dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

I just purchased a Canon 100 to 400 ll. (GAS Attack) I did a quick compare with my Tamron 150 to 600 v1 and I have to say it is a lot sharper. I need to play with it some more.

The Canon has 3 IS modes. 1-All the time, 2- Panning, and 3 - only on when shooting. (And there is Off) Does anyone have any experience with which is best? I use back-button focus on my Canon 5D lll in AI servo mode. Mostly shooting animals, birds, sports. About 50/50 hand held vs. tripod. If you use mode 3 -do you have to turn your IS Off when using a tripod?

Thanks....

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The suggestion from a few reviewers is to use mode 3, always, when the lens design provides this option. And that is the mode I've used since reading that suggestion. The manual that came with the lens will confirm Canon's recommendation on leaving IS on / off when using a tripod. I believe all v II IS-enabled Canon lenses indicate the IS can detect the tripod and does not been to be disabled.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

If you are using a tripod, turn the IS off. Even though it can tell when it is mounted on a tripod and compensate according, it's unnecessarily draining the battery. If you don't need IS, turn it off and get more shots out of your battery.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

It's personal preference, I personally would leave it set on 3, and even use it when shooting action. Usually I do turn off IS when shooting any action, or BIF, but with 3 I would leave it on. Very useful in my mind, the most useful image stabilization to date!

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

I use 3 at all times too.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I don't pan much.
I far prefer the 1 all time. The view through the viewfinder is rock steady at 400mm vs when off. Once you get used to steady viewing you will hate looking through the viewfinder with the image jumping around no matter how hard you try unless you hold your breath and brace yourself then you can even see the motion from your heart beat and I haven't found a solution for stopping that that is generally acceptable.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There is no single "best" mode. It depends upon what you are doing and how you want the IS to work (how you want the image rendered, in some cases).

Mode 1 - Standard dual axis stabilization. Both horizontal and vertical movements are being corrected. Starts and runs normally with half press of the shutter release button or when the AF On button (or other assigned button) is pressed during BBF. Both the image in the viewfinder and the image being captured are stabilized. I usually like the viewfinder image being stabilized, so this mode is the one I use most of the time.

Mode 2 - Single axis "panning stabilization". Only movement along the vertical axis is corrected. And it doesn't matter the orientation of the camera. That's detected and the stabilization changes accordingly. This mode is used when panning with a slower shutter speed, where you are trying to deliberately blur movement in the horizontal axis and don't want the stabilization counteracting your efforts. It starts and runs the same way as Mode 1. And it effects both the viewfinder and the image.

Mode 3 - Instant dual axis stabilization, same as Mode 1, except this only starts and runs during the actual exposure. Unlike Mode 1, it doesn't start up as soon as you half press the shutter release (or press a button on the back of the camera using BBF). Stabilization doesn't occur until during the actual exposure, which can be a fraction of a second, so this lens' stabilization must be extremely fast acting. This mode basically doesn't effect the viewfinder image... only the image being captured. It also might be useful in extremely quiet situations, where the slight noise of the IS running would be heard (of course, your DSLR's shutter and mirror are still making noise). In certain situations, the IS stabilizing the viewfinder image might be unnecessary or unhelpful, too. Mode 3 also might save a little battery power in some situations, though in my experience IS doesn't draw a lot.

The 100-400 II is the least expensive lens to have this advanced form of IS, which is good for 3 to 4 stops of effectiveness (varies with user capabilities and other factors). The "II" series "super telephotos" (300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/4, etc.) are the other lenses that have Mode 3/Instant IS.

Honestly, I leave mine set to Mode 1 mostly, occasionally use Mode 2 in special panning situations, rarely if ever use Mode 3.

I also leave this lens' IS on pretty must all the time... tripod, monopod or hand held. For one thing, most of the time when on a tripod I'm using a "loose gimbal" technique with telephoto lenses like this, so there's still plenty of movement and work to keep the IS happy and working well. There's certainly plenty of movement when using a monopod or hand holding it. Also, the 100-400 II has "self-detecting" IS that shuts itself off in situations where there is no movement, such as when locked down solidly on a tripod.

The original 100-400 is one of five Canon lenses with IS that need it manually turned off, in the total absence of any movement, such as when locked down on a tripod. Forget to turn it off and you'll see the viewfinder image "go crazy" with movement... no harm done unless you take a shot with it.... simply turn it off if you see that happen. Not to be confused with the slower "drift" of images that occurs with IS.

But, again, that's not a problem with the II... it self-detects and turns off IS itself, when there's no movement at all to correct.

The slower "image drift" that occurs with all IS lenses, but has no effect on images themselves... can be an issue in certain situations. For example, if you're shooting video or are working with a very critical composition. In those cases, you may wish to turn off IS.

Canon user manuals say to turn IS off when using a tripod. But that's really just to save a little battery power (But not much, in my experience... I see little difference in shots-per-charge using two identical cameras: one with an IS lens, the other without).

Gampa

You purchased an awesome lense. I sold my Tamron 150 - 600 v1 and traded up to the Canon 100 - 400 IS II last year and love it. It’s much sharper and faster focusing. I do mostly action shots and leave it on position 3 all the time. Enjoy it!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I have tried mode 3 and don't like it because I can't see the stabilization happening. I guess this is the way Canon designed it but I prefer to use 1 and 2. I use 1 for stills, and 2 if I'm going to be panning. Very simple. I leave it alone when on a tripod which isn't very often. I've never seen any interference from the IS when leaving it on when using a tripod.

You made a good purchase by getting one of these lenses. It's far sharper than any of the 3rd party lenses and it's much sharper than the original Canon 100-400mm lens. Good luck with it.

PS - simply try your lens in the different modes. You'll see how they work yourself.

szoots

I leave it in 3 but I’ll be experimenting from all of the observations in this blog.