OIS optimal usage

Hello,

I am sure people are already tired of this subject but I never found a clear answer to the following question: Can the OIS reduce the sharpness of the picture in some situations? OIS is advertised as extending the exposure time by 2-3 F-stops in low light. One can achieve quasi-steady pictures at 1/8s 1/15s etc. I am sure this is true. But my question is what happens at 1/250s or beyond. Is the OIS fast enough to move the sensor such that it will effectively compensate at these speeds? I noticed that FZ30 and FZ50 have a handy button to set and reset the OIS. This means Panasonic believes there must be frequent situations when it’s better to have it off. For instance when the camera is on a tripod it is recommended to turn the OIS off. Probably the OIS electromechanical system makes the sensor vibrate, trying to compensate for movements that do not exist.

So the short version of this question: What is the speed above which the OIS does more harm than good?

It is very hard to conduct a scientific experiment or build a proper test bench for this so I am curious what people have found by using the cameras.

Thanks

Gavril

Mabye this link is of some interest ? Though as stated not a scientific test.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1033&thread=20769214
--

Don't confuse subject movement with camera movement, OIS helps with camera movement, fast shutter freezes the subject. So OIS will help at 1/2000 if you have shakey hands
--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

D5O, 7O-21O, 24-I35 Tam sp, 6O micro, I8-55, 24-5O, 5O 1.8. 7O-3OO APO dg, 80-200 D twin ring
FZ2O, Sunpac 3-eight-3, PSE-3

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. I see your point but I am not convinced. According to you there is no point in switching the OIS off. Yet Panasonic dedicated a quick button for this purpose on the more recent models. On my FZ20 it's a menu operation. Not so on FZ30 and FZ50.

Hi,

Another thing came to my mind. OIS is always advertised for low speeds. Why is that? With the zoom set at 12X one would need a tripod in good light too. Yet I never saw Panasonic bringing this as an advantage to OIS.

Only time I have ever turned it off was for some tripod shots a long time ago (FZ20), never had a problem with blurry pics that was caused by ois in my opinion. Maybe the quick access is for tripod users, don't really know. From memory the manual only says to turn off when using a tripod.
--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

D5O, 7O-21O, 24-I35 Tam sp, 6O micro, I8-55, 24-5O, 5O 1.8. 7O-3OO APO dg, 80-200 D twin ring
FZ2O, Sunpac 3-eight-3, PSE-3

I leave OIS on all the time, on Mode 2. I have never sensed any problem, even in daylight shots at 1/500 sec or faster.

I think Panasonic advertises how it helps at low speeds because that's where it helps. Doesn't really help at fast shutter speeds, but doesn't hurt either.
By the way, OIS doesn't move the sensor. It moves an element in the lens.

Here's a recent Sparrow shot with FZ30 in OIS Mode 1, full-zoom, 5MP EZ mode, with 1.7X Teleconverter attached. Hard to say, but I think at 1/125 shutterspeed, handheld, I was getting some help from the OIS?



Here's another older shot with same zoom/TC setup, except FZ30 in 8MP mode, handheld at 1/5 second (there is some motion blur on the subject's part):



Yep, I think OIS was useful in both of these shots. Although "Wisdom" and Panasonic seem to favor OIS mode 2, I personally prefer Mode 1, as it helps me frame long shots, and gives me more confidence in obtaining a sharp capture.

In the Panasonic models prior to the FZ30, (I think that's when the practice began), there was no external button for changing OIS, just a menu selection, which met with disdain from reviewers and users, who like to be able to change it with a button. So I suspect that Panasonic added a button for it to quell those complaints. In my experience, I very rarely use a tripod, and I very rarely change the OIS mode.
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeOneVeeTwo, EffZeeThirty, Tizzy (who captured the Eagle)

But maybe you raise another point John, that the button is more use for changing from mode 1 to mode 2 than for turning it off, for those that may use both of course, many just seem to prefer one or the other and leave it on for the most part, we don't need no stinking tripods and all
--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

D5O, 7O-21O, 24-I35 Tam sp, 6O micro, I8-55, 24-5O, 5O 1.8. 7O-3OO APO dg, 80-200 D twin ring
FZ2O, Sunpac 3-eight-3, PSE-3

Gavril Margittai said:

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. I see your point but I am not convinced.
According to you there is no point in switching the OIS off. Yet
Panasonic dedicated a quick button for this purpose on the more
recent models. On my FZ20 it's a menu operation. Not so on FZ30 and
FZ50.

Click to expand...

The manual states that you can turn OIS off "When you want to take a picture with jitter."

Presumably that is why there is an option to turn it off.

Some people prefer Mode 1, some prefer Mode 2. Some shoot on/off tripods, so may change more frequently, but off the tripod, I'd bet most people just leave OIS in their favorite mode and forget about it.
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeOneVeeTwo, EffZeeThirty, Tizzy (who captured the Eagle)

Terraliptar said:

Gavril Margittai said:

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. I see your point but I am not convinced.
According to you there is no point in switching the OIS off. Yet
Panasonic dedicated a quick button for this purpose on the more
recent models. On my FZ20 it's a menu operation. Not so on FZ30 and
FZ50.

Click to expand...

The manual states that you can turn OIS off "When you want to take
a picture with jitter."

Presumably that is why there is an option to turn it off.

Click to expand...

Terraliptar said:

Put it on a tripod, set maximum zoom and OIS mode 1 (on all the
time). Now watch the image which will slowly move as the OIS
"drifts" a little with time - remember the camera is fixed, it's
the OIS which is introducing the slow "shake". If that happened
when you were using a slow shutter speed the result is a blurred
picture.

So the bottom line is: if you know the camera can't move, turn
off the OIS to make sure it can't move either!

Click to expand...

Before reading your comments, I experienced exactly the same "moving image" while I was trying to take a photo of the Moon with my LX2 on the tripod (with the OIS mode-1 on and at max. zoom) That happened about 15 days ago.

I first thought in astonishment that one of the legs my tripod was sliding !
Your observation and explanation is really remarkable and helpful.

Best wishes,
Ali