RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Maryarena wrote:

Distinctly Average wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

Hi Maryarena, Big congrats on the wonderful lens!

Mode 1 for perched. You can get away with Mode 1 for slowly moving birds too. Stabilization OFF for BIFs. Mode 3 is too slow to respond.

R2

I’ve never switched any of my lenses off Mode 1 when handholding for any subject, including BIF. It helps me keep my subject in the viewfinder. There have been some interesting videos from Canon ambassadors and others on this very subject and current thinking seems to be leave it on. IIRC there was such a discussion between Jan Wagner and Duane Paton recently with some ne persuading the other to leave it enabled.

On a tripod then I would change mode but I very rarely use a tripod.

Same here, I mostly always use Mode 1, but now having three options I want to see how each one works. I use a very light Monopod just for resting not really for taking the photos.

With Mode 3, you can actually feel when the IS kicks in.  I often lose the first frame in a series.  I half-press the shutter even before the camera starts its way up to the eye, but sometimes the IS doesn't wake even then.  Scrapped that idea.

Mode 2 I used recently during an airshow for panning, and results were mixed.  At shutter speeds between 1/60 and 1/125, I got about the same keeper percentage with the IS on as I did when I had it turned off.  Above 1/125 my keeper rate was always higher with the IS turned off (even at very high shutter speeds).

R2