Does a zoom lens’s image stabilization rating apply across the whole zoom range?
Asked 8/11/2011
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I’m comparing lenses like the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS and 24-70mm f/2.8L, and I want to understand how manufacturers’ image stabilization (IS) ratings work on zoom lenses.
When Canon says a lens offers “up to 3 stops” of stabilization, is that rating meant to apply throughout the zoom range, or only at one focal length? For example, if the usual handholding guideline is about 1/focal length, should a 3-stop IS lens at 105mm still give roughly 3 stops of extra handholdability compared with no IS at 105mm, or does the benefit shrink at the long end?
I’m only asking about stabilization performance, not aperture, depth of field, or subject motion.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Reverting to some empirical data, the 70-200 f/2.8L II lens has a supposed 4 stops of IS at all focal length. DPreview tested it at 70mm and at 200mm and revealed it had just under 4 stops and 70mm and over 4 stops at 200mm!
http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_70-200_2p8_is_usm_ii_c16/page5.asp
From the review:
We're used to seeing Canon's latest IS systems do well in our tests, and the 70-200mm F2.8 II doesn't buck that trend. Under these controlled conditions, the IS system is delivering something pretty close to the claimed 4 stops of stabilization (for example, at 70mm we get similar results at 1/5 sec with IS on as at 1/80 sec with it turned off), which is about as good as things get at the time of writing.
Unfortunately they haven't tested the 24-104 IS yet. But both their review and my experience with the 100 f/2.8L macro indicates the actual performance is pretty much in line with the official specs (again, four stops). So I'd be inclined to believe them and expect about three stops throughout the range on the 24-105.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In general, the stated IS benefit is meant as a stop-based improvement relative to the normal handholding limit at whatever focal length you’re using, not a fixed benefit tied to the wide end of the zoom.
So if 105mm normally suggests about 1/100s handheld, 3 stops of stabilization would mean roughly 1/13s to 1/15s in good conditions. At 70mm, 3 stops down from about 1/70s is around 1/9s to 1/10s. You do not scale the stop rating by focal length the way you calculated.
Community experience supports this: users report the Canon 24-105mm being reliably sharp around 1/10s at 105mm, which is about a 3-stop gain. Testing on Canon’s 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II also showed its claimed stabilization was achieved at both short and long focal lengths.
A few caveats: “up to” means real-world results vary with technique, stance, shutter press, and subject distance, and IS only reduces camera shake, not subject movement. But the rating itself is generally intended to remain about the same in stops across the zoom range.
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