when using a tripod depends on the particular camera, so see your manual. With some models of some brands, it makes no difference. With others, you HAVE to turn it off for sharp photos. If in doubt, do a controlled test both ways.
Jan 16, 2020 17:13:44 #
I have a tendency to leave it on with my Sony gear, basically for image viewing stability, but at high shutter speeds I was recommended that I leave it off if you are looking for the fastest focusing speed your camera has to offer. For stationary subjects, no problem, but for fast moving subjects with high shutter speeds, turn it off. But it can help in framing your moving subjects.
Jan 16, 2020 17:15:46 #
photoman022
Loc: Manchester CT USA
I never have my IS on. I spent a full autumn day photographing beautiful scenery; I shot slow and used a tripod. I got home, downloaded the photos, and they were all blurry. My IS was on the whole time! I cried a bit and then went and turned the IS off on the lenses that had it and have never turned it back on. But that's just me!
Jan 16, 2020 17:15:48 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
Normally, you turn VR off on a lens and camera atop a tripod. On a D7200, using Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm with VR. It does not have a VR switch on it, and will keep the VR on all the time, You won't be able to turn it off. Which is a bummer. Because the VR in the lens, will be fighting with the stabilization of the tripod. This is unique to the D7200. You can turn VR off/on, with the more expensive FX AF-P 70-300mm lens. That has a switch on the lens.
Jan 16, 2020 18:57:15 #
Jan 17, 2020 01:37:45 #
photoman022 wrote:
I never have my IS on. I spent a full autumn day photographing beautiful scenery; I shot slow and used a tripod. I got home, downloaded the photos, and they were all blurry. My IS was on the whole time! I cried a bit and then went and turned the IS off on the lenses that had it and have never turned it back on. But that's just me!
Because you were on a tripod.
Jan 17, 2020 07:06:53 #
jradose wrote:
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
Even when shooting at a speed where shake is unlikely, you give yourself extra insurance, plus it stabilizes the image in the viewfinder, which is especially valuable handheld with long lenses.
Jan 17, 2020 07:15:15 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
jradose wrote:
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
You need to read the instructions included with your lens. Every manufacture says something different.
I shoot Nikon and Sony, if I am shooting at a shutter speed greater than 1/1000 sec. I feel I really do not need VR. However, I have left it on sometimes and it appears to make little difference to my final image. (if i am shooting at a high shutter speed.
Jan 17, 2020 08:21:59 #
If you're shooting action sports, and shoot in bursts, then you should always turn VR OFF. It takes a very small, slight fraction of a second to acquire focus on the FIRST frame. If you find your FIRST frame is slightly out of focus, but the remaining frames are sharp, this is the problem. FWIW, I shoot with a Nikon D500 & a 300 2.8 & 70-200 2.8 Nikkor lenses.
Jan 17, 2020 09:51:00 #
jradose wrote:
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
The rule is for shooting with a lens that doesn’t have stabilization. You can get good shots with a stabilized lens at slower shutter speeds than the rule would recommend. You might not see the benefit in the situation you describe with a high shutter speed, but there’s no reason to turn it off.
Jan 17, 2020 10:53:39 #
When to use Image Stabilization has always confused me. If doing hand-held, the IS seems reasonable owing to camera shake. But doing tripod there is no ‘shake’ (unless your ‘pod is a super cheapie), so why is IS inadvisable?
Jan 17, 2020 11:24:47 #
jradose wrote:
It is recommended that when shooting off hand, your shutter speed should be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens to avoid blurry pictures due to camera shake. So, if I am using a 200mm lens, with my crop sensor camera, effective focal length is 300 mm. Let's say it is bright sunny out, and I am shooting shutter speed 1/800 sec. Should I turn the VR (or VC or OS, whatever your brand calls it) off leave it on, or does it even matter?
With some lenses, image stabilization is automatically turned off when mounted on a tripod. That in and of itself will tell you to just leave it on, unless it’s mounted on a tripod.
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