Image Stabilization with film.

ajuk · Jul 17, 2015

I'm quite impressed that the Image Image Stabilization of my Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens works on my F80 essentially it's works from 24-55mm on the F80, I intend to try and use it at night with some CineStill. Now I see canon have put IS into a short prime with their 35mm f/2 IS USM, I take it this works on film, I could imagine using that at night with some Tmax 400 and rating it at 400. Have Nikon put VR into any short prime lenses yet?

mweintraub · Jul 17, 2015

I don't believe Nikon has put it in short primes. I think the 85 Macro DX (105mm FF) might be the shortest one that has it.

If you're looking for short zoom lens with VR, the new 16-35mm f4 G has it.

More info on lenses: http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/specs.html

MattKrull · Jul 17, 2015

DX coverage?

ajuk said:
I'm quite impressed that the Image Image Stabilization of my Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens works on my F80 essentially it's works from 24-55mm on the F80, I intend to try and use it at night with some CineStill. Now I see canon have put IS into a short prime with their 35mm f/2 IS USM, I take it this works on film, I could imagine using that at night with some Tmax 400 and rating it at 400. Have Nikon put VR into any short prime lenses yet?

I might be off on my Nikon naming, but isn't the DX a crop (APS-C) coverage lens? Are you getting full coverage on your film? Or do you get heavy vignetting at the extremes?

mweintraub · Jul 17, 2015

MattKrull said:
I might be off on my Nikon naming, but isn't the DX a crop (APS-C) coverage lens? Are you getting full coverage on your film? Or do you get heavy vignetting at the extremes?

At lot depends on the lens. His 18-55mm DX is OK at certain focal lengths. Similar that the 35mm DX is a good lens (minor vignetting) at certain apertures and distances.

Vonder · Jul 17, 2015

mweintraub said:
At lot depends on the lens. His 18-55mm DX is OK at certain focal lengths. Similar that the 35mm DX is a good lens (minor vignetting) at certain apertures and distances.

Quite correct, and it's worth noting too that some "full frame" lenses are only marginally so. I own a Canon 40mm f2.8 STM lens and if dark corners are your thing, this lens is for you.

Figuratively... stop looking at my lens that way...

mweintraub · Jul 17, 2015

Wolfeye said:
Quite correct, and it's worth noting too that some "full frame" lenses are only marginally so. I own a Canon 40mm f2.8 STM lens and if dark corners are your thing, this lens is for you.

Figuratively... stop looking at my lens that way...

Yeah, Some lenses are like that. The 35mm f2 AI-S does have some vignetting wide open, but it's not too bad.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 17, 2015

How many stops do you think it gives you?

Sirius Glass · Jul 17, 2015

For all formats and focal lengths when necessary, I use a tripod.

DcAnalogue · Jul 18, 2015

Guys.... you can't use a dx lens on film cameras, because it covers only the Apsc format (smaller than 35mm). You have to use FX lenses which covers the Full Frame format, i.e. the 24x36mm of our Film cameras. Anyway, better use the old lenses, made for the older cameras....

mweintraub · Jul 18, 2015

DcAnalogue said:
Guys.... you can't use a dx lens on film cameras, because it covers only the Apsc format (smaller than 35mm). You have to use FX lenses which covers the Full Frame format, i.e. the 24x36mm of our Film cameras. Anyway, better use the old lenses, made for the older cameras....

Not true. Ok, half true. Some lenses work at some focal lengths with minima vignetting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MartinCrabtree · Jul 18, 2015

DcAnalogue said:
Guys.... you can't use a dx lens on film cameras, because it covers only the Apsc format (smaller than 35mm). You have to use FX lenses which covers the Full Frame format, i.e. the 24x36mm of our Film cameras. Anyway, better use the old lenses, made for the older cameras....

Why yes you can. The 18-55 only vignettes under 24MM. Some of the others cover and some don't. You have to try and see. The 18-55 is a surprising lens for a plastic fantastic. Sharp and close focusing almost to macro. If you've already got one why let it sit when it foes such a good job within it's limitations? And the VR is a very useful feature.

Peltigera · Jul 18, 2015

DcAnalogue said:
Guys.... you can't use a dx lens on film cameras, because it covers only the Apsc format (smaller than 35mm). You have to use FX lenses which covers the Full Frame format, i.e. the 24x36mm of our Film cameras. Anyway, better use the old lenses, made for the older cameras....

You might be able to with Nikon, Pentax, Sony et al but you certainly cannot with Canon - the ASP-C lenses (EF-S) will not physically fit on a full frame/35 mm camera (EF).

250swb · Jul 18, 2015

ajuk said:
I'm quite impressed that the Image Image Stabilization of my Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens works on my F80 essentially it's works from 24-55mm on the F80, I intend to try and use it at night with some CineStill. Now I see canon have put IS into a short prime with their 35mm f/2 IS USM, I take it this works on film, I could imagine using that at night with some Tmax 400 and rating it at 400. Have Nikon put VR into any short prime lenses yet?

The best IS with a film camera is probably a tripod. Or is that radical thinking?

Steve

Nr90 · Jul 18, 2015

MartinCrabtree said:
How many stops do you think it gives you?

Ken Rockwell often mentions how effective VR is on different lenses. His results depend on the focal length of the lens.
I think he puts it between 2 and 4 stops.
He seems to be a fan.

Sirius Glass · Jul 18, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
For all formats and focal lengths when necessary, I use a tripod.

250swb said:
The best IS with a film camera is probably a tripod. Or is that radical thinking?

There is a definite pattern here. Can anyone see it??

M Carter · Jul 18, 2015

There's also aftermarket to look into. Some of those players have come a long, long way.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 18, 2015

250swb said:
The best IS with a film camera is probably a tripod. Or is that radical thinking?

Steve

Of course. However not always practical. It's just a nice feature to have when needed.

Sirius Glass · Jul 18, 2015

Use faster film.

thuggins · Jul 22, 2015

Nr90 said:
Ken Rockwell often mentions how effective VR is on different lenses. His results depend on the focal length of the lens.
I think he puts it between 2 and 4 stops.
He seems to be a fan.

About 15 - 20 years ago I was in RMNP and saw a guy shooting birds, hand held with a long lens (from my experience it would have had to been at least a 400mm to get the subject). It was in the evening and the light was fading, although I was still shooting 100 speed film with my typical 35mm lens with no problem. I asked him what speed film he was using, as the only way to have normally gotten shots like that would have been with a ASA 400 pushed to 1600 (Oh, Provia 400, how we loved thee). He seemed a bit confused as to my question and said the camera had image stabilization. I had never heard the term before but claimed he had used it successfully in the past for similar shots.

For all I know his pictures all turned out to be blurry messes. But based on the setup I was using it would have taken at least four stops more for him to have gotten any decent pictures.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 22, 2015

VR/IS only stabilizes the optics reducing blur. It doesn't allow more light in less time. Some subjects are tailor made for it others not so.

ajuk · Jul 23, 2015

MartinCrabtree said:
Why yes you can. The 18-55 only vignettes under 24MM. Some of the others cover and some don't. You have to try and see. The 18-55 is a surprising lens for a plastic fantastic. Sharp and close focusing almost to macro. If you've already got one why let it sit when it foes such a good job within it's limitations? And the VR is a very useful feature.

Yes, I was so happy when I saw the VR cough into life on my F80, I had no inkling it would work also very happy when the lens filled the frame from 24mm onwards, the aperture is quite small but I've been testing to see how long an exposure I can do and still get a usable shot with.

I will be getting the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX soon specifically to use it on film for hand held night photography, as the apertures will all be mostly wide open the vignetting isn't that bad.

Are there MILCs with VR built in, I ask because then I'd assume a film compact with built in VR would be possible.

MattKrull · Jul 24, 2015

ajuk said:
Are there MILCs with VR built in, I ask because then I'd assume a film compact with built in VR would be possible.

Maybe I've got the wrong acronym, but if MILC is mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, then yes, they have VR (both lens based and in-body). The smaller lighter elements of a crop sensor/lens make VR easier to implement. I routinely get 4-5 stops improvement on my Olympus EM-1. So, cost aside, there is no reason why someone couldn't implement lens based VR on a film compact camera.

film_man · Jul 24, 2015

250swb said:
The best IS with a film camera is probably a tripod. Or is that radical thinking?

Steve

No, that is conventional thinking. Radical thinking is putting stabilisation in the lens and then going out without having to carry a tripod.

Why does it matter if it is a film camera or not on whether IS is used? I wish I had IS on all my lenses.

Hatchetman · Jul 24, 2015

Radical thinking would be to bring a tripod AND an IS lens.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 24, 2015

It's recommended you turn OFF the VR when using a tripod.

Image Stabilization with film.

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