tripod and lens IS?

Dunlin wrote:

Traditional advice is to always to turn off IS when on a tripod as it may attempt to correct it's own movements.... however, according to Ken Rockwell, most IS systems are smart enough to realise when they're on a tripod. Both of my little powershots certainly are.

I guess the whole idea with a tripod is that it's rock stable. If the tripod was being blown about (exaggerating here) then I imagine it would help.

I know that on the new and shiny EOS-R system you can specify when to enable IS/IBIS, all the time or just when the shutter's being pressed. I'm afraid I don't actually know for common folks like us, as I've never had an IS telephoto (where the difference would be really noticeable).

EDIT: I remember reading in a photo mag about somebody having troubles with IS on a tripod using their EOS 800D...

Dunlin,

I guess I should have looked it up before I asked.

The Digital Photography Schools says this:

"The Rule – if you’re hand holding your camera in lower light situations switch on IS – if your camera is tripod mounted – switch IS off.

The Exception – Yes, there is always an exception to any rule and in the case of IS it is important to know that there are some DSLR lenses that can actually sense and account for when you’re using a tripod (Canon calls it tripod detection – a feature that was added in 2000). As a result you don’t need to switch image stabilization off at all.

As a result – a second ‘rule’ comes into play – ‘read your lens manual and you won’t go wrong’."

I looked at the manuals for both the 18-135 IS USM and the 55-250 IS STM lenses, and they both say you only need to turn off the lens image stabilization to save battery power. Nothing about reducing vibration.

I think the bit about reducing vibration as the IS hunts for camera shake is a holdover from 20 years ago. I think I'll just leave it on and not worry about it.

Steve Thomas