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Just bought a SD1 Merrill + 17 - 50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Kit ;-)))

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target5

target5

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The long awaited camera is here and is amazing!! I noticed that the blue cast on LCD, when reviewing images, is still here with latest firmware 1.09 released on 23rd of april 2014; is a pity that Sigma don't refine their flagship camera.

I have some question concerning the Optical Stabilizer because is my first lens with it:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?

- the 4-stop gain refers only for shutter speeds or it works also for aperture values?

- At what shutter speed the OS become counterproductive and should turned off?

On the lens manual I have read that the OS become active after 1 minute the camera is turned ON but there is a way to verify that the OS is working?

Thank you so much for your kindly replies.

Alex

b822ac7318304815bf4c7f7c9c69c9a2.jpg
 
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Because the SD1 is a reflex camera, you can see the effect of the lens stabilizer through the viewfinder, but the effect will probably not be noticeable except with longer focal length lenses. The old rule of thumb for film cameras regarding shutter speed still is valid for digital cameras; that, the shutter speed should be at least as fast as the reciprocal of the lens focal length in millimeters. So, a for a 500mm lens you would not need image stabiliziation for shutter speeds faster than 1/500th of a second (.002 seconds).
 
Iconoscope said:
Because the SD1 is a reflex camera, you can see the effect of the lens stabilizer through the viewfinder, but the effect will probably not be noticeable except with longer focal length lenses. The old rule of thumb for film cameras regarding shutter speed still is valid for digital cameras; that, the shutter speed should be at least as fast as the reciprocal of the lens focal length in millimeters. So, a for a 500mm lens you would not need image stabiliziation for shutter speeds faster than 1/500th of a second (.002 seconds).
Click to expand...
This is actually not the case. I have serious problems with shooting my 100-300mm lens at 1/1000 second, unless I have the lens set on something very stable with the IBIS turned off. I find that manual focus and mounting the camera on a solid tripod or some solid surface, like a concrete wall or table or bench and using my infrared remote to trigger the shutter works best, if I'm shooting at 300mm or close to it and shooting at lower shutter speeds, like 1/500 or slower.

I would suggest to get the best use of the SD1 Merrill with the 17-50mm lens the shutter speed should be kept at 1/250 second or faster for longer focal lengths and 1/125 second or faster for shorter focal lengths, or the OS feature should be used. Of course this totally depends on the person shooting and how they hold the camera and lens. Some people can hold a camera very steady and get that reciprocal, but with an SD1 Merrill and a very good lens even the slightest movement will easily blur the photo, and that's not what you want when shooting with an SD1 Merrill or any modern, high-resolution camera, right?

I have the same exact camera and lens, and I always use OS when hand-holding the camera. That doesn't mean that I absolutely have to have it turned on, but it is a safety precaution, so I will get better results than I would otherwise get. I do turn off the OS when shooting from a tripod (when I remember to turn it off), but even at 1/500 second I shoot with OS turned on if hand-holding. I would probably turn it off if I was shooting a lot of photos with that relatively short focal length lens at 1/1000 sec., but I haven't tested to see what is better. That would take quite a few photos, and I should probably get a 32 GB CF card to do a test like that.

;)
 
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?

- the 4-stop gain refers only for shutter speeds or it works also for aperture values?

- At what shutter speed the OS become counterproductive and should turned off?

Actually I'm taking photos handheld with mirror lock-up function and OS turned off.

Catania, Via Crociferi (Full res)
Catania, Via Crociferi (Full res)
 

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Iconoscope said:
Iconoscope wrote: The old rule of thumb for film cameras regarding shutter speed still is valid for digital cameras; that, the shutter speed should be at least as fast as the reciprocal of the lens focal length in millimeters. So, a for a 500mm lens you would not need image stabiliziation for shutter speeds faster than 1/500th of a second (.002 seconds).
Click to expand...
That old wives tale should have been scotched years ago. It was based, for a between-lens shutter, on a daft concept. If you could hold a camera with a 50mm still for, say, 1/50th second, you could do the same for a 500mm lens at 1/500th sec. Utter rubbish of course but it gets repeated as though a golden rule. Also image stabilisation should never be used if camera is properly supported (eg: tripod or whatever other rigid support) and, without specific reference to the info on that lens, which I also have, I believe not for shutter speeds anyway faster than (from memory) 1/250th second.
 
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture. Some of the newer OS on Canon and Nikon no longer have this problem.
target5 said:
- the 4-stop gain refers only for shutter speeds or it works also for aperture values?
Click to expand...
It just refers to how slow the shutter speed can be when you handhold it and still not get much (hopefully any) camera shake:

(scroll down towards the bottom of the link)

http://www.lenstip.com/256.3-Lens_review-Sigma_17-50_mm_f_2.8_EX_DC_OS_HSM_Build_quality.html
target5 said:
- At what shutter speed the OS become counterproductive and should turned off?
Click to expand...
As long as the camera is handheld the OS helps.
target5 said:
Actually I'm taking photos handheld with mirror lock-up function and OS turned off.

Catania, Via Crociferi (Full res)
Catania, Via Crociferi (Full res)
Click to expand...
 
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mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.

By chance, I took some shots recently and OS with Mirror-Up worked fine. (SD10/17-70mm 'C' at 24mm). With that lens, on one occasion, OS+tripod was sharper than not. Just saying, not arguing with the lore on the subject.
 
Thank you Mike for clarifications.
 
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
xpatUSA said:
By chance, I took some shots recently and OS with Mirror-Up worked fine. (SD10/17-70mm 'C' at 24mm). With that lens, on one occasion, OS+tripod was sharper than not. Just saying, not arguing with the lore on the subject.
Click to expand...
If the OS works fine on a tripod without having to be turned off that's good, it means Sigma compensated for that. My first IS lenses from Canon had to be turned off when on a tripod.
xpatUSA said:
--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.
Click to expand...
 
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
Click to expand...
News to me. I've often used it hand-held, especially SD9/SD10 close-up.
mike earussi said:
mike earussi said:
By chance, I took some shots recently and OS with Mirror-Up worked fine. (SD10/17-70mm 'C' at 24mm). With that lens, on one occasion, OS+tripod was sharper than not. Just saying, not arguing with the lore on the subject.
Click to expand...
If the OS works fine on a tripod without having to be turned off that's good, it means Sigma compensated for that. My first IS lenses from Canon had to be turned off when on a tripod.
Click to expand...
OK
 
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
Click to expand...
News to me. I've often used it hand-held, especially SD9/SD10 close-up.
Click to expand...
Why, and how can you tell what you're shooting?
xpatUSA said:
xpatUSA said:
xpatUSA said:
By chance, I took some shots recently and OS with Mirror-Up worked fine. (SD10/17-70mm 'C' at 24mm). With that lens, on one occasion, OS+tripod was sharper than not. Just saying, not arguing with the lore on the subject.
Click to expand...
If the OS works fine on a tripod without having to be turned off that's good, it means Sigma compensated for that. My first IS lenses from Canon had to be turned off when on a tripod.
Click to expand...
OK

--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.
Click to expand...
 
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
Click to expand...
News to me. I've often used it hand-held, especially SD9/SD10 close-up.
Click to expand...
Why,
Click to expand...
"Choose this option to minimize camera shake in telephoto or close-up photography or in other situations in which the slightest camera movement can result in blurred pictures."

http://imaging.nikon.com/support/digitutor/df/functions/releasemode_mirrorup.html

We are talking at cross-purposes, I think. You probably didn't mean that a tripod is mandatory for mirror-up mode, even though that's how it reads . .
mike earussi said:
and how can you tell what you're shooting?
Click to expand...
No Mike, in spite of the spin, I don't go wandering around with the mirror up looking for things to shoot . . ;-)

--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.
 
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xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
Click to expand...
News to me. I've often used it hand-held, especially SD9/SD10 close-up.
Click to expand...
Why,
Click to expand...
"Choose this option to minimize camera shake in telephoto or close-up photography or in other situations in which the slightest camera movement can result in blurred pictures."
Click to expand...
Which is correct for a tripod, but your hands act as a shock absorber buffering both mirror and shutter shake. But if you've tested it both with and without and mirror up helps that's news to me. But if it works it works.
xpatUSA said:
http://imaging.nikon.com/support/digitutor/df/functions/releasemode_mirrorup.html
xpatUSA said:
and how can you tell what you're shooting?
Click to expand...
No, Mike, I don't go wandering around with the mirror up looking for things to shoot . . ;-)
Click to expand...
Obviously, but I'm not that steady when hand holding, my body sways back and forth and my hands shake a bit making exact framing impossible unless I can see what I'm shooting. That's why I can't imagine how you're getting your shot unless you can see what you're shooting up to the last instant before pressing the shutter.
xpatUSA said:
--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.
Click to expand...
 
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
xpatUSA said:
mike earussi said:
target5 said:
Thank you for replies guys, please answer to these questions:

- may I use the OS with Mirror lock-up function together?
Click to expand...
On older OS systems you want to turn OFF OS when the camera is mounted on a tripod or you sort of drive the OS nuts as it keeps looking for camera movement where there isn't any causing the OS to actually add camera shake to your picture.
Click to expand...
With respect, Mike, he was asking about Mirror-Up mode.
Click to expand...
You don't use mirror up unless you're on a tripod.
Click to expand...
News to me. I've often used it hand-held, especially SD9/SD10 close-up.
Click to expand...
Why,
Click to expand...
"Choose this option to minimize camera shake in telephoto or close-up photography or in other situations in which the slightest camera movement can result in blurred pictures."
Click to expand...
Which is correct for a tripod, but your hands act as a shock absorber buffering both mirror and shutter shake. But if you've tested it both with and without and mirror up helps that's news to me. But if it works it works.
mike earussi said:
http://imaging.nikon.com/support/digitutor/df/functions/releasemode_mirrorup.html
mike earussi said:
and how can you tell what you're shooting?
Click to expand...
No, Mike, I don't go wandering around with the mirror up looking for things to shoot . . ;-)
Click to expand...
Obviously, but I'm not that steady when hand holding, my body sways back and forth and my hands shake a bit making exact framing impossible unless I can see what I'm shooting. That's why I can't imagine how you're getting your shot unless you can see what you're shooting up to the last instant before pressing the shutter.
Click to expand...
 
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