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Posted on 25/03/08 9:00:07 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1869 Reply  |
What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
Thanks Vibeke, and Anna for your kind comments on my flowers. This afternoon on a cloudy day, I took a photo of a church stained-glass window with the Optical Stabilizer (vibration control) switched off and another with the OS switched on. The first shot shows the whole window, but the following two shots are the test pics: both were shot at full telephoto zoom (200mm) at a shutterspeed of 1/13th of a sec. In an attempt to eliminate most of the camera shake, you must have an absolute bare minimum shutterspeed of at least the focal length that you're using (200mm). The ASA was 200, and shot in RAW. The lens was the DSLR Sigma 18 x 200 OS zoom. 
Without at 1/13th of a sec 
With at 1/13th of a sec 
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Posted on 27/03/08 00:27:40 AM |
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Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
According to the EXIF all three have different shutter speeds. Top one 1/25, middle 1/10, bottom 1/13. How are you finding the 40D? Is the live view as useful as they make out? |
Posted on 27/03/08 05:41:17 AM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
I can see I will have to start saving for a new lens. Better not tell my husband yet, as I have just got a new laptop. Thanks |
Posted on 27/03/08 3:27:14 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1869 Reply |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
Very astute of you Paul, but may I remind you that the first shot at 50mm was shown just to show the overview, the following two shots shot at full focal length (200mm), and as you know the shutterspeed shot at 1/10 or 1/13th would be indistinguishable. I traded in my EOS 20D for the EOS 40D and found that I can zoom in much further in photoshop before pixilation (10 megapixels). It also has a much-improved view finder, but the thing I lurve the most is the new clear bright three-inch screen, from which you can zoom in about ten times without any loss of resolution--wonderful! I don't use liveview; why would I want to? if you use it in bright conditions you damage the shutter curtains. Here's an example of a reduced file size from 10mb to a few hundred K (three photos) of a telephone pole shot at full focal length (200mm). the two subsequent images taken from the first shot have been cropped in Photoshop without any sharpening applied: 
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Posted on 30/03/08 07:27:41 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
Michael Totally agree. I bought the Canon 70-200 2.8 a couple of years back and using it for the first time snapped a shot of my daughter at 10th sec at about 150mm. I was staggered at how the IS had produced such crisp shot. Nick |
Posted on 10/04/08 05:12:51 AM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
I will have to get one, My daughter has a Canon Powershot S5 IS, and I have been amazed at the crispness of her shots, without any effort. |
Posted on 10/04/08 8:25:27 PM |
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Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: What a difference an optical stabilizer makes to a zoom lens
I've had my Canon 70-200 2.8 for about three years and even now I am amazed at how good the IS can be. |