Image Stabilized

Here we talk about Canon's Optical Image Stabilized EF lenses but the principle is the same for all modern cameras which incorporate optical image stabilized lenses.

The following article is reproduced from the Canon Digital Learning Center

How do Canon's Optical Image Stabilized EF lenses work and how may I use one to reduce or eliminate the amount of blurry images I take in low-light situations?

Blurry images can be caused by a variety of reasons. The most common reason is due to simple camera shake (caused by hand-holding a camera, generally in low-light situations).

Shooting handheld requires a steady hand and a clear understanding of the impact that shutter speed has on your photo. If a photographer must shoot in low light, as one example, then a slower than normal shutter speed must be used for a correct exposure. A slower shutter speed means that the exposure will be longer (allowing more light through the lens), so any zoom camera shake during a long exposure will cause an image to appear blurry.

A common rule of thumb for "safe" handholding prescribes a shutter speed which equals 1/focal length (or higher) for blur-free images. For example, if you are shooting with a 300mm lens, then a 1/300 shutter speed would be the recommended minimum for a blur-free image. However, Optical Image Stabilization allows photographers to create a sharp image at slower shutter speeds.

Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization helps a photographer capture sharp images by reducing zoom camera shake/vibration (common shooting problems associated with handheld photography). Optical Image Stabilization is especially useful when using a telephoto lens, but it also allows much longer normal shutter speeds in low-light situations while using wide-angle and normal focal length lenses.

Principle of Canon's Optical Image Stabilized Lens Parallel Movement

Canon's Optical Image Stabilized Lens Sequence

Image taken without Canon's Optical Image Stabilized Lens

Understanding the principles of an Image Stabilized Lens is the first step in learning how to capture sharper images. Using your zoom camera properly is the next step.

A sharper photograph is possible when a Canon Optical Image Stabilized lens is used to counter camera shake due to handheld photography.

Other benefits of an Optical Image Stabilized Camera:

Shooting in Low-Light Situations

When shooting in low-light situations, the Optical Image Stabilizer allows shooting sharp pictures at shutter speeds up to three stops slower, so it is possible to shoot at slower shutter speeds without a tripod.

zoom camera

An image stabilized zoom camera gives a photographer the ability to hand hold much longer lenses than ever before. This image was captured with an image stabilized zoom camera.

Capturing a sharper image while panning along with a moving subject is possible with an image stabilized camera.

Each zoom camera featured on this site is image stabilized. Click on a zoom camera image below for full technical details.

Best Selling Zoom Cameras

Sitemap