More & more of the newer cameras are offering 'Optical Image Stabilization' which I'm told is vastly improved when compared to the older attempts at stabilization.
What I don't know & would like to know is if every camera manufactured is using the exact same technology or is it as I suspect each one has different versions of the same idea. If this is the case which brands have the best Optical Image Stabilizer?
Re: Optical Image Stabilization by Allen Zagel on May 5, 2008 at 12:20:09 pm
AFAIK There's different technologies out there. I'm only used to the Sony but my friend's had Canons for years. Until recently according to my friend the Canon stabilization hasn't been too good until their recently released new HD camera. According to him it has a mini gyro. Can't remember the model number though A1 something.
From everything else I've heard, Sony probably was the best one available. I've never had any problems with Sony's and that's the only cameras 1've ever owned. starting in August 2002 with a TRS-20, then TRS-30 then the VX2000 and DSR350 and I've been extremely happy.
Re: Optical Image Stabilization by Laszlo Kovacs on May 5, 2008 at 9:19:15 pm
Hi,
I own a Panasonic GS500 camcorder, and few weeks before I had the chance to have a PD170 in my hands. ;)
My subjective opinion is that the OIS function works similar in both cameras, I didn't feel any major difference in this regard.
Please mind, that the OIS helps a lot, especially with handheld zoomed shots, but it does not substitute a tripod, or a handheld support.
If you can, try the stabilizers, do some zoomed shots, and then view it by playing the shot. This is important, since your brain compensates a lot of shaking while shooting and looking at the LCD. While playing, your brain does not "compensate", so you can truly evaluate what the stabilizer does.
