This is the world's first interchangeable SLR lens equipped with an Image Stabilizer.
You can reap sharp pictures even in low-light conditions when camera shake would normally blur the shot.
Effective for sunsets and places where you cannot use a tripod.Canon has developed a series of truly unique lenses equipped with an Image Stabilizer (IS) function that let you capture photos that would otherwise be blurred due to camera movement, greatly expanding the range of handheld-camera photography.
To get sharp images when taking handheld pictures, the general rule of thumb is to set the shutter speed to "1 over the focal length", or the closest available setting on your camera.
(i.e.
1/60 sec.
with a 50mm lens, 1/250 sec.
with a 200mm lens, 1/500 sec.
with a 500mm lens and so on.) Generally, this is no problem ... if all your pictures are taken outdoors on a bright, sunny day.
But blurred pictures due to camera shake become more of a problem when taking pictures in dim light - at dusk, indoors, on a cloudy day.
And the chance of getting blurred pictures is greater when using longer focal length lenses that magnify the image and any associated movement.
To overcome these problems, Canon developed the world's first SLR lens with a built-in image stabilizer.
Electronic signals emitted by vibration-detecting gyro sensors are used to move the image-stabilizing lens group in parallel along the optical axis, providing clear picture quality at all times.
Actual shooting tests result in improvement equivalent to using a shutter speed two steps faster.
In many shooting situations where photographers are not allowed to use a tripod or flash, such as art museums and concert halls, Canon IS lenses are your ticket to sharper pictures.
