Testing OIS On D-Lux 3

[dNorm]

Hello friends. I have a D-Lux 3 and am not sure if the OIS actually works. I tried shooting with OIS on and OIS off. I did not see much difference. Is there a service menu in the camera that would show fault if the OIS was not working? Thanks for any help. -Norm

[ho_co]

Norm--
What happens when you set the OIS to 'test' mode?

The OIS on my D-Lux 2 didn't work, but it was a year before I was sure of it. Made the following test:

Went out at dusk, shot a scene that called for between 1/15 and 1/20 sec with open aperture (camera on P). You might need to go slower than that; I'm quite jittery.

Shot four shots each in OIS off, OIS 1, OIS 2.

In each case, one of the four was barely usable, one was almost usable, two were horrid. None was really sharp.

In other words, with my camera and my test, there was no difference among OFF, Mode 1 and Mode 2.

Let me know what happens on your screen when you try "Test" mode. I'm no longer sure what mine did, but I'll tell you the reason I'm curious after you tell me how yours reacts.

--HC

[dNorm]

Thanks for the reply HC. I did a very similar test, except I put the camera in shutter priority mode and set it to 1/8s. I shot several with the OIS off and in Mode 2, which is what I generally use. Then, I took a Fuji point-n-shoot and was actually able to shoot steadier shots at the same shutter speed, perhaps due to the better tactile feel of the shutter button? What is the OIS 'test' mode? I wonder how Leica would test to see if the OIS is faulty, surely they have a more sophisticated way than someone relying on his/her shaky hands. -Norm

Originally Posted by ho_co

Norm--
What happens when you set the OIS to 'test' mode?

The OIS on my D-Lux 2 didn't work, but it was a year before I was sure of it. Made the following test:

Went out at dusk, shot a scene that called for between 1/15 and 1/20 sec with open aperture (camera on P). You might need to go slower than that; I'm quite jittery.

Shot four shots each in OIS off, OIS 1, OIS 2.

In each case, one of the four was barely usable, one was almost usable, two were horrid. None was really sharp.

In other words, with my camera and my test, there was no difference among OFF, Mode 1 and Mode 2.

Let me know what happens on your screen when you try "Test" mode. I'm no longer sure what mine did, but I'll tell you the reason I'm curious after you tell me how yours reacts.

--HC

[ho_co]

Originally Posted by dNorm

What is the OIS 'test' mode?

Oh, dingnab! You're right. I should have said 'demo' mode.

On the D-Lux 2, you get to it by pressing the OIS button and then pressing the 'Menu' button instead of choosing among the menu items Off, Mode 1, Mode 2.

Try the 'demo' mode if you will, and let me know what happens.

It sounds to me as if your OIS probably isn't functioning, but as you said, the ergonomics of the other camera can make a difference. That's why I wanted to test all three modes on the same camera, just to see if there was any difference among them.

Good luck!

--HC

[dNorm]

HC - I just tried the 'demo' mode. I believe that it is an exageration and is not accurate. I again took 5 shots with and without OIS at 1/5s. All images look almost identical, very very slightly blurred. I don't think the OIS is working and will call Leica repair. -Norm

Originally Posted by ho_co

Oh, dingnab! You're right. I should have said 'demo' mode.

On the D-Lux 2, you get to it by pressing the OIS button and then pressing the 'Menu' button instead of choosing among the menu items Off, Mode 1, Mode 2.

Try the 'demo' mode if you will, and let me know what happens.

It sounds to me as if your OIS probably isn't functioning, but as you said, the ergonomics of the other camera can make a difference. That's why I wanted to test all three modes on the same camera, just to see if there was any difference among them.

Good luck!

--HC

[ho_co]

Norm--
You're not helping, my friend

Saying 'demo mode looks like an exaggeration' doesn't tell me what you see.

Yes, demo mode is an exaggeration. But if you're seeing what you think is an exaggeration, the OIS may be working. Depends on the exaggeration you're seeing.

When my OIS wasn't working (different camera, remember, D-Lux 2), the system just seemed to do a single screen grab in demo mode.

One place where you can quickly see whether the OIS is working is in Mode 1, because if it is working, you can see the image hold and then jump as you move the camera slowly. I know, you don't use Mode 1 for taking pictures; neither do I. I'm talking about testing and looking at the LCD to see if there's any difference between what you see with OIS off and OIS in Mode 1. If there's no difference (and the difference is very slight), I don't think your OIS is working.

Sorry for the problem, but I'm glad you noticed it. I had the same problem for a year before I finally realized I better have the camera checked. I sent it to Allendale, and it was back fixed in about two weeks.

It's a nice camera, and they'll take care of it quickly.

Good luck!

--HC

[dNorm]

Ahh, now this is clever. I'll give this method a try. Really appreciate the replies. -Norm

Originally Posted by ho_co

Norm--


One place where you can quickly see whether the OIS is working is in Mode 1, because if it is working, you can see the image hold and then jump as you move the camera slowly. I know, you don't use Mode 1 for taking pictures; neither do I. I'm talking about testing and looking at the LCD to see if there's any difference between what you see with OIS off and OIS in Mode 1. If there's no difference (and the difference is very slight), I don't think your OIS is working.



--HC

[zapp]

Originally Posted by dNorm

HC - I just tried the 'demo' mode. I believe that it is an exageration and is not accurate. I again took 5 shots with and without OIS at 1/5s. All images look almost identical, very very slightly blurred. I don't think the OIS is working and will call Leica repair. -Norm

Well, I can't help with your exact problem, but some Canon users used to complain that their image stabilization did not help at all at longer shutter times. My idea to that is that 1/5s is too long even for OIS - anyone may proof me wrong. While you may handhold a 400 mm lens with 1/60s with OIS, somewhere around 1/5 or 1/10s your own shake is too much to compensate regardless the lens you are using. So 3 stops of shake compensation yes, but not for times longer than a limit. Try 1/20, and 1/30s here you should see a difference or use a really long focal length at 1/30s...

[dNorm]

Good point zapp. I read in the manual that OIS may not work for longer shutter speeds, but it never defined what is considered longer speeds . Thanks for the reply. -Norm

Originally Posted by zapp

Well, I can't help with your exact problem, but some Canon users used to complain that their image stabilization did not help at all at longer shutter times. My idea to that is that 1/5s is too long even for OIS - anyone may proof me wrong. While you may handhold a 400 mm lens with 1/60s with OIS, somewhere around 1/5 or 1/10s your own shake is too much to compensate regardless the lens you are using. So 3 stops of shake compensation yes, but not for times longer than a limit. Try 1/20, and 1/30s here you should see a difference or use a really long focal length at 1/30s...

[ho_co]

That is a drawback of the Leica D-Lux 2 manual as well. Nice to know that it may not work at longer speeds, I guess, but what's longer to you may not be longer to me.

I think zapp's idea of using the range around 1/20 should be a good place to try.

And I think the OIS mode indicator on the LCD may change to red when you get outside its range, but I'm not sure. There are a number of indicators that change color to tell me something, but I'm never sure what they told me.

--HC