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Anita Rakestraw
02-17-2008, 06:21 PM
Probably a dumb question,but no manual came with my 100-400 IS lens, and to be honest I'm not sure what the difference is between the two stabilizer modes....one corrects for vertical movement, one for horizontal? And which is which, and how does one know which to choose?

Axel Hildebrandt
02-17-2008, 06:28 PM
Mode 1 corrects horizontal and vertical motion, mode 2 should only be used for panning images. Personally, I never use mode 2.

Anita Rakestraw
02-17-2008, 07:03 PM
Thanks, Axel, but isn't panning usually being used when photographing birds in flight? Or are we trying to stop motion with high ISO, fast shutter speed, etc. and so panning isn't really the issue?

Doug West
02-17-2008, 08:01 PM
I keep mine on Setting 2 100% of the time. I just have to remember
to turn it on :)

Doug

Alfred Forns
02-17-2008, 08:59 PM
Anita with that lens should be kept in the two position I believe with the first IS models you did have to switch All the time in number two

Axel Hildebrandt
02-17-2008, 10:41 PM
Thanks, Axel, but isn't panning usually being used when photographing birds in flight? Or are we trying to stop motion with high ISO, fast shutter speed, etc. and so panning isn't really the issue?

Some people use mode 2 for BIF or turn IS off completely since the shutter speed needs to be high anyways.

Bill McCrystyn
02-21-2008, 01:50 PM
I pull out all the stops with birds in flight. Postion 2, A1 Servo and Pattern AF. I found the best overall response to shake was #2 and leave it set there all the time.

Robert O'Toole
02-21-2008, 01:56 PM
Please correct me if I am wrong but not all Canon IS models are the same. AFAIK, the super Telephotos, 400,500,600 use the second gen IS. With this IS mode 2 is a smart mode and if my memory serves me correctly Canon Engineers and staff would recommend to pros to leave it on 2. That said my 600/4 has been on "on" and "2" for 5 years at a least.
Also IS serves to stabilize the lens even with 1/8000 of a sec speeds making the AF systems job easier. This is why like I have mentioned previously my 600 IS has been "on" since I took it out of the case years ago.

Robert

Robert O'Toole
02-21-2008, 02:01 PM
Arthur Morris has mentioned the Secret IS mode 2 before in his BAA bulletin I am almost sure, BAA archives: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn.html

This is only with the 400,500,600 super telephots AFAIK.

Robert