I think this has been discussed before but I couldn’t find it, maybe it was on the other site. I just got a Canon RF 100mm macro, and I couldn’t remember if image stabilization was recommended for underwater macro stills?

I've never ask me this question. Since the begining I take the photo with image stabilisation..

It probably bring nothing good or bad... when you take a macro you are stable

Image stabilisation would be handy if you are relying on available light (no strobe).

But if strobes are your primary light source, the short duration of their flash should freeze the subject OK, even if you yourself are wobbling about!

And don't forget, image stabilisation only helps reduce your shakes, not subject movement...

That's a good question for macro where sharpness is critical.

A long while ago when I was using some of the initial Canon IS lenses with land camera (such as 24-105L IS), the IS was quite effective for handheld/slower shutter in situations like available light street portraits, however I would still feel the old IS "buzzing" into the lens. On a fast shutter speed it was no benefit and to an extent, some photographers would say it could be a nuisance to the sharpness as the optic groups would slightly move. I could also experience that on some of the still images I was shooting at that time : sharpness but not ultra sharpness as expected when the IS was on.

IS has certainly progressed since, I have now a RF100 IS that I use for most of my UW macro shots but I must admit I never wondered about switching the IS off. TBH with the hindsight, ie. using a fast shutter like 1/200s with the strobelight freezing the subject for some ms., add on top that the density of water environment don't allow fast shake movement, I don't see what would be the benefit of the IS in these conditions. On the contrary I can only guess the inconvenience of using more battery life and maybe some residual slight internal "shaking" (certainly at a lesser level than 20 years ago).

Hence probably something to think about when not using continuous lighting and slower shutter.

Edited 36 minutes ago36 min by Luko