IS/VR Macro lenses?
 

Does IS/VR work on macro lenses? Canon & Nikon now both produce one - has anybody any experience of these lenses?

Can you really hand hold for macro shots? Of course there will be some improvement in image sharpness, but I've found the challenge as well as camera shake is to maintain the focal plane ... & I can't help feeling that IS/VR wont help with this so although you have shake reduction, any front to back movement will result in a blurred (due to out of focus) image.

Thoughts?

I have the older non-VR 105 mm micro Nikkor and several VR Nikkors. I have handled the VR 105 at my local camera dealers several times and had a good play with it. I decided not to upgrade because if you are using the lens on a tripod you switch the VR off. I can see it might help if you are hand-holding but for any type of Micro work I do, the camera is always on the tripod so the upgrade seemed pointless to me. If I am handholding I use a 70-180 mm Micro Nikkor. To me VR on a micro lens is as useful as udders on a Bull. :D

Canon only claim one stop of improvement in the macro area, anyway, so there's little to gain there (and a lot to lose if you get over-confident). There are more benefits in the 'normal' range, so as a multi-purpose lens it should be good - just right for shooting 'dangly bits' under bulls from a distance :D

According to the Canon web site you get two stops at 1-1.

I have read somewhere that the IS works particulally well when used in servo focus.

Will try and find the link.

Extract from the Canon site

"The new Image Stabilizer designed specifically for inclusion in a macro lens. It is able to correct lens shift movement as well as the angular movement that most IS systems can correct. This provides 2-stops of correction during 1.0x magnification, increasing to 3-stops at 0.5x magnification and 4-stops during normal shooting."

Here are two interesting accounts of the Canon IS macro

http://blog.martinbaileyphotography....m-lens-review/

http://photographyhappenings.blogspo...usm-macro.html

would it not be helpful if you were using the lens as a portrait lens....im told the micro prime lenses make a good portrait lens.

I have the Canon 100 L IS macro lens. Canon claim 4 stops IS at none macro distances and two stops at 1:1. Nikon claim no shake reduction at 1:1, the difference being because Canon invented a new form of IS which works for (if my memory serves me correctly) angular movement as well as the normal shake reduction. With the 7D set to Servo and at macro distances the focus sampling and adjustment speed is doubled which takes care of the front to back movement. I shoot most of my macro hand held and I must say it all works extremely well. There are a few examples in my gallery all shot hand held in less than ideal conditions.

Pleased to hear that Mike, as I'm just about to purchase one. All the reading I've done on this lens suggests It's more suited to the latest Canons such as the 5Dmk11 and the 7D

Have you made the investment Harry... and if so how are you getting on with it?

Hi Clive, not yet. I'm now in two minds as to what to buy. My youngest son is taking me to Italy for a few days. (fathers day pressie)

We will be visiting Pompeii, Naples and Sorrento, I'm not to keen on travelling around with my heavyweight "L" lenses. So I'm considering buying the Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens to partner my 17-55mm f/2.8 and 7D.

But then again we're now coming into the macro season and I need a new macro lens, my very old 100mm Canon one as seen far better days. If I buy the 70-300 approx £1350, I cannot afford the Macro IS lens, but could manage the non IS one.
So many problems. I'm just waiting for a price update from Kerso.

Harry

The 70-300 IS is a lot cheaper than the DO version, & although slightly bigger, its lighter & no slouch in IQ terms ... then you could afford the IS macro ;)

Check out the review at http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/20...report--review

Conclusion : ".....The optical performance of the new EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM IS (non-DO) is simply about as good. Mechanically it isn't quite in the same league as the DO lens but ... hey - it comes at a 50% lower price tag! If we throw in the added values plus a little coolness factor the DO lens may be worth a 200-250 EUR/$ premium over the conventional lens but at 1100 EUR/US$ it is simply way over-priced"

.... and prices have gone up since that was written :(

Yes I'd looked at this lens, but wasn't too sure about it. Must admit I've had an hankering for the IS Macro for some time now. I understand it also works extremely well in servo focus.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. :)

I've got the 70-300 IS non DO and have been very pleased with the results...

Like you I've a hankering for the 100m IS macros ... just trying to justify the extra £300 over the non IS version

I have the 70-300 DO because at the time of purchase the alternative was the less than stellar 75-300. The DO is a lovely lens but quite heavy though well balanced and I love it but given the same decision today would look long and hard at the present none DO and probably go with that, especially for a one off trip. As Clive says you may be able to afford the 100 L IS macro then and that would decide it for me.

Slightly off subject I know but it could be of interest. The 7D has a special AI servo mode for macro lenses - when you use any Canon macro lens (not necessarily an I.S. one) at Macro distances the Servo auto switches into a special mode that doubles the normal Servo sampling mode.

make sure you don't pay £1350 for the DO, it can be had for a lot less than that - http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod65.html also they come up secondhand fairly often and seem to go for ~£600-700. I did have a look at one recently (s/h in my local shop), it seemed like a nice lens but I couldn't see a difference between it and images from the standard 70-300 IS. Personally I wouldn't be able to justify the extra money for a DO, it might be 5cm shorter but the money saved would get you a 100 f2.8 IS...

Thanks for the info. I will certainly look at S/H, but will probably go for the cheaper non DO lens.

I should have the 100mm IS macro in a couple of days, just hope the weather improves a little, cold and wet here.

Harry