Image Stabilization

[F, Calla & Luca]

I read that the digital SLRs have image stabilization in the camera itself or in the lenses. I'm wondering if digital cameras need image stabilization more than film SLRs did or is this just an enhanced feature? Does it have anything to do with the rapid rate at which these cameras take pictures? Does it lead to less need for tripods than with film SLRs?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I am curious to hear what our "professional" members say about image stabilization too. I just got the Nikon D5000 and I have a Tamron 18-270 lens. The motor is in the lens. There is a switch to turn on the image stabilization which is also on the lens. From what I read it is supposed to help stabilize from hand shake and stuff like that. But, it also says that sometimes the picture can turn out a little blurry. That doesn't make sense to me. If that is the case, I will just turn it off and take my chances with hand shake as I have always done in the past with my Nikon D50. It also says that if you are using a tripod then do NOT use image stabilization. I put a basket of flowers on the floor and sat on the sofa. I then took many of the same picture with the exact setting and some were blurred and some were as sharp as a tack!! I am now more confused than ever. I am making a list of things that I don't like about the camera or don't understand and then in a week or so I am going up to the camera shop where we buy all our cameras and ask questions. At the moment, I see zero difference or improvement between the D50 and D5000. I just hope I get a nice person. Some of them look at me like I have no business owning an expensive camera if I have to ask the stupid questions that I do. I get rather intimidated by them and then it makes me mad because I spend my money in their store and they treat me that way. I always ask my husband to go with me but he now is making me do it all by myself...eeek! I have never been an SLR person so I can't help you there. Prior to my Nikons I have always been a point and shoot person...basically I still am!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I just got the D90 but I still haven't worked out what the controls are for. I need to sit down and read the manual but today's project is to get the strap on--not so easy I assure you. Then I need to some of my real work!

[Linda and "Toby"]

Canon and Nikon are the leaders in IS (Image Stabilization) technology. It compensates for shaky/jittery hands and allows you to shoot in low light conditions without the need for a tripod, which is wonderful!

I have a Canon 70-210mm 4.0 IS lens. This is the lens that I keep on my camera 90% of the time. It's quite heavy, so image stabilization really helps. I'm able to shoot sharp, crisp images and I don't have to carry a cumbersome tripod around. (Note: You have to turn IS off when you use a tripod because the lack of hand jitter will confuse it and may cause it to blur.) It's especially handy when I'm shooting in low light conditions and don't want to use a flash. I've been able to capture clean shots as slow as 1/60 sec, which is pretty amazing considering the weight of my large camera body (Canon EOS 5D) and heavy lens.

Nancie - Your D5000 will be a faster camera than your D50. It shoots 4.5 frames per second vs 2.5 fps and will perform much better than your previous camera in low light conditions. (I'm envious of your cam's ability to record HD video! I'm drooling over the next generation model of my camera that does the same.) Note: the D5000 does not have a focus motor built into the body like your D50 did, so be sure to always buy AF (autofocus) or AF-S (silent wave focusing) lenses.

As for the inconsistence in getting clear shots - some clear, some blurry when taking the same picture at same distance, etc. - I understand your frustration. My old DSLR - a Fuji Finepix whose camera body was built by Nikon - used to do the same thing and I never figured out why. I learned to shoot a couple extra pix when taking important shots, just in case. Eventually I switched to Canon and I don't have this problem now, but that's not to say that some Canon cams don't do the same thing.

I also understand all too well how intimidating it can be to go into a store where the sales people are arrogant, and make you feel stupid for asking questions. I hope you get someone who is nice - who really cares about helping customers take the best possible photos they can and is happy/excited to "teach" you anything you want or need to know. If you don't get the response you want from the place you bought it at, go to their biggest competitor. Explain your frustration and ask for their help. Chances are, they will go out of their way to help you and win you over as a customer. (wink)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

And you thought I was being caddy when I said to make sure you use the English settings when setting up your camera!!!! Now you have a problem getting the strap on...oh my! LOL I do have to admit that my new cameras strap was difficult to get on as well. What next?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm going to study the diagram which tells you which button is which. I have, of course, taken a few "what the hell" shots. I think given the cost of the camera and lens they could have thrown in a SD card. Luckily I have 2 for my point and shoot. I have 2 batteries for that and eventually will probably get an extra for this camera as well. You might think I spend a lot of time taking picture but I'm a back up kind of person.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Since you are changing your SD card from one camera to the other you might want to "reformat" the card. This can be done from your camera menu. In your Menu go to the wrench looking tool. That will take you into a list and "formatting" should be there. Nikon usually keep the same menu layout.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the tip.would he formatting be different, the other camera is a Canon.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I just think the reformatting is because each make camera has "codes" in it and just to play safe it is best to format it to the camera you are using it in. I took a class at the camera store where I bought my other camera...a Canon G9...and all of the people there were either Canon or Nikon people. Since I also have a Nikon this came up. They said that you should always reformat and even when using it over and over in the same camera, it is always good to reformat every so often. When you delete or erase the photos off the SD card they really are still there. Re-formatting is the only way to permanently clear them off the card. Otherwise when you re-record over them, eventually there can be too much information on the card stored away. I have a recovery program that I have had to use three times. I have deleted photos unintentionally off a card but have been able to find them with the program.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the info--it makes sense , of course. I once accidentally reformatted on a trip and lost all my photos of Hungary : ( what is the recovery program for the merely deleted photos. Usually when deleting something I think just the first part of the file name is changed so i guess that's what the program repairs.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

The program is called iolo Search and Recover and you renew it each year. Here is the link...http://iolo.com/sr/5/?utm_source=cj

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thanks Linda for the great info on my camera. I did know about the motor driven lenses because when my husband bought me the camera for Christmas he had to grumble about how the three lenses on my D50 wouldn't work! Once F. Parker gets her strap on her new camera, I think she and I will be in the same page of our manuals! lol