imagestabilization

Does Your Lens Rattle? Here’s What You Need To Know

It's quite a scary thought when you hear your new lens rattle for the first time. Let's face it, you most likely spent a stack of cash to obtain new gear, and if it's failing out of the box, you're not going to be too impressed. So rather than ringing the manufacturer's support line to complain, know that there is nothing wrong with your rattling lens.

Retro Review: The 2001 Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS

Launched in 2001, the Pro90 IS was Canon’s flagship PowerShot and shared a similar external design to the earlier Pro70 from 1998 but greatly boosted its zoom capability from 2.5x to 10x. It became Canon’s first digital camera with optical image stabilization as well.

Forget Video: A Review of the Canon EOS R5 for Stills Photographers

Given all of the overheating controversy and the intense focus on the camera's 8K and 4K video capabilities, you'd be forgiven for forgetting that the Canon EOS R5 is also a stills camera. But Gordon Laing at Cameralabs didn't forget, and he's reviewed this camera specifically for stills photographers.

This Video Explains Exactly How Lens IS and IBIS Work in Modern Cameras

Most photographers know the basics of lens-based image stabilization (Lens IS) and in-body image stabilization (IBIS), but if you've ever wanted a technical deep-dive that explains exactly how these systems work to generate 4, 5, or even 7 stops of stabilization, this video from Imaging Resource is here to answer that call.

Video Stabilization Comparison: Lens IS vs In-Body IS vs Warp Stabilizer

How does Lens IS compare to using IBIS? And how do either of these compare to stabilization in post? These are the questions that Eric Stemen wanted to answer in his latest side-by-side comparison, which highlights the benefits and limitations of each stabilization method when shooting video handheld.

Canon IS vs Sony IBIS: Which Image Stabilization is Better?

The Sony a7R III is a feature-filled camera that I’m sure many of us would consider to be one of the best currently available on the market. One of its very useful features is IBIS or in-body image stabilization. This feature helps prevent motion blur in your images by moving the sensor to compensate for unintentional vibrations and movements.

Google Explains Why the Pixel Doesn’t Have Optical Image Stabilization

When Google announced its Pixel smartphone last week and boasted about its "best smartphone camera ever," there was one notable thing it lacked compared to the iPhone: optical image stabilization. Instead of physically stabilizing shots, the Pixel uses readings from the phone's built-in gyroscope to compensate for shake.

A Crazy Wingsuit Flight Enhanced with Software Stabilization

Want to see the power of ReelSteady's software based image stabilization for After Effects? The video above shows a crazy wingsuit stunt by BASE jumper Graham Dickinson and his friend Dario. The GoPro HERO footage has been stabilized using ReelSteady as a "stress test."

Canon Patent Hints at the Future of Optical Stabilization

Optical stabilization has slowly but surely continued to improve in recent years, but a new patent from Canon hints at a major change in the tech that may arrive in future lenses: instead of one image stabilized lens group, the patent describes a lens that uses two.

The Cheapest DIY Camera Stabilizer Might Be a Shopping Bag

Here's a neat, simple, and cheap little trick that'll help you get smooth footage when shooting video or a hyperlapse with your DSLR. If you don't have the money or the need to pony up for a serious stabilization system, try using a shopping bag instead!

How the Mi 5 4-Axis Image Stabilization Compares to the iPhone 6S

Cameras are one of the key features consumers look for in smartphones, so phone makers are constantly working to break new ground in smartphone camera features, specs, and quality. Dual camera systems are starting to appear, OPPO just unveiled the first sensor-baser image stabilizer for smartphones.

The Chinese company Xiaomi has a few tricks of its own. Its new Mi 5 smartphone features a new 4-axis optical image stabilization system that appears to outperform the latest and greatest Apple stabilization system in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

Tank Guns Make for Fantastic Camera Stabilizers

Need a camera stabilizer? Just buy a tank and duct tape your camera to the gun barrel. Despite their large size and deadly nature, some tank guns can be incredibly stable while the tank is rumbling about.

The 1986 video above by German's armed forces shows the impressive stabilization technology built into the Leopard main battle tank -- it's stable enough to keep beer from spilling.

Reports Confirm that the 5-Axis Stabilization on Sony’s a7II Works with All 3rd Party Glass

Just four days ago, Sony announced its a7II: the world’s first full-frame digital camera with 5-axis image stabilization build into the body. But as impressive as we know the image stabilization could be, no one was quite sure what glass said stabilization would work with.

The news, however, is all good. New reports are confirming that the a7II’s stabilization will work with all(!) 3rd party lenses.

SteadXP Adds an Accelerometer to Any DSLR or GoPro for Better Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is a tricky business. There are a plethora of ways to do it: optical image stabilization, algorithmic stabilization and, more recently, hybrid options that combine the best of analogue and digital input.

A great example is Instagram’s new Hyperlapse app, which gathers data from the accelerometer built into your iPhone and uses that data to digitally correct for camera shake and give you smooth footage.

And now, an upcoming product called SteadXP wants to do the same thing for your DSLR or GoPro.

Rumor: Canon May Replace the 50mm f/1.4 with a High-End 50mm f/1.8

Canon's 50mm lens lineup is getting crowded... at least that's what Canon seems to think. According to a fresh rumor, the company has plans to replace the current 50mm f/1.4 USM. But it won't be replaced by another f/1.4. Instead, Canon might do away with the lens altogether and release a high-end 50mm f/1.8 IS USM instead.

Humor: Chicken-Based Image Stabilizing Rig Delivers Super-Steady Results

Optical image stabilization is all about keeping the camera still even as the housing shakes or otherwise moves around. And when it comes to stabilization in nature, few creatures are as good at keeping their camera (read: head) perfectly still as the chicken.

So why not strap a camera onto a chicken's head and turn the guy (or gal) into a fowl-stabilized action cam!? Why, no reason at all!

Instagram iOS Update Enables Landscape Support and Front Camera Stabilization

Today's minor update from Instagram -- you can tell it's minor because it's version 4.0.2 -- was actually a bit more feature-packed than the number suggests. Coming on the heels of the major Instagram Video update in 4.0, the newest iOS update adds much sought-after landscape support as well as video stabilization when using the front-facing camera.

Nikon Updates Vibration Reduction Stats to Comply With New Standard

This month, the Consumer & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) released a new standard to help make better sense of the world of image stabilization. Theoretically, the standard will make sure that all manufacturers test and report image stabilization statistics the same way, so you can better compare between lens brands.

And although we haven't heard anything from any other company, Nikon has already hopped aboard and released a list of CIPA-compliant numbers.