OS or SR?

RonHendriks1966 · 09-22-2011, 01:06 PM

Just got in my first Sigma lens. 70-200mm/f2.8 EX DG OS HSM and it looks great (and feels heavy). Just some first shots playing around, so nothing serieous, but I have the idea that SR in camera works better then the OS in the lens. Is it just me, or do I have to adjust to the new system or are there more people with that idea? Or even measurements? I'm using it on K-5.

Parallax · 09-22-2011, 01:20 PM

My impression (18-25 OS HSM) is that the OS works better at the longer FLs, and SR at the shorter. I like having the stabilized image of the OS in the viewfinder at the longer FLs.

hcc · 09-22-2011, 01:25 PM

Measurements were conducted on an Oly E520 using 50mm and 150mm lenses:
Image Stabilization Test: Olympus E-520 SLR Body - SLRgear.com!

"The bottom line on the Olympus E-520's IS system is that it turned in a superb performance, very much on par with the best lens-based IS systems we've looked at."

A number of threads and discussion at PF suggests that SR and OS are very close and comparable. Possibly one thrust could be that lens OS is better at longer focal length and camera SR better at shorter focal length.

When using several lenses, I think that the camera SR is impler as you do not need to reconfigure the camera. (As a reminder, the camera SR and lens OS cannot work together: one must be switch off.) On the other hand, if you use a single lens, the lens OS could be used to see a shake-reduced view in the viewfinder.

Lastly I saw no result nor test on Pentax K-7 or K-5 to date.

Hope that the comment will help.

Adam · 09-22-2011, 02:02 PM

Unless you're wielding a 300mm or a 500mm, I would stick to SR as it's just as effective (from my experience) and uses less power.

Adam
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**Lowell Goudge** · 09-22-2011, 02:13 PM

Having posted a shot hand held with my K7 at 1/40 on a 510 mm lens and TC combo, OS does not really seem that appealing, except as previously posted, the idea of a stable image in the viewfindr and perhaps presented to the AF sensor may be mired important

SpecialK · 09-22-2011, 02:57 PM

Again?

I use SR because:

According to Sigma, the lens can be damaged if left on while changing,
I like to see how stable I can get before pushing the button, and
I forget to turn SR on when I use a lens without OS...

Ubuntu_user · 09-22-2011, 03:13 PM

Yup, from me too:

Longer focal lengths [150mm <] = OS
Shorter focal lengths [< 150mm] = SR

cmohr · 09-22-2011, 05:58 PM

Do you still have the DA*200/2.8 RoN..???? Not happy with it?

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-22-2011, 06:21 PM

Ive posted this many, many times before

SMC Pentax 300F4 plus SMC-F 1.7x AF TC shot at 1/40th hand held, shake reduction on, free standing (i.e. me standing upright), no leaning on anything else, holding the camera in my hands.

this is a 100% crop out of my K7

Personally, I don't think OS would do any better

RonHendriks1966 · 09-23-2011, 02:26 AM

Originally posted by cmohr

Do you still have the DA*200/2.8 RoN..???? Not happy with it?

No I was able to return it and use the funds for this lens. It was to slow to focus for my use, but it is a spectacular lens in sharpness. I will buy a DA*200mm/f2.8 SDM-II when it comes out.

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Ive posted this many, many times before

Personally, I don't think OS would do any better

Personally I think I can't make such a picture with a long shuttertime like that at all.

pop4 · 09-23-2011, 04:13 AM

I personally just leave SR on and OS off (I've actually taped over the OS switch on my lens with OS, and stuck a piece of plastic in there so that it absolutely can't be switched on), more as a matter of practicality and ease of use; i.e. I don't have to fumble around switching either one on/off, as I KNOW what is on and what is off.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-23-2011, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Personally I think I can't make such a picture with a long shuttertime like that at all.

just don't drink coffee

it is all a question of being relaxed, I will have to admit this is as far as I can push the envelope, and the point has been discussed many many times on the forum, it is all about technique.

I would agree that SR has made the image possible, but all SR did was correct for the parts of my technique i did not have control of at the time.

SR or OS is a good tool, and in many instances can help someone with bad technique to get an image that would not otherwise be possible, but it really rewards someone with good technique to start with. In my opinion if you have good technique, IS is better only because you only purchase it once (with each body)

As I said earlier however, I can also see where OS may help on focus accuracy, because the image presented to the focus detector is stable. Vertical shake especially can cause huge focus errors at a distance with a tele lens because you move from foreground to subject to background for example as the lens shakes up and down.

Ubuntu_user · 09-23-2011, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

No I was able to return it and use the funds for this lens. It was to slow to focus for my use, but it is a spectacular lens in sharpness. I will buy a DA*200mm/f2.8 SDM-II when it comes out.

Really? I've found that the DA* 200mm AF is quite a bit faster than the Sigma 70-200mm (but I haven't tried the OS version).

btw, how does the Sigma 70-200mm OS compare in IQ at 200mm against the DA* 200mm?

RonHendriks1966 · 09-23-2011, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by Ubuntu_user

btw, how does the Sigma 70-200mm OS compare in IQ at 200mm against the DA* 200mm?

Don't know yet. I only know the DA* is perfect.

Ubuntu_user · 09-23-2011, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Don't know yet. I only know the DA* is perfect.

Let me know what you find out!

09-22-2011, 01:06 PM	#1
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	OS or SR? Just got in my first Sigma lens. 70-200mm/f2.8 EX DG OS HSM and it looks great (and feels heavy). Just some first shots playing around, so nothing serieous, but I have the idea that SR in camera works better then the OS in the lens. Is it just me, or do I have to adjust to the new system or are there more people with that idea? Or even measurements? I'm using it on K-5.

09-23-2011, 04:13 AM	#11
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	I personally just leave SR on and OS off (I've actually taped over the OS switch on my lens with OS, and stuck a piece of plastic in there so that it absolutely can't be switched on), more as a matter of practicality and ease of use; i.e. I don't have to fumble around switching either one on/off, as I KNOW what is on and what is off. Last edited by pop4; 09-23-2011 at 04:23 AM.

09-22-2011, 01:20 PM	#2
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	My impression (18-25 OS HSM) is that the OS works better at the longer FLs, and SR at the shorter. I like having the stabilized image of the OS in the viewfinder at the longer FLs.

09-22-2011, 01:25 PM	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Measurements were conducted on an Oly E520 using 50mm and 150mm lenses: Image Stabilization Test: Olympus E-520 SLR Body - SLRgear.com! "The bottom line on the Olympus E-520's IS system is that it turned in a superb performance, very much on par with the best lens-based IS systems we've looked at." A number of threads and discussion at PF suggests that SR and OS are very close and comparable. Possibly one thrust could be that lens OS is better at longer focal length and camera SR better at shorter focal length. When using several lenses, I think that the camera SR is impler as you do not need to reconfigure the camera. (As a reminder, the camera SR and lens OS cannot work together: one must be switch off.) On the other hand, if you use a single lens, the lens OS could be used to see a shake-reduced view in the viewfinder. Lastly I saw no result nor test on Pentax K-7 or K-5 to date. Hope that the comment will help.

09-22-2011, 02:02 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Unless you're wielding a 300mm or a 500mm, I would stick to SR as it's just as effective (from my experience) and uses less power. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

09-22-2011, 02:13 PM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Having posted a shot hand held with my K7 at 1/40 on a 510 mm lens and TC combo, OS does not really seem that appealing, except as previously posted, the idea of a stable image in the viewfindr and perhaps presented to the AF sensor may be mired important

09-22-2011, 02:57 PM	#6
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Again? I use SR because: According to Sigma, the lens can be damaged if left on while changing, I like to see how stable I can get before pushing the button, and I forget to turn SR on when I use a lens without OS...

09-22-2011, 03:13 PM	#7
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Yup, from me too: Longer focal lengths [150mm <] = OS Shorter focal lengths [< 150mm] = SR

09-22-2011, 05:58 PM	#8
cmohr Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brisbane. Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,824	Do you still have the DA*200/2.8 RoN..???? Not happy with it?

09-22-2011, 06:21 PM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Ive posted this many, many times before SMC Pentax 300F4 plus SMC-F 1.7x AF TC shot at 1/40th hand held, shake reduction on, free standing (i.e. me standing upright), no leaning on anything else, holding the camera in my hands. this is a 100% crop out of my K7 Personally, I don't think OS would do any better

09-23-2011, 02:26 AM	#10
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by cmohr Do you still have the DA200/2.8 RoN..???? Not happy with it? No I was able to return it and use the funds for this lens. It was to slow to focus for my use, but it is a spectacular lens in sharpness. I will buy a DA200mm/f2.8 SDM-II when it comes out. Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Ive posted this many, many times before Personally, I don't think OS would do any better Personally I think I can't make such a picture with a long shuttertime like that at all.

09-23-2011, 07:25 AM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Personally I think I can't make such a picture with a long shuttertime like that at all. just don't drink coffee it is all a question of being relaxed, I will have to admit this is as far as I can push the envelope, and the point has been discussed many many times on the forum, it is all about technique. I would agree that SR has made the image possible, but all SR did was correct for the parts of my technique i did not have control of at the time. SR or OS is a good tool, and in many instances can help someone with bad technique to get an image that would not otherwise be possible, but it really rewards someone with good technique to start with. In my opinion if you have good technique, IS is better only because you only purchase it once (with each body) As I said earlier however, I can also see where OS may help on focus accuracy, because the image presented to the focus detector is stable. Vertical shake especially can cause huge focus errors at a distance with a tele lens because you move from foreground to subject to background for example as the lens shakes up and down.

09-23-2011, 07:46 AM	#13
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 No I was able to return it and use the funds for this lens. It was to slow to focus for my use, but it is a spectacular lens in sharpness. I will buy a DA200mm/f2.8 SDM-II when it comes out. Really? I've found that the DA 200mm AF is quite a bit faster than the Sigma 70-200mm (but I haven't tried the OS version). btw, how does the Sigma 70-200mm OS compare in IQ at 200mm against the DA* 200mm?

09-23-2011, 09:45 AM	#14
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ubuntu_user btw, how does the Sigma 70-200mm OS compare in IQ at 200mm against the DA* 200mm? Don't know yet. I only know the DA* is perfect.

09-23-2011, 12:05 PM	#15
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Don't know yet. I only know the DA* is perfect. Let me know what you find out!