Every novice amateur photographer is dizzy with a wealth of choice, if everything is more or less clear with cameras, then there is no patience or strength left to choose a lens. And most of the happy buyers of the first DSLR leave the choice of lens on the conscience of the store manager (does he have one?). And now they bring you a box from which a frightening black pipe is taken out, sprinkling your hearing with magic spells - "ultrazoom (a topic for a separate investigation)" and "stabilizer" and you, of course, give up before the onslaught of technical progress. You spent several days studying the subject, found a store with the most advantageous offer by the camera that interested you, but you have just been warmed up for several thousand rubles and you did not even notice how.
To prevent this from happening, let me introduce you to one of these marketing spells, the Image Stabilizer.
So, we are all people and all people are characterized by movement, we cannot freeze like a stone, the heart will beat, and that means we will move. The camera has problems of a different nature, it always lacks light, and if light cannot be added, then it can compensate for its lack of time. There are extremely short periods of time in which human movements do not significantly affect the clarity of the camera image. But the darker, the more time is needed for the camera and at some point we can no longer move long enough for the camera to receive enough light. This contradiction is intended to be solved by the optical image stabilizer.
It is generally accepted that the maximum shutter speed (for handheld shooting, without blurring the image) for each specific focal length is a fraction of a second, equal to this very distance. That is, for a lens with a focal length of 50mm, the maximum exposure time will be 1/50 s, and for a lens with a focal length of 135mm, the maximum shutter speed will be 1/135 s.
The stabilizer is able to compensate for your own fluctuations and allows you to fairly confidently shoot at shutter speeds exceeding the standard allowable values for each focal length. Another question is what exactly we shoot, and we often shoot people who are also characterized by movement. There is only one way to make a person freeze like a stone, we will not say how. It has been experimentally found that the calm movements of a person are compensated for by shutter speeds from 1/100 - 1 / 135s. At longer exposures, it is much more difficult to "freeze" a person, and most of the frames will fly into the basket.
Now let's compare the required shutter speed for different focal lengths and the shutter speed sufficient for shooting a person. It turns out that at focal lengths up to 100mm, we can shoot quite calmly without any stabilizer.
Of course, a stabilizer can come in handy in some cases, for example, in landscapes or subject photography, where we are not limited in exposure due to the stillness of the subject. But even here the stabilizer is not a panacea. 2 - 4 shutter speeds are often not enough for either an evening landscape or a subject, a tripod and even a monopod provide much more possibilities.
But it would seem, why not buy a lens with a stub, just so that it was? But here another problem arises. For some reason, it so happened that the overwhelming majority of lenses with stabilizer suffer from sharpness, or rather its absence. This is most likely due to the very movable lens unit that compensates for the movement. Physically, it is impossible to set the movable element to its original position every time with the same precision as stationary fixed glasses. And the minimum displacement of the lenses relative to the optical axis has an extremely negative effect on the final picture.
If that doesn't sound convincing, there are many examples of professional lenses. Let's take a look at the widest and most widely used line of top-class lenses - Canon EF L:
Lenses without stabilizer:
EF16-35mm f / 2.8L
EF24-70mm f / 2.8L
EF70-200mm f / 2.8L
Lenses with stabilizer of the same L series
EF300mm f / 2.8 L IS
EF300mm f / 4 L IS
EF400mm f / 2.8 L IS
EF500mm f / 4.5 L IS
EF600mm f / 4 L IS
EF800mm f / 5.6 L IS
EF24-105mm f / 4 L IS
EF28-300mm f / 3.5-5.6 L IS
EF70-200mm f / 2.8 L IS
EF70-200mm f / 4 L IS
EF70-300mm f / 4-5.6 L IS
EF100-400mm f / 4.5-5.6 L IS
You can see that even in the ultra-telephoto range, there are quite a few lenses without a stabilizer. And in the wide-angle and portrait ranges, the stabilizer is completely absent. Then why is the vast majority of budget, so-called KIT lenses equipped with stabilizers in all focal length ranges? Why do photographers sell an expensive function that is needed only in rare cases, for which it spoils the picture on a regular basis? The answer is simple - marketing is just another reason to make money on an uninformed buyer.
Of course, the stabilizer is not an absolute evil. In some modern lenses, this function is implemented with dignity and does not harm the main optical properties, in the same second version of the EF70-200mm f / 2.8L IS II. However, my advice to you - if you have a choice of two lenses, with the same focal length, in one price segment, with the only difference - one has a stabilizer, and the second has a luminosity one stop higher, make a choice in favor of luminosity.
p.s. The article does not consider such a function of the image stabilizer as stabilization in panning mode (the so-called shooting with wiring), in which the stabilizer compensates only for vertical oscillations, this is a topic for a separate discussion. This stabilizer mode is only available on lenses high level which are bought by adult boys and girls, and these people will figure out what to buy without our inventions. We are talking exclusively about a standard stabilizer, which is indiscriminately inserted into all modern kit lenses.
Image stabilizers are used in all digital cameras. They are necessary, because the cameras in the hands of users at the time of the photo are often in a movable position: slight shaking of the hands or other possible factors affecting the unstable position of the camera. Without stabilization, images would always turn out blurry, and image stabilizers were invented to solve this problem. Some companies call them oscillation compensators.
The simplest and most understandable image stabilizer is tripod, but its use is often impossible. It is large and uncomfortable, it is unthinkable to carry it with you anytime and anywhere. It is often used by professional photographers for long exposure shots.
There are also software tricks for stabilizing the image: reducing the shutter speed and increasing the sensitivity (iso), but graininess may appear on such a frame. But these are not the best tricks, given the fact that it is often impossible to reduce the shutter speed due to poor lighting conditions.
There are 2 stabilization systems: digital, optical. Let's start in order.
From the name you can guess that we are talking about the operation of the lens unit (optics). The principle is simple: the lens unit is moved to the desired distance in the opposite direction of the camera movement.
The system itself is good, it is more expensive and technically more complex. However, it has advantages: the stabilized image that enters the viewfinder is transmitted to both the matrix and the autofocus system.
There is also a stabilization system based on the movement of the camera matrix. Those. the principle is the same, only instead of the lens unit, the matrix will be shifted by a certain distance when the camera is shifted. The system has advantages and disadvantages. The plus is that a camera with such a stabilization system assumes the use of cheaper interchangeable lenses (without an optical stabilization system). Minus - the image is transmitted to the viewfinder and to the focusing system unstabilized, although the matrix “sees” it stabilized (which is important). However, at large focal lengths, such a system becomes almost useless, because the matrix has to move to the sides very quickly, and it does not have time to do it.
Important: the optical stabilizer does not affect the picture quality and works well even when zoomed in. However, it requires quite a lot of energy and is technically difficult, so the dimensions of the chamber are increasing.
Digital stabilization in the camera
Digital stabilization does not imply the use of additional devices in the case. In this case, the camera processor and pre-recorded programs are used. However, in this case, part of the information (at the edges of the matrix) disappears.
In fact, the image is initially shot larger in size (larger than what we see in the photo) and when the camera is shifted, the visible area of the picture can shift on the matrix in the opposite direction, but no further than the actually shot image.
It sounds complicated, but it's actually much simpler. It's just hard to explain. The main takeaway is that digital stabilization involves program and processor resources. In fact, the camera already has algorithms - they recognize the shift in the picture and compensate for it. At the same time, the algorithms are smart, and they easily determine the shift of the picture and the movement of objects in the frame. That is, the movable elements do not affect image stabilization in any way.
The disadvantage of such a system is that it does not work well with digital zoom. If you use the camera's zoom, noise will appear in the image. However, there is also an advantage. First, there is a reduction in the cost of the camera. Secondly, the lack of additional devices inside the camera itself, which makes it more compact.
Something else about stabilization
Stabilizer operation is impossible without sensors. These sensors are sensitive and detect the slightest movement of the camera and even the rate of movement. When an offset is detected, they send signals to the processor or drives to move the stabilizer element.
The very first stabilizer (optical) was used by Canon in 1994. It was called Image Stabilization (IS).
Other companies began to use this technology a little later, but they just called it differently:
- Optical Steady Shot (Sony);
- Vibration Reduction (Nikon);
- MEGA O.I.S (Panasonic).
A moving die stabilizer was used in 2003 by Konica Minolta called Anti-Shake technology.
Competitors picked up the technology and also began to use it, calling it differently:
- Super Steady Shot (Sony);
- Image Stabilizer (Olympus);
- Shake Reduction (Pentax).
Optical or digital stabilizer - which is better?
There cannot be two different options. Definitely always better with an optical image stabilizer. According to tests (which we do not know, we just say so), he shows the best results. And in general, it is easy to verify this yourself. You just need 2 cameras with different systems stabilization. Take pictures for each of them, but shaking the camera itself a little in your hands. The result will be obvious.
Cameras with an optical stabilization system are more expensive, and the price difference is fully justified. If there is a choice between a digital or optical stabilization camera, it is always best to choose the latter option.
Optical Image Stabilization is a technology used to mechanically compensate for the camera's own angular movements to prevent blur when shooting at slow shutter speeds. The optical stabilization system built into the lens serves as a kind of replacement for the lens in a certain range of shutter speeds. The gain from using optical stabilization is usually about 3 to 4 exposure stops. Thanks to the optical stabilization mechanism, in some shooting situations, the photographer can increase the shutter speed and calmly shoot handheld.
Optical image stabilization technology appeared in 1994 when Canon presented to the mass market new system called OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). The scheme of this optical stabilizer consisted of special lenses that corrected the direction of the light flux inside the lens and electromagnetic drives responsible for deflecting these very lenses.
The stabilizing element built into the lens was distinguished by its mobility along the vertical and horizontal axes. On command from the sensor, it was deflected electrically so that the projection of the image on the photosensitive film (or matrix) would completely compensate for the vibrations of the camera during the exposure. Thanks to this solution, at small amplitudes of camera vibrations, the projection always remains stationary relative to the matrix, which provides the image with the necessary clarity.
The main difficulty in creating such optical stabilization was the precise synchronization of the photographer's hand shake and the amount of deflection of the corrective lenses. However, Canon has successfully tackled this problem. True, it was not without some drawbacks. In particular, the presence of an additional optical element in the lens design reduces its aperture ratio.
The principles of operation of the optical stabilization system, laid down in the early 90s, have largely remained unchanged up to the present day. The Japanese company was followed by other leading manufacturers of photographic equipment, which presented their optical image stabilization systems, which received brand names:
Canon - Image Stabilization (IS)
Nikon - Vibration Reduction (VR)
Panasonic - MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
Sony - Super Steady Shot
Sony Cyber-Shot - Optical SteadyShot
Sigma - Optical Stabilization (OS)
Tamron - Vibration Compensation (VC)
Pentax - Shake Reduction (SR)
Despite the different names and descriptions for these systems, they are based on the same approach, but may differ in the degree of effectiveness of camera shake compensation. Let's briefly go through various options for optical stabilization from well-known manufacturers of photographic equipment.
Canon
Canon, which is somewhat of a pioneer in the field of optical image stabilization, has traditionally placed great emphasis on implementing this system in its lenses for DSLR and compact cameras. Proprietary lenses with a built-in optical stabilization system are marked IS (Image Stabilizer). The IS system provides an additional lens group located in the middle of the lens structure. The electromagnetic drive allows one of the lenses of this group to be instantly displaced relative to the optical axis. The vibration of the camera is recorded by means of two piezoelectric sensors, which are often called gyroscopic sensors. One of the sensors detects the horizontal displacement of the camera, while the other, respectively, is responsible for the vertical plane.
The signals from the gyroscopic sensors are processed by a microprocessor, which determines the magnitude and direction of the image displacement relative to the optical axis of the lens. Next, the microprocessor drives the electromagnetic drive of the stabilization unit to correct the image position by displacing the movable lens along two axes in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens. As a result, the image can be stabilized and the degree of blurring of the picture is reduced. Tests show that the IS system can be effective at extending shutter speeds up to 2 to 3 stops. If necessary, it can be forcibly disabled.
For high-quality macro photography, Canon offers lenses with built-in Hybrid IS. Camera vibration and shake can significantly affect image quality and clarity when photographing small objects. And the standard optical stabilization system is not as effective here. New technology Optical Stabilization Hybrid IS provides for the addition of another yaw rate sensor to determine the degree of angle deviation due to the effect of hand shake, as well as a new acceleration sensor, which determines the degree of lens displacement in the linear plane.
It should be noted that the displacement of the camera in the linear plane has a very strong effect on the quality of macro photography. The IS block now includes four sensors, rather than two, to more effectively compensate for the smallest vibrations of the digital camera. The microprocessor analyzes the signals coming from the sensors and, according to a special algorithm, generates control signals for displacing the stabilizer lens by means of an electromagnetic drive. The Hybrid IS system allows you to reduce the effect of both types of "wiggle", that is, both a sharp change in the angle of direction of the lens in a circular plane and camera movement in a linear plane.
Also, the Japanese company uses the Dynamic IS optical stabilization technology, which migrated to cameras from video shooting. It is used in telephoto and wide-angle lenses when shooting movies. Dynamic Optical IS is designed to provide a more stable picture when shooting video by compensating for low-frequency vibrations such as camera shake or handheld shooting.
Nikon
Other manufacturers are implementing similar technology solutions. In particular, Nikon uses the Vibration Reduction (VR) optical stabilization system in its lenses. An additional group of lenses with a movable element is also used here, and the magnitude and direction of camera displacement during the exposure of the image are calculated by the microprocessor. It processes data from two gyroscopic sensors at a rate of approximately 1000 readings per second. If necessary, the microprocessor, by means of two electric drives, controls the displacement of the movable lens relative to its central position.
The VR system is automatically activated when the photographer presses the shutter button halfway. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the Image Stabilizer is less effective and can only suppress small vibrations for comfortable framing in the viewfinder or LCD monitor. At the moment when the shutter button is fully pressed, the movable lens is instantly set to the central position, which allows the camera to compensate for vibrations as efficiently as possible.
Thus, in the process of exposing the image, the mode of the most accurate vibration compensation is activated, which provides a clearer picture. The use of the VR system allows the exposure time to be increased several times. Various modifications of this optical stabilization mechanism (VR and VR II) are used in a wide range of lenses available for Nikon SLR cameras.
Panasonic
Panasonic uses an optical stabilization system called MEGA O.I.S, which was originally developed by the company's specialists for branded video cameras, but was then adapted for photographic equipment. In particular, for use in digital cameras of the Lumix line with interchangeable lenses. To compensate for the displacement of the image projected through the lens relative to the photosensitive matrix, the optical system is supplemented with a group of lenses with a movable element. Having fixed the vibration of the camera, the built-in gyroscopic sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor to calculate the correction. Then, based on the data obtained, the microprocessor shifts the stabilizer lens so that the light is directed exactly towards the matrix. This entire process takes a matter of fractions of a second.
Owners of Lumix cameras equipped with the MEGAO.I.S. System can switch the stabilizer operation modes. The first mode provides for the constant operation of the optical stabilizer, and the second mode assumes that the stabilization system is activated only when the shutter release button is pressed. Naturally, the ability to completely disable the stabilization system is supported in cases where this is dictated by the shooting conditions or the desire of the photographer.
Pentax has its own proprietary stabilization system called Shake Reduction (SR). It was first introduced for commercial use in 2006, when the company launched the compact 8-megapixel digital camera Optio A10. Later, Pentax started using this system stabilization not only in their compact but also in DSLR digital cameras.
Shake Reduction technology is based on the shift of the camera sensor. In this case, it is not the movable lens of the stabilizer that moves vertically and horizontally, but the photosensitive matrix of the camera.
Such a stabilization system does not affect the lens aperture or the cost of the optics, there is only one stabilizer located in the camera body and consumes less energy than the focusing systems built into the lens.
), including focus.
But still, why can photos sometimes be blurry? What else needs to be considered in the process of photographing to prevent this from happening?
Stabilizer operation in the camera
Today we will deal with the concept of image stabilizer in DSLR cameras. So what is it and why is it needed?
The fact is that the lens and the camera body itself contain a set of complex internal mechanisms. Among them there are sensitive sensors that are responsible precisely for the perception of camera movement in different directions and at different speeds. That is, the camera processor initially takes into account the possibility of a certain error in image acquisition.
With the help of a special device that counteracts this movement, we see the projected image on the screen clearly, without perceptible blurring.
Of course, at certain points, a stabilizer is needed in the camera; without it, the photo will turn out to be of much worse quality than with it. This applies even to cheap "soap boxes". But built-in stabilization has its limits. Let's take a closer look at everything.
When stabilization is needed:
- Shaking hands and unstable position of the photographer.
- Strong winds, motion pictures or moving objects.
- Long focus lenses. A long focal length can give a significant "shake", which will certainly be reflected in the photo.
- Slow shutter speed required for special visual effects in a shot or in low light. As the shutter time increases and eventually the frame is taken, the likelihood that the camera will wiggle increases accordingly.
Image destabilization invariably results in a blurry, unclear picture. These problems can be solved in some cases. So, problem No. 1 and partly No. 2 can be solved using a tripod when shooting, or you need to take a more stable position with support on both legs.
It is very useful to train yourself not to move, to freeze when photographing. Often beginners have difficulties with this, but the camera needs time to take a picture, and in this regard, unnecessary movements are useless.
To avoid camera shake when working at long focal lengths, as an option, you can get closer, if shooting conditions allow, then you do not have to twist the zoom of the device.
If you have a crop, but you need to multiply the number by the value (1.6 for Canon and 1.5 for Nikon). This gives us 1/80 and 1/75, respectively. Thus, it is not recommended to shoot below these limits in order to avoid shaking. Try to follow the rule, although it cannot be an absolute guarantor of getting a sharp shot.
With strong external vibration (shooting while running or in a moving car, in an open space in very windy weather, etc.) even a good stabilizer will hardly save you - just take this into account when shooting.
Stabilization in cameras of different models
Where to find a stabilizer in cameras? The switch is usually located on the side of the lens itself, next to autofocus. And with him everything is simple - incl. and off.
Sometimes, however, in some cameras there is an active and normal stabilizer operation modes. The first should be turned on with large fluctuations in technology, and the second during normal quiet shooting. Their differences lie in the frequencies and amplitudes of camera movement that they can suppress.
Regardless of the camera, stabilizers have the same principle - to make a sharp image, to prevent the appearance of blur and blur. The only thing is that its names may be different: for example, in Canon cameras the stabilization button is called Image Stabilization, in Nikon - Vibration Reduction. The abbreviations you'll find on your cameras are IS and VR, respectively.
This is the same with the stabilizer in the lens, but there are other options that have their merits. Manufacturers of some cameras (for example, Olympus, Sony, Nikon, Canon) have made a stabilizer built into the camera matrix itself.
We can say that stabilization in the lens is convenient, but on the other hand ... what if you come across optics without a stabilizer and there won't be one in the sensor itself?
Most likely, with such parameters of the camera, you will win at its lower price, but you will lose in quality. Thus, the stabilizer in the matrix is more reliable, it allows you to think less about whether or not a particular lens has this function.
For example, this stabilizer in Nikon cameras is called “noise reduction” and is set in the menu.
External stabilizer
What can be an additional tool to stabilize the camera? Of course it is. Here we have a wide variety of choices, it can be either a trine or a monopod. A few words about tripod requirements.
- A heavy tripod made of metal rather than plastic will be more expensive and harder to carry due to its weight, but more stable. This is a definite plus for stabilization.
- The higher you extend the tripod, the more the possibility of camera shake becomes.
- Legs: They should fit well.
Any camera weights are, in fact, do-it-yourself stabilizers. Here, craftsmen offer many options, but the main thing is good stability on the ground and the immobility of the entire structure, achieved due to its weight.
If you are interested in the information and you are ready to go further in teaching photography. If you want to learn how to photograph and receive beautiful pictures, then today it has become possible. I offer you, as a guide, a video course “ DSLR for Beginner 2.0". This is a happy video tutorial that will help you understand the main and important points of obtaining high-quality photos.
That's all for today. I look forward to seeing you on my blog again, goodbye and see you soon!
P.S. Do not forget to subscribe to news and invite your friends and acquaintances and share in in social networks, not yet canceled.
All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.
It is believed that in order not to blur the frame when photographing hand-held, an equal is needed: 1 / focal length.
At the same time, 1 / focal length is a limiting value, this is not a guarantee of a sharp frame. Therefore, you need to take a series of frames before the normal result comes out, the stabilizer shifts this border by 4 stops, but does not eliminate the need to take a series of frames. For those who do not understand, I will try to explain with an example.
Example. You are walking around the city with a DSLR camera and a photographic mood, you see something interesting, stop, take pictures, look at the screen - the frame is blurred. Do not panic, we look at the focal length - 200mm, which means that in order to take a clear shot from your hands, you need 1/200 sec (one two hundredth of a second), take one or two or three shots and get the desired result. So, if without a stabilizer you take pictures from 1/200 sec, then with it, you can take pictures with the same focal length (200mm) but already 1/60 sec!
Let's assume that you have a camera with a stabilizer. Otherwise, this article will be interesting to you only out of curiosity. Today, the stabilizer can be found both in expensive professional SLR cameras and in soap dishes, and this is no longer some kind of exotic, but functionality that is shoved where it is needed and not needed.
Conventionally, all manufacturers of SLR cameras can be divided into two groups: the first one decided to install a stabilizer to the SLR camera to the matrix(Pentax, Olympus, Sony), and the second into the lens(Canon, Nikon). I can't say for sure which is better. The first option comes out more versatile and cheaper, and the second is reliable and of high quality.
All manufacturers designate the gimbal differently, Nikon - VR(Vibration Reduction), Canon - IS(Image Stabilization), Tamron - VC(Vibration Compensation), so don't bother with what the manufacturer calls it, they all work the same way.
Do I need a stabilizer? A stabilizer is generally a useful thing, and in some moments it is simply irreplaceable. I'm talking about telephoto lenses, it is with these lenses that you will feel all the advantages of the stabilizer, otherwise you will be able to photograph either on a bright day or with a tripod, as my father and grandfather once did. To understand the importance of a stabilizer in telephoto cameras, I advise you to read reviews of some of them (,). If you have a wide-angle or portrait lens a stabilizer is not needed at all.
How and when to use it? Everything is very simple, regardless of the manufacturer, they all work the same.
If the stabilizer is on the camera, we find either the on / off button on the camera or in the camera menu. If you have a stabilizer on the lens, set the lever to the on position. If you have a soap dish, we find the stabilizer function in the menu, turn it on. In soap dishes, they often offer a choice of two modes: turn on, turn on when shooting. The second is supposed to save you battery power. I know that Nikon lenses also have an Active stabilizer mode (for example), in theory it is needed for shooting in extreme conditions (for example, when you are driving in a car), but there is a special difference between normal mode and the Active mode, I did not notice.And further. The gimbal needs to be turned off when you are photographing with a tripod or by placing the camera on a surface, precisely because of the random nature of its mechanism. At 95%, it behaves correctly, but it is the last 5% that can ruin your frame.
Remember, the stabilizer can only help you when shooting static objects, when photographing dynamic objects (moving) it will not help you in any way, so don't even count. A stabilizer is not a panacea, and in low light conditions you need to take a series of shots.
Let's summarize
A stabilizer is a necessary thing, but not a must, except in cases with telephoto lenses. Often it saves 3-4 stops of exposure, but does not eliminate the need to take several frames, all this is due to the random nature of its mechanism. It won't save you when shooting moving subjects.
