How to tell if IS is working..?

[bryan_akers1]

<p>I've searched these forums, and read past threads on this.<br>

So having said that, I've had two different kit lenses for the XSi now.. and I'm wondering if the IS is working. Both of them don't appear to make any noise when the shutter is half-pressed, nor does the image in the viewfinder "look drunk". And the results of shooting both with and without the IS turned on don't appear any different.<br>

So.. what am I missing?</p>

<p>bryan</p>

[angel_bocanegra]

<p>You can hear the IS activated. At least I can with my ef-s 17-55 and 24-105L. Or just do a simple before after test at 1/10 sec.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>It is also the case that the more recent IS is quieter than the early ones. I have the first ever, and there's no doubt the IS is engaged. ;) People did get unjiggled images even before IS, it was just harder.</p>

<p>As Angel says, try some very low light and slow speed pictures with IS engaged and turned off. You should be able to see the differernce if it is working.</p>

[jay a. frew]

<p>Drink more coffee...</p>

<p>;~))</p>

<p>Cheers! Jay</p>

[paddler4]

<p>I have never noticed the viewfinder 'lookng drunk.' I can hear the IS, but it is not all that loud, and as JDM says, it is quieter on the new ones. It would not be all that hard to miss.</p>

<p>I second Angel's suggestion of just testing it, and 1/10 would be fine if the lens is reasonably short. However, keep in mind that it is not a dichotomy--blurry images without IS and sharp images with IS. If your shutter speed is slow, IS will just decrease the % of shots that are blurry. So find a subject with a lot of detail and take a bunch of shots with it on and off. To maximize the blur, rack the lens out to its longest focal length. You should find, ON AVERAGE,more blur with it off.</p>

[bryan_akers1]

<p>I am just not hearing a thing.. and not noticing any difference in the sharpness of test shots.</p>

<p>At the same time, I'm seriously wondering just what are the chances of receiving two dud lenses? Ya know? As I've never had an IS lens before, I would think that user error is the more likely cause... :)</p>

<p>bryan</p>

[peter_j2]

<p>The IS is audible on my 70-200/4. Like a grating noise. The IS is barely audible on my 300/2.8.</p>

<p>The image in the viewfinder for both lenses will appear to be more stabilized (especially with the longer 300mm). Try it without the IS and you should be able to see more jittery movement with other IS lenses.</p>

[bryan_akers1]

<p>Does anyone else have the 18-55mm IS? If so, is the IS audible?</p>

[nathangardner]

<p>I think I know the "drunk" look. Zoom all the way in and try to focus on something. With IS off it will shake a lot and be very hard to keep the center AF point on a subject. With IS on, it will pause between shakes and then jerk, but will be easier to keep a subject on the center AF point. </p>

[John Crowe]

<p>It may be a bit difficult to see the difference in an 18-55 zoom. The best test is to put it to 55mm and f5.6, then take a photo at 1/20s in a lowlight situation, making sure you have an ISO set for proper exposure. Take the second shot with the exact same settings but with IS turned off. Of course handhold in both situations and make sure correct focus is achieved. If you still can't see the difference repeat the above at 1/10, 1/4 seconds. <br>

If you have a longer IS lens to test the difference will be much more appreciable.</p>

[steven_f1]

<blockquote>

<p>I've had two different kit lenses for the XSi now..</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I take it that you have the 18-55IS and 55-250IS. To test the IS if you cannot see or hear any effect:</p>

<ol>

<li>Set the camera to shutter priority mode. Consult your manual if you don't know how to do this.</li>

<li>Set the ISO to 100. Consult your manual if you don't know how to do this.</li>

<li>Set the lens to its maximum focal length. for the 18-55 thats 55mm. For the 55-250 (the larger lens) that would be 250mm.</li>

<li>Set the shutter speed to 1/4 of the focal length. For 55mm that would be about 1/15 of a second. For the 250 that would be about 1/60 of a second. Again consult your manual if you don't know how to do this.</li>

<li>Take a piicture of something with find detail. A newspaper would be perfict. Tap it onto the wall of a decently lit room.</li>

<li>From about 10 feet away take several pictures with IS switched on of the newspaper or whatever your target is. Review the data for each picture and verify the shutter speed recorded matches the setting in step 4. IF not increase the ISO speed.</li>

<li>Then take more pictures but with IS switched off.</li>

<li>View all of the photos on a compuyter. Zoom in as much as you want. Look for blurred text. The pictures with IS on should be readable while the picturew without IS should be at least a little blurry.</li>

</ol>

<p>If you arn't sure you did it right post the picture on this forum. </p>

[pryszmont]

<p>If you will use tripod with IS on - you will get blurry image (I learn it from my own experience:)))</p>

[kristinsson]

<p>Well. On new lenses IS can be tripod aware aswell ;)</p>

<p>I have had trouble hearing IS on USM lenses like 17-85 and 15-85, and even on the 18-55.<br>

On longer lenses and heavier glass like the L lenses it's more audiable.</p>

 

[bryan_akers1]

<p>Thank you for your responses, everyone!</p>

<p>Steven-<br>

When I say that I've had two different kit lenses, I mean that I ordered the XSi w/18-55mm IS kit two weeks ago. When I first tested the 18-55mm lens, I suspected that there was something wrong with the IS on the lens because of the issues that I described earlier in this thread. So, I exchanged that kit for a different kit... and I'm seeing the same things that I'm seeing before. Hence, why this thread exists.</p>

<p>I will try your method of testing the IS, though. I would like to know if it's working, even if this is not exactly my walk-around lens. I have the Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 lens that rarely comes off of the camera.</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

bryan</p>

[mike_hitchen]

<p>With my 70-300 I can set it to 300mm and the image moves a wee bit, and when I half-press the shutter button it jerks then gives a steady image. I sometimes notice this to a smaller extent on my 17-55 but I have to be looking for it. The IS on my 17-55 is so quiet that I sometimes get paranoid and do something like Steven F sugests but in a less organised way.<br>

Mike</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>The so-called "drunk look" is noticeable with my EF 75-300mm IS (the first) along with fairly loud clunks, but I have never noticed it on my 17-85mm IS lens or my 24-105mm lens. As I said, there's no doubt about it on the early IS, but on the newer ones, I notice only the results of being able to shoot down to sometimes incredibly slow speeds.</p>

[steven_f1]

<blockquote>

 

<p ><a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=764739">J Pryszmont</a> <a href="http://www.photo.net/member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub7.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jan 13, 2010; 10:18 p.m.</p>

 

<p>If you will use tripod with IS on - you will get blurry image (I learn it from my own experience:)))</p>

 

 

 

<p ><a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=5849282">Kristjan Kristinsson</a> <a href="http://www.photo.net/member-status-icons"></a>, Jan 14, 2010; 02:48 a.m.</p>

 

<p>Well. On new lenses IS can be tripod aware aswell ;)</p>

 

 

</blockquote>

<p>On some IS lenses canon put a switch in the tripod collar to detect the tripod. I have the 24-105, 70-200, and 100-400. None of these lenses will detect a tripod. I believe that most IS lenses cannot detect a tripod. If you have a mark I version of a lens it probably will not detect a tripod. If you have a Mark II with a tripod collar it might detect a tripod.</p>

[lech1]

<p>I have same kit lens and I never heard IS motor. Luckily I shot my first photo using Canon at night from the balcony at 1/5s shutter speed and this picture was very good. This result is hard to reproduce using prime lenses at 1/5s.</p>

[david israel]

<p>Blurry images on tripod will give you an indication. At least for me thats the test.</p>