Tripod Mounted A1 - Image Stabilizer On or Off? at DVinfo.net

Neil McLean · February 19th, 2007, 05:44 PM

Quote from Page 51 of the manual... "We recommend you turn off the image stabilizer when mounting the camera on a tripod."

I'll be filming a cheerleading event this weekend and just wanted to confirm it's best to switch off the image stabilizer when filming on sticks.

I'm in PAL land, so 1080 x 50i will be sufficient for my needs. I am however, somewhat undecided about which shutter speed to fix. I've only selected 1/50 in the past, though I'm tempted to increase this a tad.

I'd be keen to hear from folk who have had more experiences with their A1.

Many thanks
Neil

P.S. Being used to PD150s and PD170s, I was tempted with the HVR-Z1, though I was eventually put off by the x12 zoom. This then lend me to believe the HVR-V1 c/w x20 zoom was the camera for me, though I was eventually put off by the smaller 62mm lens and the somewhat smaller FOV.

P.P.S. I'm sure I'll have no regrets about my choice of camera 8-)

Bill Pryor · February 19th, 2007, 06:16 PM

Yes, definitely turn it off when you're on the tripod. If you don't, you may see trailing images when you make a fast pan. Both the Z1 and XH A1 are good for what you're doing, the XH A1 being a little better because of its longer lens.

Dom Stevenson · February 20th, 2007, 01:06 PM

Cheerleaders in the UK Neil?
Last time i saw anything like that on these shores was the Hemsby rockabilly festival near Yarmouth.

Neil McLean · February 20th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom Stevenson

Cheerleaders in the UK Neil?
Last time i saw anything like that on these shores was the Hemsby rockabilly festival near Yarmouth.

Hi Dom,

Yeah - cheerleading seems to have taken off really well in the U.K. I can only imagine it stems back to the days when there were quite a few American football teams competing in the British leagues.

After the teams folded, from what I can gather, the team's cheerleaders then went on to cheer for the local football teams and rugby teams etc.

I've got a rather long drive down to South Wales for the next event this coming weekend.

Neil

Bill Pryor · February 20th, 2007, 04:05 PM

If American football is called football in the UK, does that mean they don't call soccer football?

Byron Huskey · February 20th, 2007, 04:33 PM

I'm asusming he meant American (soccer) teams, although they do call our football "American Football", so that wording was a little confusing. I'm certain soccer is still football, and will be for all time everywhere but here, heh.

Neil McLean · February 20th, 2007, 04:56 PM

I thought about using the word soccer, but seeing Dom is located in the U.K. I felt this would have perhaps confused the issue for him.

Yip meant American football - pads et al, NFL etc etc.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

Frederic Gittler · February 21st, 2007, 07:22 AM

Yes, the manual recommends to turn off the image stabilizer when mounting the camera on a tripod...

My experience is actually slightly different. Fast camera movements should work best with the stabilizer off... if the movement is (reasonably) fluid to begin with. I have found out that my setup is not rigid enough when tracking an object near full telephoto (650mm equivalent for a 35mm camera); I get better results with the stabilizer in these conditions.

I would say there is no absolute answer: it all depends on the quality of your tripod, the zoom range (wide-angle vs. telephoto), and the type of camera movements.

Simon Dean · February 21st, 2007, 07:57 AM

I forgot to turn it off when using a tripod the other day ('cause you have to go into the menu to do it) and it was no problem - it was a fairly smooth tracking shot though, not too quick. So as above, I think it varies...I had a bad experience with a PD170 when I left it on and had that strange jerky movement so in general I would turn it off.

I guess I'm saying that if you forget because you're in a rush (I was - and there's no button for it!) then it doesn't always mean your footage will be bad.

Bill Pryor · February 21st, 2007, 09:24 AM

Not always, but you definitely want to avoid any moves other than very slow ones.

Neil McLean · February 21st, 2007, 10:22 AM

Okay guys - you've convinced me! - thanks!

I'll be on a tripod all day, so I'm make sure I switch it off before I start the shoot.

Thanks once again
Neil

Dave Mody · February 22nd, 2007, 09:37 PM

I haven't had the experience with the A1, but all the canon IS lenses I've used have benefitted from using the IS, but that's because I'm usually standing on a beach in 20 knots of wind and there's no tripod I've ever seen that doesn't shake a bit in those conditions. ... That's just my thought.

Cheers Dave
PS what's football? :)

February 19th, 2007, 05:44 PM	#1
Neil McLean Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: U.K. Posts: 125	Tripod Mounted A1 - Image Stabilizer On or Off? Quote from Page 51 of the manual... "We recommend you turn off the image stabilizer when mounting the camera on a tripod." I'll be filming a cheerleading event this weekend and just wanted to confirm it's best to switch off the image stabilizer when filming on sticks. I'm in PAL land, so 1080 x 50i will be sufficient for my needs. I am however, somewhat undecided about which shutter speed to fix. I've only selected 1/50 in the past, though I'm tempted to increase this a tad. I'd be keen to hear from folk who have had more experiences with their A1. Many thanks Neil P.S. Being used to PD150s and PD170s, I was tempted with the HVR-Z1, though I was eventually put off by the x12 zoom. This then lend me to believe the HVR-V1 c/w x20 zoom was the camera for me, though I was eventually put off by the smaller 62mm lens and the somewhat smaller FOV. P.P.S. I'm sure I'll have no regrets about my choice of camera 8-)

February 20th, 2007, 04:33 PM	#6
Byron Huskey Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 64	I'm asusming he meant American (soccer) teams, although they do call our football "American Football", so that wording was a little confusing. I'm certain soccer is still football, and will be for all time everywhere but here, heh. __________________ Byron Huskey Rhapsodist Productions "Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls." - Ingmar Bergman

February 22nd, 2007, 09:37 PM	#12
Dave Mody New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston Posts: 23	I dunno about this... I think it depends I haven't had the experience with the A1, but all the canon IS lenses I've used have benefitted from using the IS, but that's because I'm usually standing on a beach in 20 knots of wind and there's no tripod I've ever seen that doesn't shake a bit in those conditions. ... That's just my thought. Cheers Dave PS what's football? :)

February 19th, 2007, 06:16 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yes, definitely turn it off when you're on the tripod. If you don't, you may see trailing images when you make a fast pan. Both the Z1 and XH A1 are good for what you're doing, the XH A1 being a little better because of its longer lens.

February 20th, 2007, 01:06 PM	#3
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Cheerleaders in the UK Neil? Last time i saw anything like that on these shores was the Hemsby rockabilly festival near Yarmouth.

February 20th, 2007, 04:05 PM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	If American football is called football in the UK, does that mean they don't call soccer football?

February 20th, 2007, 04:56 PM	#7
Neil McLean Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: U.K. Posts: 125	I thought about using the word soccer, but seeing Dom is located in the U.K. I felt this would have perhaps confused the issue for him. Yip meant American football - pads et al, NFL etc etc. HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

February 21st, 2007, 07:22 AM	#8
Frederic Gittler New Boot Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: France Posts: 22	Yes, the manual recommends to turn off the image stabilizer when mounting the camera on a tripod... My experience is actually slightly different. Fast camera movements should work best with the stabilizer off... if the movement is (reasonably) fluid to begin with. I have found out that my setup is not rigid enough when tracking an object near full telephoto (650mm equivalent for a 35mm camera); I get better results with the stabilizer in these conditions. I would say there is no absolute answer: it all depends on the quality of your tripod, the zoom range (wide-angle vs. telephoto), and the type of camera movements.

February 21st, 2007, 07:57 AM	#9
Simon Dean Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Coventry, UK Posts: 91	I forgot to turn it off when using a tripod the other day ('cause you have to go into the menu to do it) and it was no problem - it was a fairly smooth tracking shot though, not too quick. So as above, I think it varies...I had a bad experience with a PD170 when I left it on and had that strange jerky movement so in general I would turn it off. I guess I'm saying that if you forget because you're in a rush (I was - and there's no button for it!) then it doesn't always mean your footage will be bad.

February 21st, 2007, 09:24 AM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Not always, but you definitely want to avoid any moves other than very slow ones.

February 21st, 2007, 10:22 AM	#11
Neil McLean Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: U.K. Posts: 125	Okay guys - you've convinced me! - thanks! I'll be on a tripod all day, so I'm make sure I switch it off before I start the shoot. Thanks once again Neil