DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Started 5 months ago | Questions
apersson850 Senior Member • Posts: 2,076
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Karl_Guttag wrote:

I would assume that if your panning is "unsteady," you will also max out the range. I have run experiments of thousands of pictures with a panning subject and mode 2 beats mode 1.

For IS mode 3, think of subjects like ice hockey players.

-- hide signature --

Anders

 apersson850's gear list:apersson850's gear list
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 400D Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS-1D X Mark II +26 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

apersson850 wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

I would assume that if your panning is "unsteady," you will also max out the range. I have run experiments of thousands of pictures with a panning subject and mode 2 beats mode 1.

For IS mode 3, think of subjects like ice hockey players.

The lens manuals explain it pretty clearly. Sometimes with the translations it can take a while to figure opt what they are saying.

-- hide signature --

Anders

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
Leigh A. Wax Senior Member • Posts: 1,621
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??
1

With my first 100-400L V1 with just 1 & 2, I used 2 for panning.

When they added Mode 3 with the 100-400L-2, & now with the 100-500L, I find it somewhat difficult switching from mode 1 to 2 without sliding into mode 3.

Maybe that's just me, but I just leave mine in mode 1, and sometimes OFF for panning.

JonZMovies Junior Member • Posts: 46
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

 JonZMovies's gear list:JonZMovies's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Canon EOS R7 Samyang 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +6 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

JonZMovies wrote:

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

For perched birds you should never be using modes 2 or 3. Start there and eliminate that factor. Your troped stable? Is it windy when you shoot.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??
1

Karl_Guttag wrote:

Maryarena wrote:

Hi!

I just got my 100-500 today and am wondering, what Image Stabilization Mode I should use. I listened in YouTube to one person that recommended Mode 2, but then the instructions say that Mode 3 is better for animals. I'm thinking that for perched birds Mode 1 and birds in movement Mode 2?? Mode 3 has me confused.

What are you birders using or anyone in similar situations?

Thank you!

Gloria

Mode 1 for mostly stationary subjects. May also work if the subject is moving head-on or head away.

Mode 2 for when the subject is moving predictably such that you are panning.

Mode 3 is more for when the subject is jumping about somewhat erratically. You don't want the IS to be trying to stabilize until you are ready to shoot. If your animals are jumping around, then mode 3 might make sense. If the bird is sweeping past you, then Mode 2 would probably be best.

Just to add to Karl's excellent explanation. A little more detail about what modes 2 and 3 are actually doing.

Mode 2 corrects for vertical or horizontal while panning. It corrects at the right angles in the direction of panning. So panning left or right it corrects for up and down movement. Panning up or down it correct side to side movement. Recommended for smooth, non erratic subject movement. A speed skater.

Mode 3 does exactly what Mode 2 but IS only kicks in at the time of exposure. It improves initial AF accuracy for erratic moving subjects. A hockey player.

So the system expects you to be steady in your movement in the direction you are panning.

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
JonZMovies Junior Member • Posts: 46
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

For perched birds you should never be using modes 2 or 3. Start there and eliminate that factor. Your troped stable? Is it windy when you shoot.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

As I mentioned, I tried all the modes.  All seems to lock on stabilize mode for few seconds, but the stabilization wears off after 2-3 seconds.

 JonZMovies's gear list:JonZMovies's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Canon EOS R7 Samyang 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +6 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

JonZMovies wrote:

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

For perched birds you should never be using modes 2 or 3. Start there and eliminate that factor. Your troped stable? Is it windy when you shoot.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

As I mentioned, I tried all the modes. All seems to lock on stabilize mode for few seconds, but the stabilization wears off after 2-3 seconds.

Is Continuous Focus disabled?

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
JonZMovies Junior Member • Posts: 46
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

For perched birds you should never be using modes 2 or 3. Start there and eliminate that factor. Your troped stable? Is it windy when you shoot.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

As I mentioned, I tried all the modes. All seems to lock on stabilize mode for few seconds, but the stabilization wears off after 2-3 seconds.

Is Continuous Focus disabled?

It doesn't matter if Servo AI is enabled or not, the effect remain the same in both cases.

 JonZMovies's gear list:JonZMovies's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Canon EOS R7 Samyang 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +6 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

JonZMovies wrote:

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Don't know if I'm among the very few, but I feel the stabilization on video mode is a huge let down for me.

I try to film perched birds at the longest range 500mm with all the 3 modes, but even with a tripod, the IS kicks in but feels like it just gives up after few seconds, and the video image start to shake again (from slight vibrations, winds, etc.) I get more decent results with an older cheaper G1 Tamron 150-600mm on VR mode where the video image is stabilzed thouroughly.

For perched birds you should never be using modes 2 or 3. Start there and eliminate that factor. Your troped stable? Is it windy when you shoot.

Can't comment on photo mode thought, it's seems to work as designed but I take pictures as if these flaws exist on that mode too in mind,

As I mentioned, I tried all the modes. All seems to lock on stabilize mode for few seconds, but the stabilization wears off after 2-3 seconds.

Is Continuous Focus disabled?

It doesn't matter if Servo AI is enabled or not, the effect remain the same in both cases.

That's not AI Servo. Continuous AF is in the Purple AF menus. R5 on 413. That is for Movie mode. I've never used video mode but I know that enabling Continuous AF mode for non-movie AF modes is not good. When you stop shooting and bring the camera down for move it anywhere it continues to AF. I enabled it once by mistake and I thought I broke my camera. For better words I'm just reverse engineering that.

Also do you have the FW update for the lens? I assume you have the latest FW for the body.

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
JonZMovies Junior Member • Posts: 46
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Isn't continuous focus is only on standby mode when you are not recording? It deactivated here anyway, but I might give it another shot activated to see if it does anything at all. And yeah, it all latest firmwares 1.1.0

 JonZMovies's gear list:JonZMovies's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Canon EOS R7 Samyang 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye Canon EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM +6 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

JonZMovies wrote:

Isn't continuous focus is only on standby mode when you are not recording? It deactivated here anyway, but I might give it another shot activated to see if it does anything at all. And yeah, it all latest firmwares 1.1.0

Like I said I've never used Movie mode but when I did accidentally enable, took my finger off the shutter, pointed it somewhere else then brought it up again it was way OOF. This was because it kept focusing.

Canon manual translations can be a pain.

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
Zeee Forum Pro • Posts: 25,627
Re: RF 100-500 Image Stabilization Mode for Birds??

Zeee wrote:

JonZMovies wrote:

Isn't continuous focus is only on standby mode when you are not recording? It deactivated here anyway, but I might give it another shot activated to see if it does anything at all. And yeah, it all latest firmwares 1.1.0

Like I said I've never used Movie mode but when I did accidentally enable, took my finger off the shutter, pointed it somewhere else then brought it up again it was way OOF. This was because it kept focusing.

Canon manual translations can be a pain.

I see what you are saying about standby. You stop AF and it will continue to focus so next time you press the shutter it's bang on. Not sure that solves your issue.

-- hide signature --

Don't Look Up

 Zeee's gear list:Zeee's gear list
Canon EOS R7 Canon EOS R6 Mark II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM +1 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads