IS value in Shooting Indoor Sports? Why not?

[TGM123]

Help me understand something as I just can’t seem to get my head around it, why is it that people think that IS is not useful for shooting sports? It seems to me that sharp images are a combination of minimizing camera shake AND an appropriate shutter speed.

For example, I shoot a lot of indoor youth sports and it always seems to be the case that I am trying to maximize shutter speed and minimize ISO while getting the most valuable DOF (doh…) and as a result I always end up in the 1/300 – 1/600 range. So, let’s say that 1/400th is theoretically enough to freeze your subject but because of your camera shake you introduce another to blur the image way (sharpness = minimizing camera shake AND increasing shutter speed) and effectively are no longer shooting the needed 1/400th of a second. Wouldn’t IS help eliminate one of the two problems here and result in a sharper image?

Thanks,

Tom

[zona5101]

If you have a high enough shutter speed to stop sports action then you you already have enough shutter speed to eliminate any user induced camera movement. Image stabilization really comes in handy when you're hand holding slow shutter speeds rather than assisting with high ones.

[TGM123]

Originally Posted by zona5101

If you have a high enough shutter speed to stop sports action then you you already have enough shutter speed to eliminate any user induced camera movement. Image stabilization really comes in handy when you're hand holding slow shutter speeds rather than assisting with high ones.

Thanks for the input.

Agreed, this is not an issue with >1/600th of second or so. But what about when one is just on the cusp of having enough shutter speed?

[Doug Pardee]

Something else to consider is that many IS systems are unable to properly deal with panning, and in most sports photography it's imperative to follow the action. Check the owner's manual for the lens or camera that you're using to see if panning is supported for your IS.

[TGM123]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Something else to consider is that many IS systems are unable to properly deal with panning, and in most sports photography it's imperative to follow the action. Check the owner's manual for the lens or camera that you're using to see if panning is supported for your IS.

Good point. I was thinking of using IS "Mode 2" on my Canon 70-200 II 2.8 IS

[sk66]

Zona pointed out why, as a general rule, IS is unnecessary. And Doug pointed out another reason why it might be detrimental. And you are pointing out why those views might not work in a particular situation...

If your IS supports panning and you are working near/below your minimum stable SS, then use it. Even if you are working at higher SS's you can use it but VR may slightly increase focus lock times.

[TGM123]

Thanks for all of the thoughts, much appreciated.