Image stabilization noise on various canon 70-200 models?

J

Josh Bass

Veteran
Hey. Ive been trying to research this but info is sketchy especially since much of it is on photography forums not video forums. Im reading the canon 70-200 f4 has pretty noisy image stabilzation. im not really concerned about it being bad on an internal mic but what if it picked up on a boom in a small quiet room? there are reasons you might have IS on even on sticks or slider so its a real concern.

can anyone speak to the IS on 70-200 2.8 version 1? version 2 is supposed to be very quiet but of course thats the priciest.

thanks
 
I've been using the 70-200 2.8 Version I for a lot of years for stills and recently for video (2-3 years). Since I haven't used the f4 or the version II I can't offer anything there. Mine is quiet but audible if you know to listen for it and you're very close by - but generally it's not an issue. I think if you tried to record the sound in a silent room you'd need to make an effort to get anything unless you put a mic right beside the lens. That's all pretty subjective I know. If I get a chance to I'll record it and let you hear it for yourself. In general I don't it's likely to be an issue. YMMV.
 
I have the 2.8 vII and there isn't a reason to have IS on while on sticks or a slider unless you're wanting to have to 'play catch-up' on all of your pans, tilts and moves. I accidentally left the IS on one time when I was shooting a talking head and it took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on. The IS is trying to keep the image stable and if you're trying to move(i.e: track a moving subject), you will be fighting each other. It's akin to shooting and monitoring with a SEVERE delay of the image in the monitor, at least that's how it felt to me.
 
From what I understand there are TWO IS modes, the II mode corrects vertical motion only so you can pan without it playing catch up. . .good for a live event where vibrations from people walking or whatever might shake the cam, or when even touching the cam at long focal lengths to focus or zoom can make it visibly shake.
 
ED299 said:
I've been using the 70-200 2.8 Version I for a lot of years for stills and recently for video (2-3 years). Since I haven't used the f4 or the version II I can't offer anything there. Mine is quiet but audible if you know to listen for it and you're very close by - but generally it's not an issue. I think if you tried to record the sound in a silent room you'd need to make an effort to get anything unless you put a mic right beside the lens. That's all pretty subjective I know. If I get a chance to I'll record it and let you hear it for yourself. In general I don't it's likely to be an issue. YMMV.
Click to expand...

A recording would be great. How do you like the lens for video?
 
Hi Josh,

Just tried to make a recording of the IS and couldn't record anything with a Zoom H1 held within 2" of the lens. Tried in both modes. So much for my comment about IS being audible. The AF is audible but the IS was silent. When I boosted playback I got some sub audible room noise and stuff like my T shirt rustling sounds as I moved the camera. IMO IS won't be a sound issue.

As far as the lens itself goes it's excellent for stills and video: very sharp and clear with good colour rendition. The f2.8 is large and gets heavy quickly if that's relevant - I typically use mine on a tripod. Of all the EF lenses I have the 70-200 is on par with the 500 f4 - the two best.

Hope this is of some use.

Ed
 
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