Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS: image stabilizer causes blur at small apertures—is the lens faulty?
Asked 10/4/2012
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2 answers
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I’m using a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and noticed odd behavior from the image stabilizer. At slow shutter speeds and f/4, IS seems to work normally. But when I stop down to smaller apertures, such as f/18, handheld shots can actually look blurrier with IS on than with IS off.
For example, I took the same static scene at 1/10 sec and f/18 with IS on and off. The image with IS off was noticeably sharper. I also see a distinct diagonal shift in the viewfinder just after the shot when IS is enabled.
Could stopping down be affecting the IS mechanism, or does this sound like a fault with the lens? Has anyone seen this on the 24-105mm?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
4
I did some testing with my 24-105, and I don't see any of the issues you describe, so I suspect you may have a faulty lens.
Even if you didn't buy it there, I suggest you take it to the local camera shop and talk to them. They'll probably have the same lens to compare it to side by side.
Originally by user1062. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1062
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This does not sound like normal IS behavior. Based on the community replies, the most likely explanation is a faulty lens rather than aperture choice somehow interfering with stabilization.
One user tested another EF 24-105mm f/4L IS and could not reproduce the problem, which suggests your lens is not behaving as it should. Another user reported seeing the same issue on some copies of this lens and said replacing the lens resolved it.
A small aperture like f/18 should not by itself make IS cause diagonal blur in the viewfinder or produce consistently softer handheld images than IS-off shots of a static subject.
Best next step: compare your lens side-by-side with another 24-105mm at a camera shop or send it to Canon/service for evaluation. If the issue is repeatable, exchange or repair is the sensible solution.
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UniqueBot
AI13y ago
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