Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Canon 75-300mm IS USM Lens...

justinkthornton · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Colorado

Anyone use the Canon 75-300mm IS USM Lens. I'm thinking about getting it and want some feed back.

StuartE · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:17 am

Yes, I do - I've used the 75-300mm MKIII extensively, too - you'll find plenty of images in my gallery taken with one, or the other - Motor sport shot with the 75-300 MKIII on a monopod, barefoot ski-ing shot with the IS, the Autumn leaves in my latest uploads are with the IS, I've got some bees to put up soon done with the IS as a psuedo 'macro' lens, too...

I'd recommend it - a couple of extra stops worth of difference makes a lot of difference when we're talking something with a long focal length - I love my MKIII - it's a shame to part with it, but I won't need it now I have the IS version - and without stepping to the 100-400L IS there isn't really anything to equal it... it is still a 300mm lens, so you need to think about shutter speed when handholding, but not so much as you do without the image stabiliser - I'd be a little bit wary of the chance of a second hand lens being a very old lens - they've been around since 95, or 85, I can't remember and don't have the manual here... and there has been a second edition, but unfortunately it's not identified by model, eg MKII or anything - buying new, you're pretty safe... (I'm not ageist - it's just that there are significantly more wearable parts in an image stabilised lens, and if an IS motor fails it costs a packet to fix) - be wary of a lens that may have been used in IS mode on a tripod for lengthy periods of time - it does accumulate to slackness in the IS mechanism...

Cheers,
Stuart

Forgiss · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:27 am

Especcially since the manual clearly states NOT to use it IS when on a tripod ;-D

joe32780 · Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Titusville, FL

I just sold one of those and bought a 70-200 f2.8L....there is a world of difference! More money, but more quality, too!

Forgiss · Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:49 am

yep... I am on the 70-200 f4 and the sharpness and contrast on that thing is rediculous!

I love that lens!

Andrei · Joined: 09 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Minsk, Belarus

As for me, I was happy when sold my 75-300IS. Slow, dark, not sharp on 300. Good for street, bad for wildlife. Now waiting for 100-300 IS L.

Riger · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 524 Location: Dubai

I have the 28-135 IS, and I am very happy with it.

Stuart, could you briefly explain why the slackness occurs with extensive use of IS on a T-pod? I know it happens, and I try to remember to switch it off when I am on the pod. I am just interested to know the science behind it, perhaps that will help me remember to turn it off.

Better still, perhaps I should leave it off and then try and remember to turn it on when I need it ... whatever,

I would appretiate a mild technical if you could. Thanks in advance

Tim · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 458 Location: UK

Total Guess:- Forced Vibration due to hamonic input from IS.

Perhaps Tripod legs resonate close to natural frequency - Ie oscillatory amplification of vibrations?

Perhaps bearing wear on motor due to reduced damping from being on the tripod...

But as I said, no idea.

StuartE · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 8:25 pm

Image Stabilisation involves tiny USM motors, I would imagine a similar thing to those motors that buzz in your phone to make it vibrate, or run those tiny remote control cars... anyway, the motors and balance mechanism that allow the IS to correct camera shake and motion are physical, mechanical devices - the problems that occur with them are wear based, from excessive use - the issue with having them on a tripod is that the conditions make them run hugely, causing premature wear...

When you use an IS lens, it corrects the vibrations caused by you - be that from breathing, hand tremors, etc, the IS corrects the lens so you can take a shot slower than the focal length would normally allow 'handheld'... the problem comes when you use a tripod, because it should be a nice steady, stable platform for the camera, right? If it is, then there isn't any 'shake' for the IS to correct... the problem is, the IS motors are turned off, they kick in when you press the shutter release - about 1 second afterwards, they're at speed and ready to keep your shot stable (that's why you can still get blur and shake with IS if you don't wait until the motors themselves have stabilised) - so with the camera on a tripod, the IS kicks in, and moves the lens internally, looking to balance it - the only movement of the camera is inside the lens, as it's on a tripod... so the IS corrects that... creating movement in the opposite plane, which it corrects... and then chases itself, potentially into destruction if you left it whirring away...

On a monopod, the camera isn't so securely mounted, and it's not an issue... if there was something that told IS to shut down after X seconds, it'd be fine, but then what about when you use it, lock onto a subject, and then wait for a shot??

Some people say the IS on a long lens isn't 'as good' as it is on the 28-135 IS - not really true, the problem stems from the fact that 'minimum' handheld speeds should be around 1/the focal length of the lens, e.g. 1/60th for a 50mm, 1/350th for a 300mm... so with the 135 at full zoom, the IS will give you handheld at 1/90th, 1/60th, and often at 1/30th - some can handhold it at 1/15th of a second... conversely, the 300mm can help you at 1/250th, 1/180th, maybe even down around 1/125th - but it won't get you a good crisp shot at 1/30th of a second, it's just not that good... :-)

I personally leave it on, and turn it off when I don't need it - I started the other way, and missed far to many shots I thought the IS would get me because it wasn't on... :-)

Cheers,
Stuart

Riger · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 524 Location: Dubai

Thanks, I appreciate the explanation

joe32780 · Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Titusville, FL

I'm not sure what the differences are, but some of the lenses are rated to use on a tripod.....for example, the 100-400ISL is not recommended for use on a tripod with the IS on, but the 70-200 f2.8L IS is....newer technology?....??

Forgiss · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:46 am

The newer IS technology actually checks for movement.. If it can't improve the stability, it shuts down automatically

StuartE · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:09 pm

Yeah, the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS should really be IS mkII - it's been improved - has a mode for panning stabilisation, too, doesn't it??

Cheers,
Stuart

Forgiss · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 4:28 am

yes, it has 4-way stabilisation, so you can now pan horizontal or vertical with excellent results