Shutter speeds and image stabilisation?

[Martyn]

I keep reading specs for cameras that state that image stabilisation is equivalent to 4 stops. If the minimum recommended shutter speed for a hand held shot on a particular camera is 1/60 sec without IS, am I correct in thinking that on the same camera with IS switched on I should be able to hand hold a shot with a shutter speed of 1/4 sec (putting aside other variables such as ISO and aperture) and get the same results?

 

 

[Guest DaveW]

From what I have read the stops often claimed for image stabilisation hand holding are usually only correct with the lens at infinity.  As you focus closer the number of stops you can safely hand hold reduces until at higher magnification macro work you gain few if any extra stops, so some camera manufacturers recommend turning image stabilisation off then, though Canon claims some advantage with it's new version of image stabilisation.

 

http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/18930/how-useful-is-image-stabilization-in-a-macro-lens

 

However I have never used Image Stabilisation, Vibration Reduction, call it what you will, so somebody who has can comment.

 

What has to be remembered is it only stops camera shake not subject movement, so if you choose too slow a shutter speed with image stabilisation, but say the insect you are photographing or flower moves slightly in the wind you will still get a blurred photograph. image stabilisation can therefore lull people into using too slow a shutter speed for the type of photography they are doing.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/photography/tips-solutions/image-stabilization-when-use-it-and-when-turn-it

 

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/223/is-digital-camera-image-stabilization-important/

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/image-stabilization.htm

 

http://www.discoverwildlife.com/forum/image-stabilisation-on-a-macro-lens-t11424.html

 

As also said it depends how shaky you are. A casual hand holder with bad camera holding technique, or shaky handed person using image stabilisation will still get less sharp pictures at the stated number of stops supposed gain than somebody with good hand holding technique who can already hold a camera steady at low shutter speeds.

 

http://www.silverlight.co.uk/tutorials/compose_expose/shake.html

 

http://www.tutorial9.net/tutorials/photography-tutorials/standing-steady-proven-ways-to-reduce-shake-in-photography/

[Martyn]

Thank you for that very comprehensive answer Dave! I've been thinking about this all day and just wanted to make sure I'd grasped the principle correctly.

[colinb]

crikey Dave that some reading list you have given us all there 

 

and sorry Martyn I can't help either as I don't have any lens with VR.

[NannyFerret]

I have two VR lens and I use the speeds that I would normally use if the VR was switched off.
As has been said, it only helps cut down handshake, not the motion from the subject, unless of course you want to use a slow shutter speed to show the motion.

I have also heard that in shooting certain subjects that it can actually spoil the shot. I forget that I have VR so it;s on most of the time.

I think it is handy to have, especially when you don't have a very steady hand.

[Phil]

First of all, Martyn, I must congratulate you on using the correct terminology. It is indeed IS and not VR as stated by the Nik*n users above

 

As a general rule of thumb shutter speed should be at least equal to or greater than the focal length:- 1/60 @ 60mm - 1/500 @ 500mm. IS generally gives around 3 to 4 extra stops but I think the example you use here is a little extreme. The chances of successfully shooting for 1/4 of a second hand held I reckon is around 50/50.

[Guest DaveW]

It's only IS on those Canon toys, but then they need it!  I think it stands for "I Shake" rather than "Very Reliable".

[Phil]

I think it stands for "I Shake"

 

Ouch! I guess I asked for that

[Guest DaveW]

Joking aside, here's how it works:-

 

http://www.cameratechnica.com/2011/06/16/the-science-of-image-stabilization-technology/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9mFirQANwA

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM81p6QPmI8

 

I always wonder though if there is any image degradation since in a conventional lens all elements are optically centred, so if you move one element off it's optical centre or incline it for stabilisation is there any degradation of the image?

[Guest]

one thing to remember with IS (canon) VR (nikon) VC (tamron) and OS (sigma) is to turn it off if you are using a tripod. In trying to compensate for non existant movement it can actually create movement instead of remove it.