When to turn off stabilization

[ik631]

I searched all over trying to find an answer for this. I recently bought the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC. My EF-S 55-250 IS sadly is no more. In the viewfinder I can actually see the image jump as the VC kicks in. From what I have heard it is normal but also some say why Tamron's VC is superior (not enough experience to comment).

So here is the question, besides the obvious tripod mount, are there situations where this different type of stabilization will throw off focus and I should turn it off? For example panning, moving subjects, etc? It is the small jump that I can see, hear, and feel that wasn't apparent in the Canon I worry may be compensating for something that is not there and blurring a shot. I almost always left the Canon on except on a tripod since it didn't seem to change in the viewfinder.

Thanks

[sk66]

Don't worry about it...My Nikon 70-200 F/2.8 does it as well.

[gturner]

I turn mine off when shooting movement. Your shutter speed is high enough anyway to freeze your action and the subject.
(plu It eats battery, wobbles the image trying to fix it and slows the AF.)
That is on canon range)

I would switch it back on when shooting players on the bench or coaches.

[ravncat]

I leave VR off unless I need it on.

Basically - anytime you are shooting fast motion, that little bump can be annoying - with tracking, VR isn't an issue so much as it is for acquisition. So if you have a tendancy to pound the shutter - you'll want VR off.

The reason I leave VR off is that it I find it has a noticeable effect on battery life. I rarely need it in good light - and I don't need it on a tripod. So that really leaves panning shots and when light starts to get low and the exposures start to get long.

[arlon]

I have several Nikon and Sigma VR lenses and very seldom turn on the VR. I shoot a lot of auto brackets on HS shutter and it seems the VR tries to compensate for the shutter slap and I'll often have the 2nd or third shot way out of alignment. I have just learned several ways to hold the camera that are pretty steady. There were a lot of great pictures taken using good camera holding technique before VR came about. Just another gadget that can be helpful but often it's just of no value or even downright harmful.

One place I do like VR is shooting single shots from a moving car. My wife takes a lot of "documentary" (road signs and such) shots from the car. She uses the VR and some of her pics still amaze me. I think the VR is very helpful in certain conditions but my default position is definitely off..

[ik631]

Thanks for all the tips. I was using it all the time on my 3 other lenses except when on a tripod and getting a ridiculous amount of blurred shots with all but my non IS/VC lens, usually with my kids when they were moving (they are always moving). Going back and comparing shots of the IS/VC lenses to the non the sharpness goes way up on the non IS/VC. I was blaming it on technique but this time I think I can blame it on equipment. Time to turn it off and start seeing what happens.

[arlon]

If you are going to take pictures of moving kids, shutter speeds need to be high. At higher shutter speeds, the VR really has no advantage. Only advantage is on slow shutter (say less than 1/60 sec) on totally still subjects. VR won't help make a moving subject sharper at slow shutter speeds. It steadies the camera but it just won't do a darn thing for steadying a moving kid.. (-:}

[ik631]

Whoever invents the Kid Stabilizer will rule the camera world!