Image Stabilization on Tripods
Image Stabilization (vibration reduction on Nikon lenses) is a wonderful feature that has been added to many DSLR lenses being released over the past year or so.
Image Stabilization (IS) allows photographers to flip a switch on their lens and handhold their cameras in lower light conditions - using longer shutter speeds without the problem of Camera Shake (with my Canon lenses I’d estimate it gives me an extra two stops).
Image Stabilization is a great feature and is in my opinion well worth paying the extra dollars for - especially if you shoot a lot of lower light shots.
Having said this there is one time when you should definitely switch IS off because it will do more harm than good to your photos - when you’re using a Tripod.
Image Stabilization (and vibration reduction) lenses look for vibrations in your camera in order to reduce it - however if they don’t find any (like when you are using a Tripod) they actually can cause it - and as a result actually cause camera shake.
Canon’s Chuck Westfall explains it well:
“The IS mechanism operates by correcting shake. When there is no shake, or when the level of shake is below the threshold of the system’s detection capability, use of the IS feature may actually *add* unwanted blur to the photograph, therefore you should shut it off in this situation. Remember that the IS lens group is normally locked into place. When the IS function is active, the IS lens group is unlocked so it can be moved by the electromagnetic coil surrounding the elements. When there’s not enough motion for the IS system to detect, the result can sometimes be a sort of electronic ‘feedback loop,’ somewhat analogous to the ringing noise of an audio feedback loop we’re all familiar with. As a result, the IS lens group might move while the lens is on a tripod, unless the IS function is switched off and the IS lens group is locked into place.”
This is pretty basic stuff really - if you read the manual that comes with your IS enabled lens it will give you this same tip - however I’ve seen quite a few tripod mounted DLSRs with IS switched on in my time and thought it might be time (and have forgotten to switch off IS myself on a couple of occasions) - so I thought I’d write this as a quick reminder (to us all).
The Rule - if you’re hand holding your camera in lower light situations switch on IS - if your camera is tripod mounted - switch IS off.
The Exception - Yes, there is always an exception to any rule and in the case of IS it is important to know that there are some DSLR lenses that can actually sense and account for when you’re using a tripod (Canon calls it tripod detection - a feature that was added in 2000). As a result you don’t need to switch image stabilization off at all.
As a result - a second ‘rule’ comes into play - ‘read your lens manual and you won’t go wrong’.
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November 22nd, 2006 at 1:20 am
This is good advice. It’s easy to forget to turn off the IS.
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Would it make sense to leave IS on when using a tripod on a windy day and there is a bit of movement of the camera on the tripod? (Obviously this is not desirable, but we don’t all have rock solid tripods.)
November 24th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
I am in the process of purchasing the Sony Alpha 100, because of its “Super Steady Shot” built into its system. So if using a Tripod would you suggest that this is also turned off?
November 24th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
I bought my (canon) camera this year together with a IS lense. I used it on holiday and tried some shots of the illuminated swimming pool at night. On the tiny viewing screen on the camera they looked great but when I downloaded them on to my computer and viewed them there was quite a lot of blurring, so IS is not the total answer (for me) - Shame, it cost a lot!
December 3rd, 2006 at 5:00 pm
This is great advice. Despite Canon stating they have “tripod detection”, I found that on my Canon 28-135 IS lens, that it added a ton of noise to my tripod images. Thankfully I shoot digital so could see the immediate (poor) results on the screen so I could correct it by turning IS off.
December 26th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
“..leave IS on when using a tripod on a windy day..”
Look through the viewfinder. If your eyes can detect any shake, it is a good idea to turn IS on.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Good article. It’s very basic in the operating mode of the VR or IS technology, but it explains clearly why on certain circumstances the reduction of vibration is really doing the opossite.
I own a 80-400 nikkor VR, and this function works spectacularly in low light and long focal distances.