Prter & Capt. John; Glad to see that you two responded, seem to be
the only folks the responded that had used IS as of this time. I've
used and have nothing to add. Roe

"Peter W. Meek" wrote:

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 06:24:51 GMT, junktin wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

I routinely use a Canon SLR (several film
and digital models) with their IS lenses.
I have used the Canon 100-400 IS as well as
their 300 IS lens with both the 1.4x and 2.0x
extenders. I also have some shorter Canon IS
lenses for these cameras (D30, D60, 10D and 20D).
(Anyone want to buy one of the older ones?)

My experience is on a power boat rather than
a sailboat, but in VERY choppy water. I was
covering a tugboat race in the Detroit River
from a 45' express cruiser. As you can see from
the pictures, there were 6-10' pyramidal waves
generated by the crossing wakes of these
racing tugs (34' to 120' and 155 to 3400 HP).
If the Canon IS lenses can prevent camera
shake under these conditions, they are
likely to help in almost any circumstances.
Nothing can help if you get thrown to the deck,
but if you can keep your target nearly centered
in the frame, you will likely get a decent exposure.

Here are a few of the shots (much reduced in
size for web use):
http://www.msen.com/~pwmeek/boat/tugs98.html
http://www.msen.com/~pwmeek/boat/tugs99.html

As you can see, they are grainy from reduction
for the web page, but not much camera shake
is in evidence.

Peter W. Meek wrote:
On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 06:24:51 GMT, junktin wrote:


Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?


I routinely use a Canon SLR (several film
and digital models) with their IS lenses.
I have used the Canon 100-400 IS as well as
their 300 IS lens with both the 1.4x and 2.0x
extenders. I also have some shorter Canon IS
lenses for these cameras (D30, D60, 10D and 20D).
(Anyone want to buy one of the older ones?)

I've used a Canon SLR (film) with a 300 F4 IS with 1.4x extender too.
It allowed me to get shots that I couldn't get in rough water with
my 70-200 F4 non stabilized lens.

Sorry I can't add more about the inexpensive IS digitals but I suspect
they will help _some_ with hand motions and small boat motions.

Evan Gatehouse

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 06:24:51 GMT, junktin wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

I am considering purchase of a newer camera with 10x or 12x zoom to
replace my 3x capable camera. It occurred to me that Image Stabilization
might be a good thing at these high zooms.

I am considering cameras like the Canon S1 IS, Konica-Minolta Z3/Z5 or
Panasonic Lumix series.

While I read reviews that I.S. really helps remove a bit of "shakey
hand", I am now wondering if the movement on a boat would be way too
much for it and it might over-react giving a worse picture than without
it. (Of course I could turn the I.S. off in this case but if I can't use
it I wouldn't want to pay for it and add that complexity to the
camera, as it is one more point of failure.)

If anyone has used such a camera on a boat, I would love to hear your
comments.

We have used SLR cameras on sailboats for 20 years now. Until a couple
of years ago we limited our focal length to 200 mm and used ISO 400
film (Provia 400F usually).

For the last two seasons we have used a Nikkor 80-400 VR lens. VR is
Nikon's name for image stabilization. It does allow 400 mm on a boat,
and ISO 100 film.

Last year we got a D70 digital SLR and use that along with the F5 film
camera. We have gotten some spectacular bird pix, as well as shots of
a float plane taking off and landing near our stern.

Also, my wife got a Canon IS binocular 8X. It works splendidly on the
boat. Indeed, I am sorely tempted by the 15X model, although retired I
can't afford it.

I haven't tried a P&S camera with built-in stabilization, but the
technology appears to be pretty well established.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC

Let's Put the XXX back in Xmas

junktin wrote:
Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

I am considering purchase of a newer camera with 10x or 12x zoom to
replace my 3x capable camera. It occurred to me that Image
Stabilization
might be a good thing at these high zooms.

I am considering cameras like the Canon S1 IS, Konica-Minolta Z3/Z5
or
Panasonic Lumix series.

While I read reviews that I.S. really helps remove a bit of "shakey
hand", I am now wondering if the movement on a boat would be way too
much for it and it might over-react giving a worse picture than
without
it. (Of course I could turn the I.S. off in this case but if I can't
use
it I wouldn't want to pay for it and add that complexity to the
camera, as it is one more point of failure.)

If anyone has used such a camera on a boat, I would love to hear your

comments.

Dave

Dave, I'm a power boater, and I've always enjoyed taking photo's from a
boat, their's just so many opertunities for great shots as you know.
When I was using my old film camera I would get about one or two good
shots out of a whole roll, not good. So I bought a Cannon 5MP camera
about two years ago to replace it. I've found that if I use a high
speed setting I can get consistantly great shots on the boat, and power
boats really shake a lot. And, if the shot doesn't come out the way I
want it to, you can see it on the spot, and shoot it again. You might
want to try a non-stabilized digital camera first, you may be very
satisfied with the results, and save the money you would have spent for
an I.S. model. By the way, a 4 MP camera is just fine, I always use
mine at a lower setting.

Good luck!

John

"junktin" wrote in message
news:TeASd.24583$NN.20453@edtnps89...
Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

I am considering purchase of a newer camera with 10x or 12x zoom to
replace my 3x capable camera. It occurred to me that Image Stabilization
might be a good thing at these high zooms.


It is a necessity at those higher zooms anyway. Shooting from both boats and
airplanes, though, I can tell you that IS will dampen vibrations from things
like boat motors, props, and sails, but not from waves.

junktin wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?
....
If anyone has used such a camera on a boat, I would love to hear your
comments.

No experience, so take it with a grain of salt, but the rocking
and rolling of a sail boat is fairly low frequency, compared to
hand-held shaking. The motion from the boat should be catered
for by shutter speed, while the IS will cater for anything that
isn't helped by a (e.g.) 1/125 shutter. I'd say it will help.

--
Ken Tough

Ken Tough wrote:
junktin wrote:


Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

...

If anyone has used such a camera on a boat, I would love to hear your
comments.


No experience, so take it with a grain of salt, but the rocking
and rolling of a sail boat is fairly low frequency, compared to
hand-held shaking. The motion from the boat should be catered
for by shutter speed, while the IS will cater for anything that
isn't helped by a (e.g.) 1/125 shutter. I'd say it will help.


Yes, that's a good observation and advice on using a high shutter speed.
Since most of my photography would be in good light, I could certainly
afford to use a higher shutter speed, and even the moderately priced
cameras I am considering will allow me control of that. (instead of
having to accept some arbitrary automatic settings.)

In article TeASd.24583$NN.20453@edtnps89, junktin
wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?

In my experience, stabilization is not required. I have the Olympus
C-700, 10x optical, and shoot at full zoom regularly as we sail along.
Shake isn't a problem. More often, my trouble is getting things framed
right as we bounce along.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

junktin wrote:
Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?


Jere Lull wrote:
In my experience, stabilization is not required. I have the Olympus
C-700, 10x optical, and shoot at full zoom regularly as we sail along.
Shake isn't a problem. More often, my trouble is getting things framed
right as we bounce along.


You must be a lot better at it than we are. I find image stabilization
helpful... not miraculous, as some people seem to expect, but it helps.

This pic was taken with a relatively inexpensive ($450 all up) 3.2
megapixel digital camera with 12X zoom and optical image stabilization,
range is a little over 1/4 mile
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...31774987MikhhQ

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Doug,

Thanks for the link to this interesting photo. What make/model was the
camera?

Dave

DSK wrote:
junktin wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?



Jere Lull wrote:

In my experience, stabilization is not required. I have the Olympus
C-700, 10x optical, and shoot at full zoom regularly as we sail along.
Shake isn't a problem. More often, my trouble is getting things framed
right as we bounce along.


You must be a lot better at it than we are. I find image stabilization
helpful... not miraculous, as some people seem to expect, but it helps.

This pic was taken with a relatively inexpensive ($450 all up) 3.2
megapixel digital camera with 12X zoom and optical image stabilization,
range is a little over 1/4 mile
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...31774987MikhhQ

Fresh Breezes- Doug King