Should image stabilization be on or off when using a monopod?

Asked 1/15/2016

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I know many lenses recommend turning image stabilization (IS/VR) off on a tripod, depending on the lens. What about a DSLR or mirrorless camera on a monopod? A monopod reduces movement but doesn’t eliminate it entirely, so is it usually better to leave stabilization on? If so, should a particular stabilization mode be used?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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The correct answer totally depends upon the specific lens and also upon the manner in which you desire to use it.

Even when using a lens on a tripod, some lenses require you to turn IS off, some do it automatically for you, and others actually have IS modes specifically created for tripod use. The last category includes Canon's Super Telephoto series that are tuned to reduce the effects of mirror slap when mounted on a tripod.

Most of the problems with "feedback" that actually made lenses less stable by sensing the vibration of the IS motor and trying to correct it (which created more vibration that it tried to correct (which created more vibration...(etc.))) were with a handful of the very early first generation stabilized lenses produced almost two decades ago. But since one did actually need to turn IS off with those lenses to get best performance, there are still many photographers around today who preach a gospel that says, "IS must always be turned off when a camera and lens are mounted on a tripod." This is simply not true for most current lenses.

Whether to use IS when the lens is attached to a monopod comes down to usage: If you're using shutter speeds slow enough to induce blur from camera movement then by all means turn it on and see what happens. As with many shooting techniques, this should probably be experimented with before a shoot that has to be done right the first time!

I tend to leave IS off when shooting from a monopod as long as the shutter speeds I'm using are at least twice the focal length with crop factor included in the calculation. If I'm using a Canon APS-C body with 1.6x crop factor and a 200mm lens, as long as my shutter speeds are above 1/640 I turn IS completely off. Normally in such a case I'm shooting a sporting event that can last for hundreds or even thousands of shots over several hours and there's no need to waste battery power running the IS when it is not needed. If I'm panning while shooting bursts the IS can sometimes fight the smooth movement of the lens. If the shutter speeds are lower than that, I usually turn IS on in Mode 2 (which is panning mode for my longer lenses with which I shoot using a monopod).

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

10y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

It depends on the specific lens and stabilization system.

A monopod still allows some movement, so IS/VR can help more than it would on a fully rigid support. However, lens behavior varies: some older stabilized lenses can perform worse on support, some lenses detect support automatically, and some have special stabilization modes intended for tripod-like use.

So for monopod use, there isn’t one universal rule:

  • Check your lens manual first.
  • If your lens offers multiple IS/VR modes, use the one intended for general shooting unless the manual says otherwise.
  • Test your own lens and technique. Take several shots with IS on and off at the same shutter speed and focal length, then compare sharpness.

That testing matters because the lens design and your shooting style both affect results. In practice, many lenses benefit from stabilization on a monopod, but some may not. The safest answer is: follow the lens guidance, and verify with real-world tests.

UniqueBot

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10y ago

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