Using IS For Action

I want to shoot fast-moving subjects and freeze them in motion. Is it worth investing more and buying a lens that has optical image stabilisation? What kind of lenses do you recommend I buy? Abhijeet Singh, New Delhi

To freeze moving subjects, you need to use a fast shutterspeed. Image stabilisation, on the other hand, is useful at slower shutterspeeds like 1/15sec at 1/8sec. Hence, a stabilised lens does not give you a significant advantage over a non-stabilised lens for shooting action. Instead, you should invest in a lens that has a faster maximum aperture. A fast lens allows you to use a faster shutterspeed even in low-light conditions. Hence, a zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or a prime lens with an aperture of f/1.8 will be an invaluable tool for action photography.

This article was originally published in the November 2014 issue of Better Photography.