Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

**FlyingEagle** · 09-20-2021, 06:10 PM

I use a K-5 and K-70. The K-5 I use for shooting inventory, 80% of the shots straight down. I have found that when shooting down, I have to be careful with minor camera shake. With my lighting I am at 1/125 and if the IBIS is functioning in that position, then I should have a little more room for camera shake, but the images say no.

Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down?

Ok, thanks

**UncleVanya** · 09-20-2021, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by FlyingEagle

Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down?

No. Not the version in the k5 and k3. I don’t know if that’s addressed by any camera company. (At least that’s what I have been told. )

**clackers** · 09-20-2021, 10:14 PM

I would use a tripod, FlyingEagle. Turn off IBIS altogether, and shoot with a delay to avoid shutter/mirror shock.

Fogel70 · 09-20-2021, 10:23 PM

If you shoot straight down you are probably using quite high magnification, where 3-axis IBIS (in K5 and K70) is not very efficient. For high magnification 5-axis stabilization is much better.

Last edited by Fogel70; 09-20-2021 at 10:45 PM.

biz-engineer · 09-21-2021, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by FlyingEagle

Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down?

Looks like it worked for my K1, I "scan" documents, camera looking down, hand-held and I can say IBIS works. What I can't say is how many stops of shake is produce by my hands when holding the camera downwards pointed.

AfterPentax Mark II · 09-21-2021, 04:06 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Looks like it worked for my K1, I "scan" documents, camera looking down, hand-held and I can say IBIS works. What I can't say is how many stops of shake is produce by my hands when holding the camera downwards pointed.

Just like the KP: 5-axis! (or the other way around)

Adam007 · 09-22-2021, 06:25 AM

I have a K-1. It has always seemed to me that SR was not as effective when shooting straight down. Maybe I am simply shakier (which would make sense), but I have to remind myself of this when shooting sidewalk leaves or similar.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-22-2021, 07:42 AM

Your biggest issue in macro or near macro shooting is not so much straight down must movement in the direction of the lens axis. Movement in This direction causes focus error and is totally uncompensated.

Ibis has depending on the sophistication, between 3 and 5 degrees of freedom (sometimes incorrectly called axis). Consider the 3 axis of the camera, X as the long dimension of the sensor, Y the short dimension of the sensor and Z the axis of the lens. You get correction for X , Y movement and rotation about Z as a minimum, and in later cameras pitch (rotation about the x axis and yaw rotation about the Y axis.

It’s not about camera orientation, it is all about movements other than closer and further away from the subject.

**FlyingEagle** · 09-23-2021, 03:55 PM

Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved.

Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-25-2021, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by FlyingEagle

Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved.

Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error.

People often say the biggest problem with any camera is 2-3 inches behind the view finder

Wheatfield · 09-25-2021, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by FlyingEagle

Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved.

Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error.

You will probably find that the AF on your K5 is next to useless in anything other than daylight.

Tord · 03-16-2024, 02:07 AM

The AF was the main reason I left Pentax for Nikon 1 V1, which was like another world compared to anything Pentax, after that I bought a D600, and several more DSLRs and Nikon 1 cameras. Still love the Pentax Menu system!

09-20-2021, 06:10 PM	#1
FlyingEagle Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: West Palm Beach Posts: 56	Understanding IBIS I use a K-5 and K-70. The K-5 I use for shooting inventory, 80% of the shots straight down. I have found that when shooting down, I have to be careful with minor camera shake. With my lighting I am at 1/125 and if the IBIS is functioning in that position, then I should have a little more room for camera shake, but the images say no. Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down? Ok, thanks

09-23-2021, 03:55 PM	#9
FlyingEagle Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: West Palm Beach Posts: 56 Original Poster	I had the answer the whole time, just needed to do some testing Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved. Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature Ibis in my yard	rhanz	Post Your Photos!	3	07-30-2021 07:13 PM
Mechanical IBIS in video.	Hidrieus	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	9	11-14-2020 11:25 AM
Nature Straw Necked Ibis	Cee Cee	Post Your Photos!	10	10-08-2019 08:04 PM
About IBIS - Which company started IBIS in DSLR's ? Curiosity question.	jpzk	Pentax DSLR Discussion	30	06-13-2019 04:56 PM
Nature Ibis, Ibis, everywhere	photolady95	Post Your Photos!	9	05-11-2011 08:38 AM

09-20-2021, 08:01 PM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,468	Originally posted by FlyingEagle Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down? No. Not the version in the k5 and k3. I don’t know if that’s addressed by any camera company. (At least that’s what I have been told. )

09-20-2021, 10:14 PM	#3
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	I would use a tripod, FlyingEagle. Turn off IBIS altogether, and shoot with a delay to avoid shutter/mirror shock.

09-20-2021, 10:23 PM	#4
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	If you shoot straight down you are probably using quite high magnification, where 3-axis IBIS (in K5 and K70) is not very efficient. For high magnification 5-axis stabilization is much better. Last edited by Fogel70; 09-20-2021 at 10:45 PM.

09-21-2021, 02:40 AM	#5
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,249	Originally posted by FlyingEagle Does the IBIS work in every position including straight up and straight down? Looks like it worked for my K1, I "scan" documents, camera looking down, hand-held and I can say IBIS works. What I can't say is how many stops of shake is produce by my hands when holding the camera downwards pointed.

09-21-2021, 04:06 AM	#6
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,467	Originally posted by biz-engineer Looks like it worked for my K1, I "scan" documents, camera looking down, hand-held and I can say IBIS works. What I can't say is how many stops of shake is produce by my hands when holding the camera downwards pointed. Just like the KP: 5-axis! (or the other way around)

09-22-2021, 06:25 AM	#7
Adam007 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 35	I have a K-1. It has always seemed to me that SR was not as effective when shooting straight down. Maybe I am simply shakier (which would make sense), but I have to remind myself of this when shooting sidewalk leaves or similar.

09-22-2021, 07:42 AM	#8
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Your biggest issue in macro or near macro shooting is not so much straight down must movement in the direction of the lens axis. Movement in This direction causes focus error and is totally uncompensated. Ibis has depending on the sophistication, between 3 and 5 degrees of freedom (sometimes incorrectly called axis). Consider the 3 axis of the camera, X as the long dimension of the sensor, Y the short dimension of the sensor and Z the axis of the lens. You get correction for X , Y movement and rotation about Z as a minimum, and in later cameras pitch (rotation about the x axis and yaw rotation about the Y axis. It’s not about camera orientation, it is all about movements other than closer and further away from the subject.

09-25-2021, 01:31 PM	#10
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Originally posted by FlyingEagle Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved. Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error. People often say the biggest problem with any camera is 2-3 inches behind the view finder

09-25-2021, 05:47 PM	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by FlyingEagle Thanks for the comments and Lowell, your explanation was helpful and made me think about it more. I realized I just had to do some testing to see what was happening. So the answer is yes, IBIS works however the camera is oriented. In fact the aperture and shutter speed I use gave me a clear image even with IBIS off. So what was wrong? I found that at times the K-5 did not focus properly and that was the cause of what appeared to be camera shake. So by paying more attention to the focus, problem resolved. Pentax I apologize for not giving your IBIS enough credit. I gotta remind myself, when there is a problem, it is probably user error. You will probably find that the AF on your K5 is next to useless in anything other than daylight.

03-16-2024, 02:07 AM	#12
Tord Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gothenburg, aka Göteborg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 234	The AF was the main reason I left Pentax for Nikon 1 V1, which was like another world compared to anything Pentax, after that I bought a D600, and several more DSLRs and Nikon 1 cameras. Still love the Pentax Menu system!

Understanding IBIS

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!