Motion blur caused by camera shake is one of the most frustrating things for a photographer, especially with longer focal length lenses. If you’ve ever tried to take a photo handheld at low shutter speeds, you’ll know exactly what camera shake does to the image sharpness.
So, how do you keep the photo sharp? Well, you’ve got three options. Bump up the shutter speed, use a tripod, or activate image stabilization.
This article will explain the common forms of image stabilization—including how it works, what it’s good for, and the downsides associated with different kinds.
What Is Image Stabilization?
Image stabilization is a specialized technology built into your lens, camera, or software, which helps minimize the blur caused by camera shake. Different manufacturers call image stabilization different things, as follows:
- Canon: Image Stabilization (IS).
- Nikon: Vibration Reduction (VR).
- Tamron: Vibration Control (VC).
- Sigma: Optical Stabilization (OS).
- Sony: Optical Steady Shot (OSS).
- Pentax: Shake Reduction (SR).
The technology is generally similar across manufacturers. The benefit is that it enables you to capture a sharper photograph at a slower shutter speed or without a bulky tripod. Enabling a slower shutter speed can mean better picture quality because you’ll be able to utilize a lower ISO value (less noise).
Image stabilization is also very useful for taking stable video footage without a tripod or gimbal.
How Does Lens-Based Stabilization Work?
Lens-based stabilization works via a floating lens element. Vibration (or camera shake) is detected using gyroscopic sensors.
Many lenses often feature a “panning mode,” which enables stabilization only on the vertical axis to enable stable panning footage.
Advantages of Lens-Based Image Stabilization
Lens-based image stabilization has some advantages over the in-camera version, especially at longer focal lengths and in older DSLR cameras.
For instance, a camera’s autofocus is more accurate when the image is already stabilized. Additionally, a photographer will see a stable picture if the lens features stabilization when viewing through an optical viewfinder. Without it, they would see a shaky, less-detailed photo.
Disadvantages of Lens-Based Image Stabilization
There are two downsides to lens-based stabilization.
Firstly, it can only counteract motion on the horizontal and vertical axes. This means it cannot detect or stabilize any form of rotational motion.
The second disadvantage is cost. Since every lens has to be fitted with its own image stabilization system, rather than the stabilization being in-camera, the cost of these lenses is higher.
What About Camera-Based Image Stabilization?
In-body image stabilization (IBIS) usually works via sensor-shift technology. While the technology itself is very sophisticated, the concept is simple. The sensor is moved to counteract the camera’s motion, similar to the floating element in lens-based stabilization.
Gyroscopic sensors within the camera detect motion and send the information back to actuators which move the camera’s image sensor in the opposite direction.
The difference is that sensor-shift can counteract rotational motion as well. In fact, most sensor-based image stabilization technology works on five axes—horizontal, vertical, roll, pitch, and yaw.
The horizontal and vertical axes are when the camera moves up and down, or left and right. Roll is when the camera rotates along the horizontal axis. Pitch is when the camera tilts up or down, and yaw is when it tilts left or right.
Advantages of In-Body Image Stabilization
The obvious advantage to in-body image stabilization is the three extra axes of compensation. Being able to account for rotation means that in-body stabilization is generally more versatile and accurate than lens-based stabilization.
In-body image stabilization allows photographers to use lenses without this. It also means that lenses don’t necessarily have to be manufactured with this feature, meaning they can be made cheaper and lighter.
Sensor-based stabilization has also led to the advent of other useful camera capabilities, such as star-tracing modes (like Pentax’s Astrotracer mode). With the help of a GPS module, a camera can actively move its sensor to track the Earth’s rotation, meaning that much longer exposure times can be used during astrophotography.
Disadvantages of In-Body Image Stabilization
In-body stabilization has the disadvantage of not stabilizing the view through an optical viewfinder (OVF). Because DSLRs utilize a mirror to project the picture to the OVF, but it is stabilized at the sensor (for in-body stabilization), the view will be shaky.
This can be particularly problematic at long focal lengths when tracking fast-moving subjects. The autofocus systems in older DSLRs will suffer for the same reason.
This isn’t a problem in newer mirrorless cameras because the photo projected to the electronic viewfinder (EVF) comes directly from the sensor and is stabilized.
What Is Digital Image Stabilization?
Digital image stabilization, also known as electronic image stabilization, is used in some cameras—primarily for video. Digital image stabilization analyses each frame for movement and shifts them pixel-by-pixel to produce a stable video. This technique can reduce camera vibration and create a stable video.
Digital image stabilization can also be done in post-processing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro’s Warp Stabilizer.
A disadvantage of this technique is that it requires cropping to achieve since pixels outside the frame have to be used as a buffer and need to be cropped out to enable stabilization. Generally, the greater the camera vibration, the greater the cropping.
Digital image stabilization can be great, but it can also be inaccurate and introduce artifacts to your video. The best technique would involve in-body or lens-based image stabilization to take the most stable video possible and then using software to make any final touches.
What Kind Of Image Stabilization Should You Use?
Ultimately, the type of stabilization you need mostly depends on what you have available.
For stable video production, a combination of techniques can often achieve great results. But for still photography, either lens-based or in-body stabilization will enable you to take sharp shots at slower shutter speeds. The technology is manufacturer and product-dependent. Some lenses and cameras will perform better, especially if they are newer.
Don’t forget about the traditional tools, though! A sturdy tripod with a video head or a gyroscopic gimbal will definitely help stabilize your images or footage.