www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I have noticed that many of the new compact digital cameras have image stabilisation, do any of you know if IS works in macro mode, if it does it would sure help in producing a good quality picture. Steve

roundwood123 wrote:I have noticed that many of the new compact digital cameras have image stabilisation, do any of you know if IS works in macro mode, if it does it would sure help in producing a good quality picture. Steve

Hi Steve,

As you say, there are a variety of makes that incorporate in-body IS systems. The description below is the system I have experienced and probably is similar to others that are around.

I own an Olympus E3 camera and use a variety of lenses 12-60mm, 30-55mm, 40-150mm, 70-300mm, 50-500mm, EC14. None of these lenses has built-in IS. The camera uses the 4/3 mount and lenses for this fit are available from a number of manufacturers. The camera body communicates with the lenses and the focal length of the lens is taken into account when IS is in operation. This means that any 4/3 mount lens is compatable with the in-body IS system. Those lenses fitted via a 4/3 adaptor can be made compatable as, in these cases, the focal length is manually input by the user. Whilst the E3 is not an inexpensive camera, Olympus sell the E510 (rumoured soon to be E520) which is a very good camera at about half the price of the E3.

The obvious advantage of in-body IS is that image stabalisation is achieved without the need to purchase expensive special lenses. I cannot think of a down side bearing in mind that whatever focal length you set, the IS system is aware of this and compensates accordingly. There are numerous reports available on the web comparing in body IS with lens IS and I suggest that you look at these.

Now for my experience. I purchased the E3 specifically because of my desire to use long focal lengths and slow shutter operations in low light. In both cases, I wanted to be able to achieve this hand held.

Image 1 Aggregates Wharf Unloading Sand
Exif data
Exp: 1/10s @f4
focal length: 60mm
Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average Image 2 Grey Heron
Exif data
Exp: 1/800 @f6.3
focal length 500mm
Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average Both the above were hand held shots demonstrating what I wanted to achieve.

Its certainly worth reading more on the web. There is no doubt that IS works however it is implemented. In body though means that all your lenses can be stabalised without havin to buy new.

Hope this helps

Peter

PS What I have tried to say, perhaps clumsily, Is the IS works and that I can see no reason why you would not get similar results with MACRO lenses.

Thanks for the information Peter, i am looking to update my camera this summer and i think i will probably stick with the Canon ixus range, they have a number with IS. Steve.

roundwood123 wrote:Thanks for the information Peter, i am looking to update my camera this summer and i think i will probably stick with the Canon ixus range, they have a number with IS. Steve.

That makes a lot of sense Steve. You already presumably have lenses and to change mounts could be very expensive.

The reason I mentioned the Olympus E3 is it is that brand I have experience with and no others. From what I understand, there is very little to choose now between different manufacurers. It is much more likely people will stick with a brand because the investment they have already made.

Good luck with your purchase but do not forget to look at reviews for whichever camera you are considering. Having said that, keep an open mind when reading a review, they are not always as straight forward as they seem. Make sure they are actually addressing the issues that you want clarified.

Kind regards

PeterD

PeterD. Roundwood123 doesn't have a lot of lenses as he is talking about compact cameras.
@Roundwood123, image stabilisation works in all modes as well as macro modes on the Ixus range. The real difficulty with most compacts' macro modes is that, because they usually only work to the fullest extent at the wide zoom setting, you have to get very close indeed to get a decent subject magnification.
A DSLR will almost always produce better results than a compact, but I appreciate that not everyone has the desire or the deep pockets required for such a purchase.
I would therefore research whether your planned compact can take an attachment onto which you can screw a close up lens. This approach works better for butterflies because your maximum magnification will occur at full zoom and at a reasonable distance from the subject.

eccles wrote:PeterD. Roundwood123 doesn't have a lot of lenses as he is talking about compact cameras.
@Roundwood123, image stabilisation works in all modes as well as macro modes on the Ixus range. The real difficulty with most compacts' macro modes is that, because they usually only work to the fullest extent at the wide zoom setting, you have to get very close indeed to get a decent subject magnification.
A DSLR will almost always produce better results than a compact, but I appreciate that not everyone has the desire or the deep pockets required for such a purchase.
I would therefore research whether your planned compact can take an attachment onto which you can screw a close up lens. This approach works better for butterflies because your maximum magnification will occur at full zoom and at a reasonable distance from the subject.

oops. Told you I have not had much experience with other digital cameras

I also use Macro and magnification lenses and, like you say, they are very effective.

PeterD