IS on or off?

[Sam Eilertsen]

Hello all,

I'm wondering whether you guys use image stabilization when shooting video using SLR lenses. I have some idea of how IS works but I don't really understand what effect it would have on video. I know that consumer and prosumer camcorders often have IS but I don't know if this is the same technology as used in stills lenses. I've done some Google searching but mostly I've just found people spouting their opinions without explaining what is really going on.

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[Noah Kadner]

Are we talking about RED? Most lenses that have OIS do not function that way with RED so it's a moot point. Yes it's useful on video cameras for handheld shots but not Tripod.

Noah

 

[Justin McAleece]

the canon 70-200 2.8 II with new generation 4 stop IS is amazingly bad ass and works perfectly on the red. when in Mode 2 it smooths out jitters and jumps nut leaves actual camera moves looking very natural. I don't know how it works but it's with gyros and does its job without any sort of body attached besides its need for power.

 

[ericyoung]

the canon 70-200 2.8 II with new generation 4 stop IS is amazingly bad ass and works perfectly on the red. when in Mode 2 it smooths out jitters and jumps nut leaves actual camera moves looking very natural. I don't know how it works but it's with gyros and does its job without any sort of body attached besides its need for power.

Mode 2 only stabilises in a vertical direction for use on tripods, so pans don't have the image stabiliser fighting the horizontal movement.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with gyros - it'll probably be using some sort of solid state inertia sensor.

But yes it does work on the Red One.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

But yes it does work on the Red One.

At the moment this is the exception not the rule.

Most SLR lenses with IS need to communicate with the camera. (Many DSLR cameras have motion sensors)

Epic should change this, making lack of IS support the exception. I have no clue if its enabled right now, but Epic should have some sort of motion sensors. (At least I recall reading that, but you know how you can count on change at Red!)

 

[Justin McAleece]

it goes both ways

it goes both ways

Mode 2 only stabilises in a vertical direction for use on tripods, so pans don't have the image stabiliser fighting the horizontal movement.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with gyros - it'll probably be using some sort of solid state inertia sensor.

But yes it does work on the Red One.

check it out Eric - From the lens manual:

you might be right about the gyros. i don't know.

 

[Sam Eilertsen]

Thanks for the info guys.

What are the situations you definitely wouldn't want to use IS, though? Will it cause intentional camera motion to not look right?

 

[Liam Hall]

Are we talking about RED? Most lenses that have OIS do not function that way with RED so it's a moot point. Yes it's useful on video cameras for handheld shots but not Tripod.

Noah

Canon IS works just dandy on a tripod. There's a slight lag in the motion - the lens settles a beat after you finish your move, but it's easy to get used to and well worth it to eliminate annoying shakes and trembles.

You can quote me when you rewrite your training manuals

 

[Cail Young]

The only problem you might see depending on the IS mechanism is what I call "dancing flares" - if you are handholding a long focal length and there are lens flares in frame, some IS mechanisms shift the elements in a way that makes the lens flares dance around while the rest of the image is stable. Not pretty.

 

[ericyoung]

check it out Eric - From the lens manual:

you might be right about the gyros. i don't know.

I stand partially corrected! :smile: