EOS 3 and Image Stabilization

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With the EOS 3 and an image stabilizing lens, does the camera automatically adjust to the slower shutter speed to take advantage of the IS feature, or must the program be shifted? If it must be done manually, any recommendations as to the best and fastest way to do the shift accurately?

-- Scott Rubin (revrubin@aol.com), July 30, 1999

Answers

Hi Scott: At least at this time, EOS bodies do not "recognize" an IS lens and behave any differently than with a non-IS lens. Don't think that just because an IS lens allows hand-holding at slower shutter speeds that you should go out of your way to shoot at those slower speeds. Think of IS as an "internal tripod" that's there when you need it. I usually use my 300/4 IS (when in IS mode) with or without the 1.4 TC in aperture priority, wide open. This MAXIMIZES shutter speed, but if/when the shutter speed starts dropping, I know I can still handhold with confidence, often to 1/30th or sometimes even 1/15th sec. The beauty of the IS lenses is to help free the photographer from the confines of a tripod; it does not, for example, magically transform an f4 lens into an f2.8 lens. It only allows one to confidently handhold a lens at speeds slower than 1/focal length. Other than this, an IS lens is not much different than a non-IS lens.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), July 31, 1999.

Thanks for your answer, Kurt. I shot a test roll today with IS on and off. I used 800 speed film and indoor light with the camera on AV. The shutter speed was approx 1/40. I did not hear any noise at all on the 28/135 IS lens when it was operational. I think I can tell a very, very slight difference in the focus, but without a loupe it's hard to tell if it made a difference. I will try again tomorrow and use a rheostat on the light to get the shutter speed to 1/30 and lower to see if the lens is working in IS mode. I will be using the lens indoors for events where a flash would be prohibited or draw away from the main speaker. The orange tinge to the picture from the light is marked. Is there a filter that would work best to eliminate this cast? Thanks, Scott.

-- Scott Rubin (revrubin@aol.com), August 02, 1999.

Scott: Take a look at Jeff Hallett's posting on the Q&A forum from 7/26/99--it's still listed as an active question toward the bottom of the Q&As. You may find the responses helpful.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), August 02, 1999.

Addendum: Scott--It sounds like the orange cast you're describing may be due to a tungsten light source such as an ordinary light bulb. To correct for this, you can either.... what's the answer? Delve into the static contents here at Photo.net, and read about light as well as filters, and you may discover the information you seek. Also try doing a search using (for example) the word "tungsten" and see what comes up. Give us a holler if you get stuck. Happy learning!

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), August 02, 1999.

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