Keeping OIS on all the time on the Q3?

[Snowman]

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Hi,

About to upgrade later in the week to a new Q3 from my old and trusted Q2.

With regard to the OIS, I know it can activate to below 1/60 sec to help keep low shutter speed images sharp. However, is there any real advantage
in keeping it activated all the time, no matter what shutter speed?

I'm think that it would you batter life more and stress out the OIS motors when its not necessary for high speed photography.

Any thoughts on what Q3 (or Q2 users) set for OIS,

 

thanks

Nick

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[Siriusone59]

Does it ever really turn the OIS motors off unless the camera itself is turned off?  This has been brought up before in discussion with the Q series lens rattle that becomes apparent when the camera is shaken slightly while turned off.  The rattle would diminish or completely disappear when camera turned on.   Possibly the OIS motors energize to maintain the lens stability(centered) even when the OIS is not actively working to prevent a motion blur.  If this is actually how it works then turning OIS off would have no effect on motor stress as they would still be powered to maintain a holding position.  Just something to consider.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Snowman said:

Hi,

About to upgrade later in the week to a new Q3 from my old and trusted Q2.

With regard to the OIS, I know it can activate to below 1/60 sec to help keep low shutter speed images sharp. However, is there any real advantage
in keeping it activated all the time, no matter what shutter speed?

I'm think that it would you batter life more and stress out the OIS motors when its not necessary for high speed photography.

Any thoughts on what Q3 (or Q2 users) set for OIS,

 

thanks

Nick

See also this thread:

 

[huwm]

I’ve decided to just leave it on

[MindsEye]

I think Leica should have made the cutoff for IOS below 1/125 or made it user adjustable due to the higher MP sensor which is going to show even the slightest motion blur from the user. They could even tie it the framelines as an option. I leave my IOS on all the time. Mainly because after some testing I can see IQ is degraded at 1/60 with IOS off versus on. Leica seems to assume 1/60 is always hand holdable or maybe they presume you are always using 28mm. Not sure but I err on the side of caution. I am neither the most steady hand holder of cameras nor the unsteadiest. In the film age, the recirpocal of the focal length worked for me. Also with digital, until using higher and higher MP sensors.

Battery life is still great by the way.

Your mileage may vary.

Edited December 18, 2023 by MindsEye
corrections,typos

[SrMi]

The question is whether there is any disadvantage to always keeping OIS on. I have read claims that one should not keep stabilization on at high shutter speeds, but I have never noticed any issues.

[thegobi]

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If it’s anything like the IBIS in Olympus cameras, the electromagnets that float the sensor are on all the time - when stabilisation is “off” it just means that they are not doing micro adjustments to compensate for shake.

[mrkennethtong]

Cause of this I leave it on all the time. 

[Photon42]

The "Auto" setting seems right to me.