Macro

[iND]

Since I turn off my IS when using a tripod.

And if I will be using a tripod for most of my macro work.

Does it make sense to buy a macro lens with IS, except for handheld work?

thank you

[Kayaker72]

The 100 mm f/2.8 L IS macro is one of my favorite portrait lenses. Also, I tend to use it for "close up" photography which isn't what I typically think of as macro. In both instances, I find the IS helpful. Granted, I am usually faster than 1/100 sec, but like being able to drop down to 1/60-1/80 sec when needed.

[iND]

Sorry about the confusing butI think the question has evolved.
So to restate the question.

Do you use IS much on a macro.

What I have taken away is:
Movement like panning may have an affect.
There is no problem with leaving IS on for the 100 L IS
But is it worth the extra?
Decision still being made
but leaning towards no IS.

[HDNitehawk]

Sorry about the confusing butI think the question has evolved.
So to restate the question.

Do you use IS much on a macro.

What I have taken away is:
Movement like panning may have an affect.
There is no problem with leaving IS on for the 100 L IS
But is it worth the extra?
Decision still being made
but leaning towards no IS.

The answer is yes I use it, because I shoot hand held often.
In fact that it is the reason I bought the 100mm L macro, is to shoot hand held.
Otherwise if I am shooting off the tripod I would use my 180mm.
Having IS on a macro lens is important enough to me that I pre-ordered the 100mm L macro when it was released years ago.

Macro doesn't mean tripod only, although to some that is the only way they shoot macro.

So you have asked question really only you can answer. Is having the IS to shoot hand held macro worth it for you?

If you are not shooting hand held, then the answer is probably no it is not worth the extra.

[conropl]

Sorry about the confusing butI think the question has evolved.
So to restate the question.

Do you use IS much on a macro.

What I have taken away is:
Movement like panning may have an affect.
There is no problem with leaving IS on for the 100 L IS
But is it worth the extra?
Decision still being made
but leaning towards no IS.

As far as leaving IS on when mounted to a tripod... that statement is not necessarily accurate. I know the claim is that the lens has tripod sensing built into the IS system, and it is probably as you described earlier; but in reality it just does not seem to work all that well. I have taken shots on a tripod and noticed the results were coming out OOF. I manually focused at 10X in live view with the same results. Then I noticed the 10X view roaming a little (with the shutter pushed half way). Perhaps I did not leave the button pushed half way long enough, but I do not think so. When I switched IS off, then the results sharpened up. This could be repeated (and was repeated accidentally during other shooting sessions as well). I do not know the cause other than maybe there is enough motion that the IS never really stops. Regardless of the reason, if you want things as sharp as possible when mounted on a tripod, I would turn IS off. With IS on you may get random OOF shots.

Is the "L" worth the cost?

• If you are not going outside with it, then you do not need the weather sealing of the "L".
• If you are going to be on the tripod all the time, then you do not need the IS.
• If you do not need the extra sharpness, then you do not need the the "L".
• If you do not mind an extra $300, then splurge.

Pat

[HDNitehawk]

If your Macro work include bugs and you like crawling around on the ground to get up close natural shots, yes it makes sense to have the IS.
While most of your work might be with tripod, the IS would be handy for all those times that may not be part of "most".
I pre-ordered my 100mm f/2.8 IS and it has always been one of my favorites.

[Dave Throgmartin]

Nearly all of my macro has been hand held -- we like to go to local gardens and tripods aren't allowed. I really like the 100L. I rented the non-IS a while back and my recollection is the 100L is built quite a bit better.

Dave

[conropl]

Nearly all of my macro has been hand held -- we like to go to local gardens and tripods aren't allowed. I really like the 100L. I rented the non-IS a while back and my recollection is the 100L is built quite a bit better.

Dave

That sums it up pretty good. Athough I try to get on a tripod as much as possible, there are places that do not allow them. Sometimes you need the freedom of hand holding.

I also tried out a friend's non IS version and I do like the "L" IS better. One of my favorites and I got a really good price. Really sharp.

[jrw]

In terms of IQ the 100 mm L IS is among the top seats for the focal length, other contenders being the Zeiss 100 and Sigma 105. The IS system also makes it a very reasonable portrait lens for those without a wider 85mm or the funds to add a 135, again non-IS, as well. The gain in versatility is what the IS system is about, being able to take it off the tripod to pursue non-macro work with a high quality prime is a gain for many folks.

[iND]

To further clarify the question.

Early IS lenses did not perform well on tripods.
This included:

• EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
• EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
• EF300mm f/4L IS USM

When using certain early models of IS lenses with a tripod it was necessary to turn off the IS function. This is because of a phenomenon known as ‘Shake Return’. Shake Return occurs when the IS system tries to correct vibrations to which the system itself contributes. When the IS lens sits on a tripod, the IS detection gyros pick up any tiny vibrations or movement; these might be caused by the tripod being knocked, or the photographer adjusting a camera setting.
The IS system then swings into action to correct that movement. The movement of the IS lens group causes its own minute vibration, which is in turn detected by the movement sensor, which triggers another correction. This ‘feedback loop’ can continue endlessly, resulting in the addition of unwanted blur to images that would be sharper if the IS function was switched off.


Canon addressed the ‘feedback loop’ in later model IS lenses by introducing an algorithm to the IS detection system to automatically recognise when the lens is mounted to a tripod. When these lenses are mounted on a tripod and the shutter button is pressed halfway, the IS system kicks in and the image in the viewfinder can be seen to go through a very slow vertical shift for about one second.
If the shutter button remains depressed halfway the IS system detects the lack of motion and automatically switches into a special mode. In this mode IS detects and corrects for mirror slap and shutter movement at slow speeds, but not for ‘normal’ lens shake. There is no advantage to be gained in turning off the IS function or locking the mirror prior to exposure.