How about image stabilization

Image Stabilization is one of the best new feature of digital cameras. It avoid to take so-called 'soft' images caused by camera shake. It is especially very important when you take photos using camera zoom.

In this blog you can get an inside of techniques used to achieve image stabilization in latest digital cameras.

By the way, Sony HX9v is latest such digital camera in the compact category which has very exceptional effective image stabilization capabilities.

Nowadays, digital cameras utilize three different methods to achieve image stabilization: optical, sensor and digital.

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

It is a common type of image stabilization and used in DSLR-s as well. Different manufacturers have given different names to this feature. Nikon names it Vibration Reduction (VR), Canon calls it Image Stabilization (IS) and Panasonic Mega Optical Image Stabilization (Mega OIS) and Sigma's label is Optical Stabilizer (OS).

Optical Image Stabilization uses gyro-sensors which are located either in the body of camera or either in the lens. The gyro-sensors detect the camera shake and make the path of the image steady then. Canon cameras, for example, use floating lens elements which float against the detected camera shake adjusting it the other way.

In DSLR-s, the gyro-sensor is in the lens, but point-and-shoot cameras, it is in the camera body.

Sensor Stabilization

This technique also uses gyro-sensor to detect the camera shake but here, the adjustment comes with the image sensor (CCD sensor) which counteracts the camera movement.

This method is most common in DSLR-s but some point It is used for example in Sony's A100 Alpha or Olympus E-510. Sony calls this method Super SteadyShot and Pentax's name is Shake Reduction.

Digital Stabilization

Digital Stabilization addresses image stabilization after the image captured. It does a post-processing on the image using data sampling to fix the image digitally for camera shake.

This method is not as effective as the previous two methods as the sampling and post-processing would compromise, degrade the image quality. Casio and Olympus used this method.

What Are the Best Options?

When, it comes to choose a camera with image stabilization then your best options are the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and the Sensor Stabilization.Both are equally effective.

If you buy a digital camera you cannot be wrong either.

The advantage of Optical Image Stabilization that you can see the effect right in preview in the viewfinder or LCD screen. Professional photographers mostly prefer this image stabilization method.

Special DSLR Considerations

If you buy DSLR with optical image stabilization you have to be aware that image stabilization happens in the lens so you have to buy a set of image stabilized lenses.

For DSLRs, the Sensor Stabilization could be a better option but we have to mention that the Sensor Stabilization less effective with longer telephoto lenses.

If you do frequently close-up photos with your DSLR then you are better off with optical image stabilization.

I hope you find this post useful.

Here is another interesting blog about digital photography tricks:

Tricks to Take Low Light Photos