Image Stabilization (IS) is a method of reducing blur in photographs by automatically shifting camera lenses to compensate for movement or vibration of the camera itself during shooting. Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is what users expect from flagship smartphones. This method provides great photos and videos. There are two common methods of image stabilization - software electronic (Electronic Image Stabilization, EIS) and hardware optical. About that, you can understand the example of the new Galaxy S6.

The features of the two main methods of image stabilization were considered by Ubergizmo in the article “What Is Image Stabilization?”. Optical image stabilization and how it works was illustrated in a video. After all, users sometimes pay attention only to, forgetting about its other no less, and sometimes more important characteristics, which include the image stabilization technology used.

Optical Image Stabilization eliminates the common problem of motion blur caused by camera movement or shaking while shooting.


However, if the device is shaking a lot, then even OIS will only help to a certain extent. And it is important to understand that image stabilization does not prevent camera shake per se, but only partially neutralizes its effects.

Electronic Image Stabilization uses a complex software algorithm to improve image quality. Optical is a hardware solution. The desired result is achieved by adjusting the optical path of the image sensor by moving or tilting the lens to compensate or cancel out the user's movement. Two methods are used. Previously, changing the position of the lens was used. More modern method consists in shifting the entire module, due to which the stabilization of the photograph is achieved.

Blurring that appears in photographs is caused by a misalignment of the optical path between the focusing lenses and the center of the image sensor. In the lens shift method, only the lenses in the camera module are able to make small shifts as opposed to changing the optical path. The second method involves shifting the entire module, including the image sensor and lenses.

Optical Image Stabilization uses various sensors to correct for shifting along the X/Y coordinate axes. The sensors also detect tilt and deflection. All of the data collected is used to calculate how much lens repositioning is required to bring the optical path exactly to the center of the image sensor.

Electronic image stabilization achieves a similar result, but, unfortunately, at the cost of image quality (for example, by cropping parts of the original image). Optical, on the other hand, reduces blurring without affecting the quality of the original image. It is possible to use both image stabilization technologies at the same time. The advantage of electronic stabilization is that it requires only software, and OIS needs additional camera hardware. Therefore, optical stabilization is a more expensive solution.

The interest of users in the cameras of their smartphones is constantly growing. It is now one of the most important elements of a smart phone, and manufacturers are constantly equipping it with more and more new features. It is possible that soon users of Android devices. It is in the whole wonderful smartphone HTC One M9. It is possible that in the M10, users will again turn their attention to the flagship HTC phones.

What characteristics of a smartphone camera, besides the resolution of its sensor and the presence of optical image stabilization, do you consider the most important?

Optical Image Stabilization is a technology used to mechanically compensate for the camera's own angular movements in order to prevent image 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 typically around 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 began in 1994 when Canon introduced to the mass market new system, called OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer - optical image stabilizer). The scheme of this optical stabilizer consisted of special lenses that corrected the direction luminous flux inside the lens and electromagnetic drives responsible for the deviations of these same lenses.

The stabilizing element built into the lens was characterized by mobility along the vertical and horizontal axes. On command from the sensor, it was deflected by an electric drive in such a way that the projection of the image on the photosensitive film (or matrix) completely compensated for the camera's vibrations during the exposure. Thanks to this solution, at small amplitudes of camera oscillations, 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 exact synchronization of the trembling of the photographer's hands and the amount of deflection of the corrective lenses. However, Canon has successfully dealt with this problem. True, it was not without some shortcomings. In particular, the presence of an additional optical element in the design of the lens reduces its aperture ratio.

The principles of operation of the optical stabilization system, laid down in the early 90s, according to by and large remained unchanged to this day. The Japanese company was followed by other leading manufacturers of photographic equipment, who 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)

In spite of different names and descriptions of 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 different options optical stabilization from well-known manufacturers of photographic equipment.

Canon

As something of a pioneer in optical image stabilization, Canon has traditionally focused on great attention implementation of this system in their lenses designed for SLR and compact cameras. Branded lenses with a built-in optical stabilization system are marked IS (Image Stabilizer). The IS system provides for an additional group of lenses placed in the middle of the lens structure. The electromagnetic drive allows you to instantly shift one of the lenses of this group relative to the optical axis. Camera vibration is detected by two piezoelectric sensors, often referred to as gyroscopic sensors. One of the sensors detects the horizontal displacement of the camera, while the other, respectively, is responsible for the vertical plane.

Signals from gyroscopic sensors are processed by a microprocessor, which determines the amount and direction of 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 shifting 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 "smearing" of the image is reduced. Tests show that the IS system can be effective at shutter speeds up to 2 to 3 stops. You can force it to turn off if needed.

For high-quality macro photography, Canon offers lenses with a built-in Hybrid IS optical stabilization system. Vibration and camera shake significantly affect the quality and clarity of the picture when photographing small objects. And the standard optical stabilization system is not so effective here. New technology The Hybrid IS Optical Stabilization adds another yaw rate sensor to detect the amount of angle deviation due to hand-shake, and a new acceleration sensor that detects the amount of lens movement in a 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 slightest vibrations of a digital camera. The microprocessor analyzes the signals coming from the sensors and, according to a special algorithm, generates control signals for shifting the stabilizer lens by means of an electromagnetic drive. The Hybrid IS system allows you to reduce the impact of both types of “shake”, that is, both abrupt change the angle of the direction of the lens in a circular plane, and the shift of the camera in a linear plane.

The Japanese company also uses Dynamic IS optical stabilization technology, which has migrated to cameras from video shooting. It is used in televisions and wide angle lenses when shooting movies. The Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer is designed to provide a more stable picture when shooting movies by compensating for low-frequency vibrations such as camera shake or handheld shooting.

Nikon

Other manufacturers are implementing similar technological 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 amount and direction of camera movement during the exposure of the image are calculated by the microprocessor. It processes data from two gyro sensors at a rate of approximately 1000 values ​​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 activated automatically when the photographer presses the shutter button halfway. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the Image Stabilizer works less effectively and only suppresses small vibrations for comfortable framing in the viewfinder or LCD monitor. At the moment of fully pressing the shutter button, the movable lens is instantly set to the central position, which allows you to compensate for camera vibrations as efficiently as possible.

Thus, in the process of exposing the image, the most accurate vibration compensation mode is activated, which provides a clearer picture. Using the VR system allows you to increase the exposure time by several times. Various modifications This optical stabilization mechanism (VR and VR II) is used in a wide range of lenses produced for SLR cameras Nikon.

Panasonic

Panasonic uses an optical stabilization system called MEGA O.I.S, which was originally developed by the company's specialists for branded camcorders, but then was adapted to photographic equipment. In particular, for use in digital cameras of the Lumix line with interchangeable lenses. To compensate for the shift of the image projected through the lens relative to the photosensitive matrix optical system complemented by a group of lenses with a moving element. Having fixed the vibration of the camera, the built-in gyro sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor to calculate the correction. Then, based on the received data, the microprocessor shifts the stabilizer lens so that the light is directed exactly to the matrix. This whole 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 permanent job optical stabilizer, and the second one assumes that the stabilization system turns on only at the moment the shutter release button is pressed. Naturally, the possibility is supported complete shutdown stabilization systems in cases where it 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 a compact 8-megapixel digital camera Optio A10. Later Pentax began to use this system stabilization not only in their compact, but also in SLR digital cameras.

Shake Reduction technology is based on the shift of the camera's matrix. In this case, it is no longer 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 aperture ratio of the lens or the cost of optics, the stabilizer is alone and is located in the camera body, consumes less energy than focusing systems built into the lens.

Every novice amateur photographer's head is spinning from the wealth of choice, if everything is more or less clear with cameras, then there is neither patience nor strength left to choose a lens. And most 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 they extract a frightening black pipe, flavoring your hearing with magic spells - "ultrasound (a topic for a separate investigation)" and "stabilizer" and you, of course, give up before the onslaught of technological progress. You spent several days studying the subject, found a store with the best offer for the camera you were interested in, but you just got heated up for several thousand rubles and you didn’t even notice how.

To prevent this from happening, let me introduce you to one of these marketing spells, 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 its lack can be compensated with time. There are extremely small periods of time in which human movements do not have a significant impact on the clarity of the camera image. But the darker, the more time the camera needs, and at some point we can no longer not move long enough for the camera to get enough light. This contradiction is designed to solve the optical image stabilizer.

It is generally accepted that the maximum shutter speed (for handheld shooting, without image blur) 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 shutter speed will be 1/50s, and for a lens with a focal length of 135mm, the maximum stable shutter speed will be 1/135s.

The stabilizer is able to compensate for your own fluctuations and allows you to quite confidently shoot at shutter speeds exceeding the standard allowable values ​​for each focal length. Another question is what exactly we shoot, and we shoot most often people who are also characterized by movement. There is only one way to make a person freeze like a stone, we will not say which. It has been empirically found that the calm movements of a person are compensated by shutter speeds from 1/100 - 1/135s. At longer shutter speeds, it is much more difficult to “freeze” a person and most of the frames will fly into the trash.

Now let's compare the required shutter speed for different focal lengths and the shutter speed sufficient to shoot a person. It turns out that at focal lengths up to 100mm we can quite easily shoot without any stabilizer.

Of course, the stabilizer can be useful in some cases, such as landscape or subject photography, where we are not limited in shutter speeds due to the immobility of the subject. But even here the stabilizer is not a panacea. 2 - 4 exposure steps are often not enough either for an evening landscape or for a subject, a tripod and even a monopod give much more opportunities.

But it would seem, why not buy a lens with a stub, just so that it is? But here another problem arises. For some reason, it so happened that the vast majority of lenses with a stabilizer suffer from sharpness, or rather, its absence. Most likely, this is due to the same movable lens block that compensates for movement. It is physically impossible to set the movable element to its original position every time with the same accuracy as permanently fixed glasses. And the minimum shift of the lenses relative to the optical axis has an extremely negative effect on the final picture.

If this does not look convincing, then there are many examples of professional lenses. Consider the widest and most common 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/2.8L IS

EF300mm f/4L IS

EF400mm f/2.8L IS

EF500mm f/4.5L IS

EF600mm f/4L IS

EF800mm f/5.6L IS

EF24-105mm f/4L IS

EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS

EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS

EF70-200mm f/4L IS

EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

You can see that even in the ultra-TV range there are quite a few lenses without a stabilizer. And in the wide-angle and portrait range, the stabilizer is completely absent. Then why is the vast majority of budget, so-called KIT lenses equipped with stabilizers in all ranges of focal lengths? Why do amateur photographers get an expensive feature that is needed only in rare cases, for which it regularly spoils the picture? The answer is simple - marketing is just another reason to make money on an ignorant buyer.

Of course, the stabilizer is not an absolute evil. In some modern lenses, this function is implemented adequately and not to the detriment of 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 are faced with a choice of two lenses with the same focal length, in the same price segment, with the only difference - one has a stabilizer, and the second has a aperture one step higher, make a choice in favor of aperture.

p.s. The article does not cover such an image stabilizer function as panning stabilization (the so-called panning shooting), 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 fabrications. We are talking exclusively about the standard stabilizer, which is indiscriminately inserted into all modern whale lenses.

Camera shake is one of the significant factors affecting the quality of video material.

Before the advent of optical stabilization systems in Canon lenses, there was only one way to get around this limitation - using tripod. This is the right approach when shooting in any conditions, but the use of a tripod in some cases does not provide efficiency and mobility.

To get around this limitation, Canon has developed a unique optical image stabilization system.

It must be said right away that the stabilization system is precisely optical and, although it uses gyroscopes, they are tiny and only as sensors for detecting the movement of the lens, so there are no kilogram rotating metal pancakes and a wearable tank battery and an electric motor to rotate them. I would also like to note that, contrary to popular belief, this device does not consume a large amount of camera battery power. Although if you make it work for hours, energy consumption will be noticeable.

How image stabilizer (IS) works.


The image stabilizer shifts the lens group of the objective in a plane parallel to the film. When the lens is moved due to shock, the light rays from the object (its image) shift relative to the optical axis, causing a smeared image.

By shifting the group of stabilization lenses in a plane perpendicular to the film plane within the necessary limits to compensate for the movement of the lens, it is possible to achieve the effect when the rays reaching the film plane actually remain motionless. The picture shows how the ray path is mechanically corrected in the case when the lens "pecks".

Camera movements are captured by two gyro sensors. The sensors determine the direction (angle) and speed of movement (shake) of the camera with the lens, which usually occurs when shooting handheld. To protect the gyrosensors from errors associated with the reaction to the movement of the camera mirror or the shutter, the sensors are enclosed in special protective blocks.

The lens group of the stabilization unit has a direct drive from the cores (solenoid). The device is small, lightweight, consumes more than a moderate amount of energy, has a short response time - a quick response to commands. The device allows you to effectively compensate for vibrations with a frequency of 0.5 to 20 Hz. The position of the stabilization block is determined using infrared LEDs - emitters (IREDs - Infrared Emitting Diodes) on the frame of the block and the position determination device (PSD-Position sensing Device) located on the electronics board of the block. Thus, initially the stabilization device has feedback for precise positioning. The stabilization device also has a lock that sets the stabilization lens group to a central neutral position when the image stabilization device is turned off.

When choosing equipment for video shooting, it would be a mistake to think that it is enough to buy a fancy camera with high resolution and the picture will look good. In fact, if we watch a video shot by professionals, we can already see by the smoothness of the camera movement that the camera is mounted on something that allows us to avoid sharp turns and shaking. That is, in fact, no less important role play various systems, fixing the camera, or allowing you to smoothly move it. In the case of handheld shooting, the most modern version of such a system is electronic stabilizers (steadicams), which compensate for camera rotation due to built-in electric motors.

Let's take a closer look at what they do.

In any electronic stabilizer, the camera and the handle by which it is held are connected by two frames located perpendicular to each other. Between the frames there are three hinges driven by electric motors. Each of these electric motors keeps the camera from rotating in one of three axes. These three axes are commonly referred to in aviation terminology:

  1. Roll - camera tilt left-right
  2. Pitch - tilt back and forth
  3. Yaw - turning around a vertical axis

Also, the design of the stabilizer includes gyroscopes, which, in fact, determine the tendency of the camera to rotate around these axes.

From all this it is clear that even in its simplest form, an electronic stabilizer is a high-tech device, the capabilities of which could previously be realized only for very big money.

Depending on the tasks and budget, different cameras can be used for video shooting. Accordingly, since the cameras have different weight, stabilizers differ in maximum load. Therefore, we decided not to interfere with everything in a heap, but to consider these devices in order of increasing maximum load.

Electronic stabilizers for action cameras

Action cameras are compact in size, so the stabilizers for them are lightweight. They can be used with monopod extensions that turn them into an advanced selfie stick.

The most popular and widespread are the stabilizers of the Chinese company Feiyu. Their popularity arises due to the low price, which, in turn, is due to functional simplicity.

The first of the models that started it all - designed for GoPro HERO 3 and - served Starting point for subsequent devices. To control here, only two buttons are used - one for turning on, the other for switching modes. The camera is only attached to the stabilizer, it is impossible to control the camera from the stabilizer. Feature Feiyu FY-G4 - it cannot be turned on without load, that is, the camera.


It had three modes, depending on which axes remain fixed with the stabilizer and which do not. Later, a model came out, the mount of which became universal and suitable for cameras from other manufacturers.


The main improvement of another updated model is the ability to rotate the camera 360 degrees horizontally, as well as connect the GoPro to the connector on the gimbal for easy operation, all this, coupled with a new, more convenient mount for the camera itself. Finally, a joystick appeared on the stabilizer to control the turn.


Another form factor for electronic stabilizers for action cameras is the . The name already suggests that it is more compact.


It has a small body without a handle, as it is designed to be mounted on various action camera mounts. That is, you can put it on a bicycle, helmet, any mobile platform, and it will stabilize the fixed action camera. However, no one bothers to fix it on a monopod and use it for selfie video, like FY-G4.

Smartphone stabilizers

A professional is unlikely to purposefully shoot on a smartphone, but for an amateur, this may turn out to be the main video recording device, since modern models“smart phones” allow this.

Feiyu releases the FY-G4 Pro and FY-SPG Live in this segment.


The main "chip" of the second is the ability to rotate to a vertical shooting position, connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth. At the same time, a special program is installed on the smartphone, with which you can calibrate the stabilizer.


But the best stabilizer for this style of shooting is probably .


The main advantages of this device:

  1. The stabilizer connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth, and can control the shooting of photos and videos using dedicated buttons.
  2. The software supports face detection, which allows Osmo Mobile to automatically capture a person by following their movement by turning in their direction.
  3. The stabilizer supports the motion timelapse function. The smartphone camera takes a series of shots with a small angle shift after each shot, and then these shots are combined into a video.
  4. Ability to upgrade image quality with the advent of new models of smartphones.
  5. The ability to use the gimbal with GoPro HERO using third-party mounts.

Stabilizers for cameras and camcorders

From compact stabilizers come the most simple models- with one handle. Here we return to the Feiyu models. The fact is that they have developed a stabilizer model similar to the FY-G4, only intended for cameras. bigger size. This model is called FY-MG.


It supports cameras weighing up to 1 kilogram, which, of course, is not only a quantitative but also a qualitative leap.

In the case of using such a stabilizer, it is necessary not only to adjust to the weight of the camera, but also to adjust to the center of gravity. Therefore, the FY-MG provides the ability to adjust the balance of the camera in all planes.

This device has two versions: FY-MG Lite and FY-MG V2. The second differs from the first in a plastic carrying case and, most importantly, in the presence of a holder in the kit that allows you to hold the stabilizer with two hands. Thus, the stabilizer has several usable configurations, shown in the photo below.


Devices of the DJI Ronin series, despite the same principle of operation as those of other manufacturers, have a number of qualitative differences, allowing them to be treated as a separate class. Let's list these features:


conclusions

The choice of an electronic stabilizer is determined, first of all, by what kind of camera you want to use and what budget you have. This is not the case when you have to choose from many similar models, since the number of manufacturers in our market is very limited. One way or another, any electronic stabilizer significantly improves productivity. In some cases, it can be replaced by a classic mechanical Steadicam, which, oddly enough, gives a more natural stabilization effect, but that's another story.