dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

Guys,
I am using a Sony A6500 and a Sony A7r3. I rarely shoot on a tripod, mostly doing hand-held. But I want to start doing more serious landscape work using a tripod. Both of the camera bodies (and most of my lenses) have built in stabilization. Should I turn it off when using a tripod, or leave it alone? I have heard both opinions, and looking for wisdom from the guys here. Thanks in advance.
Don

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I leave the IBIS active for my Sony a7II at all times, whether on a tripod or not. I believe that model is older than your models. Most (all?) newer cameras and lenses can detect the steady tripod and work just fine. This was not always the case. Alas, some rules are nothing but old habits that people are afraid to change, even when the technology has changed. You'll see this playout in the subsequent responses.

dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

Thanks, that is helpful

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

you will find that using a tripod will improve your compositions, im on a tripod 80% of the time.

dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

I agree, but what about using or deactivating the internal stabilization?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

From one of Sony's own brand ambassadors ...

https://alphauniverse.com/stories/sharp-tip--sometimes-your-tripod-isn-t-enough/

Bill_de Loc: US

Not all lenses nor cameras are built the same. You will have to check your owners manual. Years ago we were always told to turn off vibration reduction when using a tripod. More and more the camers or lenses have been designed to detect a tripod and select the appropriate settings.

---

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

When in doubt, do a quick test with stabilization on and off. Then analyze the results.

dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

Good idea; thanks

The Watcher

Why not just test it yourself?

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Not a Sony user however B&H sells them and here is an article they publish in this subject.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/image-stabilization-when-to-use-it-and-when-to-turn-it-off

It's an interesting read... albeit you'll probably won't find a universal answer here.
Case in point: Steve Perry was not a happy camper with his new PF 300mm Nikkor which was plagued by some weird harmonic oscillation which screwed up image IQ at shutter speeds between 1/60 second and down to ? Believe Nikon had a recall or firmware upgrade to address this... So it's not actually a simple case of OS, IS, VR On or Off etc.

Extremely long glass is notorious for weird harmonic oscillation caused by mirror slap...
Maybe mirrorless fixes that bugaboo...

I've discovered via carefully testing that my Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO Lens for Nikon F needs a second or so to "calm down" when OS is activated... Fantastic optic that Nikon sued Sigma over for copyright infringement on their VR design.... Sigma settled out of court and dropped that epic lens. So glad I score a 9+ copy from B&H just after Sigma ceased production. It's one of the finest lenses I own (but you have to count 1001, 1002 to allow the OS to spin up)... lol

dkeysser only you can answer your query... test your kit, k?
Way too many variables in the mix for a generalized solution.

Hope this helps more than confuses....

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

yes.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

In my experience over the past 15 years or so, this has never been a situation in which leaving stabilization turned on when the camera is on a tripod has caused damage to anything or even blurred the image. It's no different from having it turned on and then holding your camera really steady when taking an exposure. This has been true even with older stabilized lenses.

What it will do, however, is drain your camera battery a little faster. It may also, and this has happened to me, change your framing slightly when you press the shutter release and activate the system. Of course, that can also happen when shooting hand held, but it's trivially simple in that case to recompise slightly. Some lenses like my Nikkor 18-200 DX zoom are worse about this than others.

I do not have any cameras with IBIS, but I would expect that the same would be true of them.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

(Download)


(Download)

Jrhoffman75 Loc: Conway, New Hampshire

You will never go wrong by turning it off.