my Image Stabilizing lens is audible by whitetails out to 100 yards

[Lan-Lord]

This really kind of blows me away. The IS gyros on my 75-300 are actually very quiet.. its just a quiet wurr noise when I half press to focus. If I were 10 yards away, I wouldnt be able to hear it. Well, I went down with a buddy to his S. Texas ranch the last few days to photograph some whitetails, and everytime the gyros started spinning, they would look at me. Sometimes the whitetails would be out to 100 yards and they would throw their head up when the IS fired up. I guess it is emitting a sound frequency that they can hear? I turned the IS off for a while, and took a few shots, and they never looked up when the shutter slapped. Come to think of it, I have noticed it on a few occaisions before, but I guess these deer were extra spooky.

Anyone else ever catch a whitetail's attention when using IS on their lens?

 

[foulshot]

Chris, I've never had that happen with the muleys I've photo'd with my 100-400. That is interesting though. Did they take off or just look up?

I wonder if Canon knows the frequency output on the IS?

 

[tpetty]

Very definitely, the 70-200 IS does exactly the same thing unless I have the wind in my face.

 

[Lan-Lord]

Zach, they didnt bust out, but as soon as they were aware of the sound, they were more nervous and kept checking the stand that I was in.

Trent, thats kind of a bummer. I was actually hoping it was just my lens model, perhaps due to the fact that it was one of the first IS lenses made by Canon.

On the positive note though, if you need the animal to raise its head or turn towards you, one could just initiate the IS gyros. Unfortunately you may be giving yourself away or preventing game from coming closer.