by Alan Galatian

Created on: November 27, 2010

Nothing is more frustrating than having the perfect shot in sight, clicking the shutter button and seeing a blurred photo on your LCD display. Worse yet, the blur may be slight enough that you don’t notice it until you have the photo processed and the opportunity to re-take the photo is gone. Knowing that this is a common issue, camera manufacturers developed Image Stabilization to help reduce your chances of a blurry photo. In this article, we will take a look at how this technology works.

What Image Stabilization Cannot Do

The first step to understanding image stabilization is to know what it cannot do. Image stabilization is not designed to cure the blurring that occurs from trying to capture fast moving objects, such as kids running and playing. Or from taking photos while in a moving vehicle, aircraft, train, etc. These situations encompass larger movements that are simply impossible for the camera to adjust for.

Where Image Stabilization Helps

Under certain circumstances your camera will need more light or more exposure time to capture a good image. Inadequate lighting, using a zoom lens, or trying to follow a moving object will demand more exposure time and more lighting. Combine this with the fact that it’s nearly impossible to completely immobilize your camera while holding it and you increase your chances of camera blur dramatically. Using a tripod would be helpful but is not always a feasible option. Image stabilization was designed to extend the camera’s ability to capture clear photos when no other aid is available.

How it Works

Image stabilization makes adjustments within the camera and lens allowing the camera to operate at two to three speeds slower than would normally be required. How this is accomplished varies for each camera manufacturer. Some manufacturers employ a single hardware or software solution, while others may use a combination. The method chosen partly depends on the manufacturer and the type of camera, such as a point-and-shoot digital or a D-SLR. For example: Nikon employs stabilizers inside their Nikkor lenses, while they utilize a software approach for their point-and-shoot cameras.

The Hardware Solution

Hardware-based image stabilization is a popular option used by many manufacturers. By integrating gyroscopic sensors and actuators into the body of the camera or within the lens itself, the slight movements made by a photographer are tracked and adjustments are made to keep the image focused on the CCD sensor. An image stabilizer based in the body of the camera moves only the CCD sensor, while a lens-based image stabilizer pivots a small lens element built into the lens. Manufacturers may employ one or both of these hardware methods. Using both options together extends movement range that the camera can track and capture. The benefit of the hardware solution to the consumer is better image quality when compared to the software solution.

The Software Solution

Image stabilization accomplished through the use of software makes adjustments to the ISO sensitivity and shutter speeds. Some manufacturers use this as their sole solution, which keeps the cost of the camera down, but your image quality may not be as good. Others will combine this option with a hardware solution to extend the camera’s capabilities even further. However, anytime the software solution is employed, you will likely see a small drop in image quality. The average point-and-shoot photographer should be fine with this, but a more advanced photographer will want a more sophisticated hardware-based system.

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArtic leAct&articleID=1366

http://www.nikon.com/about/technology/life/stabiliza tion/index.htm

Learn more about this author, Alan Galatian.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.