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Adapted zoom lenses not as easy to use if you want stabilization

crocus63

crocus63

Well-Known Member
On a Nikon Z camera, you have to enter manual lens focal length values to enable the IBIS to work correctly. With a zoom, you would basically have to use 3 to 4 slots to enable a range and have to change the setting when moving from one FL to another. Is there a trick to this that I'm missing? Maybe turn IBIS off and shoot without it?
 
Its not just ~Nikon Z cameras, it's down to how IBIS works. The degree of sensor movement needed to correct for camera movement is a function on focal length.
I'm not familiar with how the Z series enter the focal length for this, but with my Sony, & Pentaxes it's fairly easy to adjust the value.
If you turn IBIS off it will work, but having it on with a value that is close even if it is wrong give some stabilisation... However having a focal length of 500mm set while using a 60mm lens does make it worse than useless - I've now done that several times. At least I have the excuse that I've been using IBIS for over a dozen years.
 
crocus63 said:
On a Nikon Z camera, you have to enter manual lens focal length values to enable the IBIS to work correctly. With a zoom, you would basically have to use 3 to 4 slots to enable a range and have to change the setting when moving from one FL to another. Is there a trick to this that I'm missing? Maybe turn IBIS off and shoot without it?
Click to expand...

I guess that you can set it to the maximum focal length of the zoom if you like strong IBIS or to the minimum focal length if you can manage with less help - or simply to half way between max wide and max zoom for an easy medium.

Frankly I like IBIS for what help it offers but I would set it to the widest focal length of a zoom and 'live dangerously' :)

But IBIS can be a pest as Petrochemist noted if ser for say 500mm and you forget to re-set it for the next lens when it happens to be an ultra-wide. Then you will be IBISing all over the place. Camera brands that nag you to change the IBIS setting at switch on make it harder to overlook an incorrect IBIS for manual focus lenses.
 
OK, now I just left a "lens bank" empty with no FL or Aperture, so the camera turns off the SR/VR to IBIS. I used a 35-70mm zoom just fine this way, though I think it may vignette a little due to lack of Aperture setting. I'm not sure if I'd try it with a 80-200 or greater zoom as my hands are not as steady as they used to be, but I've never had IBIS in my film cameras and did just fine back then.
 
Actually, You probably can set FL for IBIS smaller than the real one, but not vice versa. Why?
In the first case, IBIS action will be just attenuated (too weak), so You're just somewhere between full IBIS and no IBIS at all. Not that bad. But in the second case IBIS will be always overreacting and I think the result will be very bad. Even smallest camera movements, with no chance for smearing images could be amplified with visible effect.
Regards,
-J.
 
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