sigma 120-400mm lens

[howlyn]

i need help with the info from sigma it tells me not to use optical stabilizer when the lens is mounted on a tripod My question is do i need to keep the optical stabilizer in the off position when i have it on a monopod or set the stabilizer switch to position 2 any coments would be welcomed as this is a new lens

[LightBright]

Maybe because it wastes power and more importantly it actully causes shaky images when on a tripod.

correct me if im wrong...

[Photo-John]

Image stabiling systems use sensors to detect movement and then they compensate for that movement by adjusting the position of optical elements in the lens. When you're using a tripod and the image stabilization is turned on, the sensors can get confused because there isn't any movement. Then - in theory anyway - they may actually try to compensate anyway, causing motion blur. With a monopod I think you've got a little movement, so it should be fine. It's really only if you have none that it's something to worry about.

[cm_mtb]

Like John said, it should be fine on a monopod, because there likely will be some camera movement. Keep the image stabilizer switch in position 1 though. Position 2 is used for panning because it compensates for up and down movement, but not side-to-side movement.