Do you switch IS off when using tripod or other support ?

[technicsplayer.]

tripod detection has been around for a while. With non dslrs you should just switch off IS for tripod work.

 

[Jenkins]

A big thank you to all who have participated here.
Some interesting comments.

My conclusions are:

It's probably best to switch off IS when using a tripod.

Only if you are 100% sure that your tripod is rock-solid, and the camera is not extended above it. And that there is no nearby foot or vehicle traffic. And that there are no air-currents that could slightly move the camera. And that you are not standing on a wooden surface that will shift in minuscule amounts as you shift your weight. (I have to be cautious of this when using my analytic balance, even though it is setting upon a large marble slab to help stabilize it. Just slightly moving my weight from one foot to another will make the balance's weight display change by .1 micrograms or more.)

From my tests I found that leaving IS on will always be a benefit to ANY unknowns. The amount of movement the IS imparted in the S3 IS's image while on the tripod wouldn't be detectable unless the image is amplified beyond its own pixel level.

(Read my post above on how little IS imparts its own movement in the S3 IS once it's on a tripod, you seemed to have missed it amongst all the noise. The rest of the noise in this thread is from people talking about other cameras and lenses who just feel the need to put in their unrelated 2 cents.)

 

[SteveH]

Only if you are 100% sure that your tripod is rock-solid, and the
camera is not extended above it. And that there is no nearby foot
or vehicle traffic. And that there are no air-currents that could
slightly move the camera. And that you are not standing on a wooden
surface that will shift in minuscule amounts as you shift your
weight. (I have to be cautious of this when using my analytic
balance, even though it is setting upon a large marble slab to help
stabilize it. Just slightly moving my weight from one foot to
another will make the balance's weight display change by .1
micrograms or more.)

I get a whiff of paranoia here. I take pictures in the real world without worrying about measuring atomic weights timed by an atomic clock.

Erm.... Do I assume that before IS was available you didn't dare to take photos ?

From my tests I found that leaving IS on will always be a benefit
to ANY unknowns.

Good for you Jenkins, you leave yours switched on, but don't forget that IS is designed to counteract human induced shake while holding the camera. Countering the effect of passing trucks, gales blowing and the odd earthquake and what-have-you while the camra is not hand-held were not part of the design brief (entirely different frequencies).

For the rest of us on a tripod IS off is better

(though if I feel tempted to set up my tripod in the fast lane of a motorway/freeway/Autobahn, then I would probalbly leave IS on - if I stay alive long enough.

(Read my post above on how little IS imparts its own movement in
the S3 IS once it's on a tripod, you seemed to have missed it
amongst all the noise. The rest of the noise in this thread is from
people talking about other cameras and lenses who just feel the
need to put in their unrelated 2 cents.)

Jenkins, your arrogance is breathtaking ! Do you really think everbody else (S3 IS users included) is just noise and should be ignored except for you !!!
What a sad case you are.

--
Steve
Zurich, Switzerland
Canon 350D & S3 IS
http://www.pbase.com/steveh

 

[Jenkins]

Jenkins, your arrogance is breathtaking ! Do you really think everbody
else (S3 IS users included) is just noise and should be ignored except
for you !!!

SteveH, your ignorance is breathtaking ! Do you really think that everyone talking about every other lens and camera EXCEPT the S3 IS that the OP asked about has anything to do with the S3's image stabilization? For those other lenses and cameras, their point of view is valid. For the S3 IS their point of view is useless noise.

Now go back to trying to get attention from something other than your computer monitor.

 

[SteveH]

Do you really think that
everyone talking about every other lens and camera EXCEPT the S3 IS
that the OP asked about has anything to do with the S3's image
stabilization? For those other lenses and cameras, their point of
view is valid. For the S3 IS their point of view is useless noise.

Jenkins, I really cannot agree with your blinkered/blindered view point.

First take a look at the title of the original tread - you will see that it is not S3 IS specific

Second, Canon puts IS in a selection of PS and compact cameras. You can bet your boots the the IS functionality is basically the same in all of them. It just isn't realistic or economic to expect custom IS functionality in only the S3

If it makes you happy, keep your IS on all the time, BUT accept that others are allowed to have different opinions without being dismissed as useless noise.

To quote Webster's dictionary, "opinion - a belief that rests on grounds insufficient to produce certainty".

In such a general tread, in the absence of detailed information from Canon all of us can only express opinions, based on our IS experience, but all are worthy of consideration, even yours.

-------
Steve
Zurich, Switzerland
Canon 350D & S3 IS
http://www.pbase.com/steveh

 

[Jenkins]

Instead of relying on the work and "opinions" of others, why don't you do the work yourself just as I did and remove all doubt? (just as I did)

Put your camera on a very stable tripod. Put a tele-converter lens on the camera. Zoom to 48X zoom to over-amplify the least bit of image movement. Focus on some stable object with high contrast points. Put the IS settings to continuous and tele-converter options. Then watch how that image doesn't drift for a whole minute. Then shift your weight by the tripod to see what happens when you flex the floor. Or jump once to emulate a passing car on solid ground.

Total testing time: 15 minutes, if you are being thorough.

But no, you'd rather sit there and start some silly cyber-cry for attention for your own entertainment rather than do the work that's needed. Work that I wasted doing for the likes of you. But I'm glad I did those tests for me because now I know more than you do.

For the record: (original post)

Do you switch IS off when using tripod or other support ?

SteveH - 4 days ago

In the instructions for a Canon IS lens for use with SLRs is says to
switch off IS when using a tripod or other support.

I don't see any mention of this in the S3 IS* manual

Do you switch off or just leave it on ?

Duh, I wonder which camera this question is refering to.

Now go away little boy and do your own homework.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Put the IS settings to continuous and tele-converter
options. Then watch how that image doesn't drift for a whole
minute.

I wouldn't rely on a visual inspection of the LCD to judge drift if I were you. It has far to low resolution to tell you if the final image is going to be truly sharp.

I just did some test exposures at full zoom and up to 15 seconds with a 2-second self-timer delay on my A710 and the results were identical with IS on and IS off. So it appears that my camera either has the "tripod detect" feature or the drift, if any, is insignificant, at least after the 2-second delay.

I can't say how my results translate to other Canon P&S cameras (or even to other A710s), but it's an easy test to do. If anyone's concerned about the issue then the prudent thing to do is to try it for yourself.

 

[SteveH]

Thanks Sean, I appreciate your input

--
Steve
Zurich, Switzerland
Canon 350D & S3 IS
http://www.pbase.com/steveh

 

[SteveH]

Instead of relying on the work and "opinions" of others, why don't
you do the work yourself just as I did and remove all doubt? (just
as I did)

It must have escaped your attention that the main purpose of these forums is to share information, experience and pictures. Asking what others do can hardly be construed as relying on the work and opinions others. Get informed then make a judgement.

I'm sure this isn't the only situation where you would rather do it yourself.....

Or jump once to emulate a passing car on solid ground.

! ! ! ! you must weigh a whole lot more than I do

But no, you'd rather sit there and start some silly cyber-cry for attention

If asking for peoples opinions is so silly then why do you demean yourself by getting involved?

Work that I wasted doing for the likes of you.

"We" didn't ask you to do any work, you took it upon yourself to do the work as obviously you didn't have an opinion to give as it must have never occured to you that there may be some situations where it is better to switch off IS

But I'm glad I did those tests for me because now I know more than you do.

Bravo, who's a clever chap now?

I don't see any mention of this in the S3 IS* manual
Do you switch off or just leave it on ?

Duh, I wonder which camera this question is refering to.

Now you are simultaneously clutching at straws and jumping to conclusions.

Would you believe I mentioned the S3 IS manual because I have one, but I don't have manuals for cameras that I don't own.
Now show me where I said that non S3 users should not contribute.

Now go away little boy and do your own homework.

Are you unable to communicate without resorting to petty school yard insults

Like I've already said you are a sad case

--
Steve
Zurich, Switzerland
Canon 350D & S3 IS
http://www.pbase.com/steveh

 

[S Hess]

--
http://www.pbase.com/shhe

 

[Undah]

Last night I took shots and forgot to turn off I.S. Over a 1 sec exposure, I did notice it's not as sharp as it could be.

In the instructions for a Canon IS lens for use with SLRs is says
to switch off IS when using a tripod or other support.

I don't see any mention of this in the S3 IS manual

Do you switch off or just leave it on ?