C100: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Stabilizer Floating Movement

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deserttortuga

New member
I just picked up the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM for my C-100 and was doing some test shots with the Stabilizer set to Mode 2. The C100 was mounted on a tripod using the Sachtler FSB 8 fluid head. The 70-200 zoom was not supported with the tripod mount. There was no wind or other disturbances to speak of. I was shooting at 24P at 1/48.

What I noticed is that at focal length of 200mm (or in the neighborhood) the image tends to "float." Not greatly, but enough to require stabilization in post using Warp Stabilizer "No Motion" in CS6. When I turned off the stabilizer on the 70-200mm, the "floating" seemed to stop. Of course now it lacks the benefit of stabilization should a gust of wind or some other force cause momentary vibration.

Is this an inherent issue with this lens? Is there anything I can do to either lessen or eliminate the float all-together? I suppose I can rely on post to correct it, but I'd rather correct it in the field.

While on the subject, on rare occasion when I'm shooting with the Canon 24-105 the image will start to "pump" vertically. It does it smoothly and only for a bit. Again, with Stabilizer on. What causes this?

Thanks

The Turtle.....
 
Never use the lens stabilization when mounted on a tripod. The lens will do those things when you do so.
 
Ohhhh, not good. I enjoy filming trains next to the tracks and have found that the IS helps with vibration from a passing train.

Any suggestions?
 
deserttortuga said:
Ohhhh, not good. I enjoy filming trains next to the tracks and have found that the IS helps with vibration from a passing train.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Try putting the tripod on the tracks as the train passes by.

No but really, you're pretty much out of options there.
 
Even though the 70-200 f/2.8L II is somewhat newer lens (2010) it doesn't have the latest and greatest IS. It works really well for stills and can work for video but only if there is a limited amount of camera movement. As others have said - it's not made for tripod use.

Canon's IS on its newer lenses is definitely better. I haven't needed it on tripod but I'm pretty amazed at how well it works for video. This is all handheld, C300, dual-pixel AF, the 16-35 f/4 IS, and no stabilization added in post:


There's one little IS hiccup toward the end.

I have the same fluid head as you, the FSB 8, and given what you wrote up top I would recommend mounting your C100 + 70-200 from the lens' collar/foot instead of from the camera (assuming you are not using a base plate, rails, & lens support.) It will balance easier since it distributes the weight more evenly. It also puts much less stress on the lens mount.

IMG_5215.jpg


In the above I have a Really Right Stuff adapter that's made for the 70-200's foot and a RRS clamp. I've since switched to using Kessler's Kwik Release as the clamp but that's the only change. RRS & Kessler are all Arca Swiss standard compatible so the bits & pieces are interchangeable.

I don't know if this would be enough to mitigate a train rumbling past but it would seem to me that a C100 + 70-200 f/2.8 mounted from body with the lens cantilevered out is only going to increase potential vibration issues.
 
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