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Image Stabilization (or Vibration Reduction) is a technology used to reduce the effects of camera shake. This is done is several different ways, and different companies use different names. Using this tag This tag applies to all types of image stabilization, regardless of the name or whether ...

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17
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5answers
4k views

How can I determine the minimum shutter speed to avoid blur from camera shake?

How can I determine the minimum shutter speed at which I can effectively avoid camera shake while hand-holding the camera?
20
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9answers
1k views
11
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4answers
1k views

Where does the ¹/shutter speed = focal length rule for hand shake come from?

The generally accepted rule of thumb is that the shutter speed must be the same or larger than the inverse of the focal length. As is, it seems that it makes no sense as is: On a 24 Mpixels ...
6
votes
5answers
903 views

What are the benefits and costs of an image stabilized, slower lens vs a non-IS faster lens?

I am going thru a trade off decision between a 24-70 f2.8 lens and a 24-105 f4 IS lens from Canon. My dilemma is that the 24-105 focal length better matches my needs, but the f2.8 would occasionally ...
23
votes
18answers
1k views

What are some techniques for hand-held image stabilization?

My zoom lens (75-300mm) is fairly slow: 5.6 at its farthest point. (I think it's 3.5-5.6, and it's not image stabilizing. I'm on a budget, sadly!) Unfortunately, my primary use for it is hand-held ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views

Is it true that there are no stabilized prime lenses (and if so, why)?

Fast prime lenses like the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens work nicely in low-light situations. But I'm quite sure they would work even more nicely if they had optical image stabilizers. It seems to me that no ...
22
votes
3answers
816 views

How does Image Stabilization / Vibration Reduction work?

I know the effect of IS and VR, but what exactly is going on when they're enabled... how do they work from a technical standpoint?
14
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2answers
380 views

Image stabilization in aerial photography

Is image stabilization useful when shooting from a flying plane or helicopter?
10
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3answers
2k views

Which is better: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM or Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM (without IS)?

Simple question: Which lens is better? The L Series (non-IS) Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM or the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM? I am an enthusiast and usually shoot landscape, my kids playing ...
21
votes
0answers
559 views

Is Image Stabilization better in the lens or the body? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: What is the difference between in-lens image stabilizing and in-sensor image stabilizing? Some DSLR manufacturers have image stabilization (IS) in the body of their ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views

Why is image stabilisation making images unsharp?

During vacations and travel I tend to use my Nikon D90 and a 18-200 VR (image stabilisation) lens. I was very annoyed (and had no explanation) when I found images to be unsharp, which had be made in ...
19
votes
7answers
5k views

Why there is no Canon 50mm *IS* lens?

Canon's 50mm prime lenses are all non-IS (Image Stabilization) for some reason. Considering the popularity of these range primes, shouldn't Canon be interested in shipping a new, optically improved IS ...
4
votes
5answers
445 views

What reduces blur from camera movement more: large aperture or image stabilisation?

In the reviews of lenses with image stabilisation systems there are quite often written the quality of its performance represented by the number of f-stops (2-4 f-stops). As far as I understand, it ...
10
votes
9answers
1k views

How useful is image stabilisation below 200mm, really?

Image stabilisation is all the rage, and hardly a new lens from Nikon or Canon is missing this "crucial" feature. To me this seems to be the new megapixel race (like when the manufacturers tried to ...
25
votes
10answers
3k views

How much benefit can one expect from a monopod?

I'm thinking about getting a combined monopod/trekking pole, as I use a trekking pole already and I can't really be bothered to carry a heavy tripod into the hills during daylight. I'm wondering how ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views

Is it necessary to turn off lens-based VR before turning off the camera?

I just bought a D3100 and started reading its manual. On the lens' Vibration Reduction chapter it said that the VR should be turned off before turning off the camera, every time I use it. Is it really ...
3
votes
2answers
915 views

What features really matter in a point and shoot camera?

I am planning to buy my first new digital camera. Now I am too confused for more than 20 days about how I can choose a camera. I want to use the camera for domestic purpose. The Canon IXUS 220 HS ...
3
votes
3answers
524 views

Image Stabilization in Lens vs Body: Which is Cheaper?

Is Image Stabilization better in the lens or the body? Someone already asked that. But I'm trying to make a purchasing decision. It seems that the short answer to my title question is that it's ...
37
votes
11answers
3k views

Should I keep Image Stabilization (IS) off when I do not actually need it?

I own a Canon 7D and a EF-S 15-85 IS lens and I keep the image stabilization turned on all the time. Recently, an experienced photographer told me that this is a huge mistake because it reduces image ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views

Should I turn off optical image stabilisation when shooting long-exposure photos?

I have a Canon SX210 IS. With CHDK, I usually take photos of more than 10 minutes at night (using tripod of course). I read somewhere it is recommended to turn off the mechanical image stabilization ...
21
votes
6answers
2k views

For sports photography, should I use image stabilization or a faster lens?

For sports, I know that a faster lens would usually be considered more important than image stabilization, but what if, after selecting your shutter speed, your camera is picking apertures that don't ...
9
votes
7answers
3k views

Why does using flash sometimes create these white spots in the photo?

I have an Olympus FE-190. When I take a picture, with flash on Digital Image Stabilizer (DIS) mode, I get white spots in pictures. This doesn't happen always. There is only an option called Pixel ...
9
votes
4answers
241 views

What happens if stabilization is in the lens and also the body?

This is related to "Is Image Stabilization better in the lens or the body?" - there are lenses with stabilization built-in, and there are bodies with it built-in. What if a stabilizing lens is ...
7
votes
5answers
668 views

How much different are the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 stabilized (VC) and non-stabilized versions?

I have seen these 2 lenses being suggested by many people across the site as general purpose zooms and an upgrade to the typical 18-55mm kit lenses. The price difference seems to be around $200 (~INR ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views

How useful is image stabilization in a macro lens?

When looking at the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM and the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM the biggest differentiation is the included image stabilization(also the MTF chart, and "L" designation). How useful ...
4
votes
3answers
276 views

Are manufacturers' Image Stabilisation ratings for zoom lenses deceptive?

I've been considering getting an L-series zoom lens, and the two that I am looking at are the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS, and the 24-70mm f/2.8L. Aside from the extra reach of the 24-105, the main ...
3
votes
1answer
142 views

Is it possible to get precise framing with an unstabilized lens with a long focal length?

The longest lens I normally shoot with is a 70mm prime — a 35mm-e of 105mm on my APS-C DSLR. I'm trying out the DA★ 200mm f/2.8, though, and the thing people always say about a stabilized viewfinder ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views

What is the noise my Canon 100mm macro makes when image stabilization is enabled?

I'm currently using a brand new Canon 100mm f/2.8L macro lens. I noticed that when IS is enabled and I press the button mid-air (no shoot), I hear a little noise. Is it the image stabilizer? With IS ...
1
vote
4answers
3k views

How needed is the Image Stabilization on the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L USM lens?

I just picked up photography a few months ago as a hobby (not planning to go professional at all), but will be getting good gear and glass over time. Right now I have a T3i, which I'm considering ...