Reading mode: Light Dark

How do I tell IS is working?

Go to last post
V

Voripteth

Well-known member
Messages
103
Reaction score
0
Location
Naperville, IL, US
I've read that you have to hold the shutter half pressed for a second before the image stabilization (IS) kicks in. Is there any way to tell when this actually happens? (besides counting mississippi's)

--Cameras:
UZ Twenty-one-hundred
C Twenty-Forty-Z

(Take THAT, search engine.)
 
Voripteth said:
I've read that you have to hold the shutter half pressed for a
second before the image stabilization (IS) kicks in. Is there any
way to tell when this actually happens? (besides counting
mississippi's)

--
Cameras:
UZ Twenty-one-hundred
C Twenty-Forty-Z

(Take THAT, search engine.)
Click to expand...
The image in the viewfinder should tell you if you are getting a well focused shot. That would be a clue. --21oo, B-3oo3o4oJuli
 
Sure.

Turn the camera on (don't press anything). Look through the viewfinder (or rear LCD if you prefer) and zoom in to max zoom.

Now watch the screen and move the camera around (think too much coffee!). The image should move almost real time with the camera movement.

Now half press the shutter. Wait a second. The IS kicks in pretty fast (no more than 1 second). Now repeat the previous task.

You should see the image in the viewfinder lag behind the camera movement (kinda like slow motion).

If it doesn't do that, it's broken.

John
Voripteth said:
I've read that you have to hold the shutter half pressed for a
second before the image stabilization (IS) kicks in. Is there any
way to tell when this actually happens? (besides counting
mississippi's)

--
Cameras:
UZ Twenty-one-hundred
C Twenty-Forty-Z

(Take THAT, search engine.)
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the tips. I wonder why Olympus didn't put in some sort of indicator to show not only that it was active but that it is done doing its job?
--Cameras: UZ Twenty-one-hundredC Twenty-Forty-Z(Take THAT, search engine.)
 
Voripteth said:
I've read that you have to hold the shutter half pressed for a
second before the image stabilization (IS) kicks in. Is there any
way to tell when this actually happens? (besides counting
mississippi's)
Click to expand...
The E-100RS has an indicator, I'd be surprised if the C-2100UZ
doesn't... I see it in Phil's review.

On the E-100RS, there are three information levels in the EVF,
you cycle through them by pressing the INFO button on the back
of the camera, right below the flash control button. In all but the
minimal information mode, a shaky hand icon shows up when
IS kicks in.

You can see it in some of the pics on Phi's C-2100UZ review
on this page
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc2100uz/page7.asp
 
As I understand it, the icon shows that IS is enabled but not that it is actually at work.

If you press the shutter without waiting the second or so for IS to kick in you'll take the picture without stabilization even though it is enabled.
Samuel Paik said:
On the E-100RS, there are three information levels in the EVF,
you cycle through them by pressing the INFO button on the back
of the camera, right below the flash control button. In all but the
minimal information mode, a shaky hand icon shows up when
IS kicks in.
Click to expand...
--Cameras: UZ Twenty-one-hundredC Twenty-Forty-Z(Take THAT, search engine.)
 
Voripteth said:
As I understand it, the icon shows that IS is enabled but not that
it is actually at work.
Click to expand...
True. This just indicates that it is on.
Voripteth said:
If you press the shutter without waiting the second or so for IS to
kick in you'll take the picture without stabilization even though
it is enabled.
Click to expand...
True. But it remains on for some time after it's been activated. The manual says the amount but I can't find mine right now to look it up.

However, I usually need more than 1 second to get my composition right before I take the shot. If I'm anticipating a shot, I'm usually already pressing the shutter 1/2 way and then shoot when the time is right.

I don't know if I could tell you if I missed a shot because the IS was not activated. Probably, but not many.

John
 
I guess it's all a matter of learning a new technique with the camera. It took me a bit to get used to the delay between pressing the shutter and the picture being taken. (Many action photos with empty frames to attest to that!) I guess this is the same sort of thing.

I wonder if it would be more effective if you were to keep the camera in half-press mode while waiting for an action shot to happen. The UZi has a full time focus mode, I wonder would it would be like for a full time IS mode. ;)
John M said:
However, I usually need more than 1 second to get my composition
right before I take the shot. If I'm anticipating a shot, I'm
usually already pressing the shutter 1/2 way and then shoot when
the time is right.

I don't know if I could tell you if I missed a shot because the IS
was not activated. Probably, but not many.
Click to expand...
--Cameras: UZ Twenty-one-hundredC Twenty-Forty-Z(Take THAT, search engine.)
 
Voripteth said:
As I understand it, the icon shows that IS is enabled but not that
it is actually at work.

If you press the shutter without waiting the second or so for IS to
kick in you'll take the picture without stabilization even though
it is enabled.
Click to expand...
Actually, it's a very good practice to hold the shutter button halfway down at the ready while you're composing up your shot. This allows the camera to set up exposure and focus ahead of time which reduces the lag and camera shake. By the time you "read" your subject and then moved the camera for the best composition, you've burned up that second the IS needs to lock in. If you're merely pressing the button all the way down in one motion, you're basically "punching" the shutter button and that's not a good practice for sharp photos with any camera.
 
Voripteth said:
I guess it's all a matter of learning a new technique with the
camera. It took me a bit to get used to the delay between pressing
the shutter and the picture being taken. (Many action photos with
empty frames to attest to that!) I guess this is the same sort of
thing.
Click to expand...
Same here.
Voripteth said:
I wonder if it would be more effective if you were to keep the
camera in half-press mode while waiting for an action shot to
happen. The UZi has a full time focus mode, I wonder would it
would be like for a full time IS mode. ;)
Click to expand...
The idea is to try and anticipate the action. Pick out an area or an object that the subject is most likely to be near and focus on that. Pressing the shutterbutton down halfway will lock the camera focus and exposure to that point. When the subject reaches that spot, press the button down the rest of the way. It'll take some practice.
 
Out of curiousity, just how does Image Stabilization actually work?

It doesn't seem to be any mechanical compensation since I don't feel anything move. I wonder if it does some sort of averaging of the picture on the fly?--Cameras: UZ Twenty-one-hundredC Twenty-Forty-Z(Take THAT, search engine.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top