Fact or Fiction? | Testing Image Stabilization on a Tripod

See my new video on Image Stabilization on a Tripod. Different testing, did it make a differnce?

I've been told and read many times in the last 13 years that you should always turn off the stabilization in your lens or camera when shooting on a tripod. I put this to the test - do you sacrifice quality if you leave it on? Watch and find out!

Links:

#tripod, #imagestabilization, #myth, #lens, #mirrorless, #LandscapePhotography, #PacificNorthwest, #educational, #howto, #composition,

[Chris_Wolfgram]

I'm not sure how direct this info pertains to most of my shooting, as I'm a birder who often shoots with an 800mm lens, and much of the time, with a 1.4 TC for 1120mm. I used to do mostly landscapes. In spite of the fact I use a really solid tripod, as soon as I grab ahold of the camera, looking through the viewfinder, my subjects start bouncing all over the place. I'm sure using a wide angle lens, you wouldn't see any shake at all > however, there would ne no need to touch the camera for landscapes. So, unless it was windy, the image should be rock solid. BTW, interestingly, I have put my 1120mm setup on the tripod (inside the house, so flat calm) and with the image stabilizer on, but not touching the camera, I have seen that the image will slowly wander around, as the IS tries to stabilize the image even though it doesn't need to. If this happened, even to a tiny degree with my landscape shooting, that might screw me up, as I always shoot bracketed sets for exposure stacking. Think I will probably keep turning IS off for landscapes, but maybe I wouldn't need to. Hmmm.

[Sutterjack]

I have a side by side test on my channel shooting video with a C100 M2 (no in - body IS) and there is definite, unacceptable movement when the IS is on the lens vs when not. Still photography - not a issue

[johncallery]

I have the Sony A7RII and the A7RIV and I have the same results as you. If its windy, 10 to 15mph or more, having the stabilization on is important with a long lens.

[don]

Just now found this, and I want to say thanks for going through the hassle of debunking another photography myth, which is all this "turn off IS (or for Nikon users, VR) when on a tripod. It really makes no sense, and never has. The whole thing smacks of someone who has no idea what they are doing having a problem, and looking for anything to blame their failure on except their own inadequacies, followed by another bunch of inadequate "photographers" jumping on the bandwagon.

Again, thanks for taking the time and effort to debunk this myth. Great photos on the website BTW.

[ddsdss]

I don't bother turning IS off (camera or lens) when making long exposures with my Lumix G9 (which has 6.5 stops of IBIS + dual IS with compatible lenses, so I can go hand-held at any FL unless I'm using an ND or IR filter or it's a dark night) and I've never noticed any loss of sharpness, regardless of exposure (rarely more than 2 minutes). I use a Manfrotto BeFree GT XPRO Carbon tripod which is very stable, especially for a "travel" tripod.

[lukebergthold]

I agree for 95% of situations, however, not in live music settings. I regularly film live music where the subwoofers vibrate the tripod. I use the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and when the image stabilization is on, it creates a wobbly effect when the tripod vibrates. It seems image stabilization is designed to compensate for hand jitters, yet not fast vibrations.

[RDDimages]

I’ve used Sony cameras for a good number of years, currently I have the A1 and A7iv and I never turn the stabilisation off whether it be birds in flight or landscape photography. So I agree with you

[guyyowell]

Thank you so much James for performing these tests. I’ve often made the same argument to my friends when we’re out shooting. We often go out shooting along the riverfront where it can be quite windy, so I leave the IBIS on even when my camera is mounted on my tripod. I’ve argued that the IBIS can’t tell the difference between camera movement due to hand-holding or the movement due to the wind. But even when it’s calm, I haven’t seen any detrimental effects with the IBIS turned on.

[wildbill]

The only reason I turn off IS when not needed is because I have really old bodies that have poor battery life and turning it off conserves battery power.

[photonomist]

Hi and thanks for your video. I agree with you and have sometimes forgotten the VR and left it on with no EXCEPT with long exposures (like 15/30 seconds or more) when I get crazy blurry artefacts. I ruined a whole shoot with this and did not know why all the crazy blurring was there. When I found out I replicated the settings and same effect exactly. Turned off VR and all perfect. I have a Nikon D850 and use the latest Tamron G2 zooms, which are superb. Hope this contributes to the sum total of knowledge!!!!

[thomastuorto]

I'm guessing your shooting Sony by the comments & not looking at your equipment during the vid. I thought Sony cameras knows when they are on tripods & turns IBIS off. Anyway, when you were at the stone building & moved over to the right, I really focused in on the dude with the cowboy hat & thought he was slightly sharper with the IBIS turned off. Not knowing your channel when I clicked on it I thought it would have been long lens wildlife orientated. No matter because I'm considering switching to Canon or Sony sometime in 2023 for the AF for wildlife. My older Nikon D810 (2014 tech) = no IBIS but VR on 3 of my lenses. On a tripod with the 200-500 lens, it depends on the shutter speed. Once I crank it up around 1200-1600 it is better with VR turned off. I leave it off for the macro unless handheld & the 70-200. 14-24 doesn't have VR. Your lucky to live in such a photogenic part of the country. Happy shooting & thanks for the vid.

[ilovethismightyfineplace]

I often forget to turn it off too. But after this, I think I’ll just not worry about it all together.

[doug]

Some Canon cameras self detect they are on a tripod and auto shut down stabilization...maybe the camera you were using does the same.

[Sunshineleroy]

Thank you for making an actual test. This is much appreciated.

[jimrinaldi]

Thank you for running these tests. Like you, I sometimes forget to turn stabilization off. In addition, I have one particular lens/camera combination where I cannot turn stabilization off at all. The lens defaults to being on and has no switch and the camerea offers no options either. I have wondered how much of a problem this would be and I am happy to see from your test that there is not likely to be an issue. Thank you again.

[Eigil_Skovgaard]

Image stabilization should be redundant when there's no movement between the camera and the image within the frame. So I agree with you. That said I would like to hear the explanation for the necessity to turn the IS off when using a tripod from those who stick to that rule.

[danmcculloch]

I would like to know what tripod you are using I'm looking for a taller one

[markjensen]

I am guessing results with different camera systems could vary because I have results with Nikon D850 and multiple of lenses that prove differently.

[sealand]

A simpler and more reliable way to "see" the difference is to set the blend mode to - what else - Difference. Pixels that are identical between the two layers will show as black.

[Aviator]

Image Stabilization doesn't do sh!t if you put the camera on the tripod to shoot stills. IS only helps when you are doing hand-held with slow shutter speed. If your shutter speed is fast enough, you don't even need IS.