Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) Explained!

When comparing the specs between the cameras and today’s hottest cell phones, one often starts running into an awful lot of photography specific terminology being thrown around in a term that seems to have been all the rage lately is optical image stabilization or OIS. Now many phones today offer optical image stabilization and even some phones are making this technology a key feature for branding. This technology is special not in the sense that it is new but in the sense that it is an efficient and small way of having quality images even with your cell phones. Now in the past the only image stabilization readily offered on cell phone cameras was of digital variety which worked alright for minimizing annoying bombing effect on video footages but did not score in reducing shakiness or motion blur caused by the camera movement and this is where optical image stabilizer come in. They help to produce higher quality images by reacting to stimulus in real time ensuring that the path between the lens and the sensor is perfectly aligned before the subject is captured not allowing the user or the software easily focus the image. So to accomplish that manufactures use highly sensitive gyroscopic sensors in any range of two to many which provide data as to the angle and movement of the camera and some even exist to provide extra functionality such as improved vertical stability while taking panoramic shots. These directional sensors work in combination with tiny electromagnets that affect the angle by lens of image sensor depending on the type of OIS employed.

So the first type we are looking at is the lens based application which is found in high-end cameras and work by affecting the access on the lens in response to movement, keeping the image tracked on the sensor as squarely as possible. The main advantage to this style is that the image seen by the user is as stable and clear as possible but it fails in application where no distance can be created between the lens and the sensor so you are pretty much who if you want this kind of tech into a cell phone which brings us to the second type i.e. sensor-based or in body stabilizers which by contrast affect the angle of image sensor in response to stimulus and have the added benefit of being able to adjust the focal length as well. This type of stabilization can be compact enough to fit into small things like cell phones while also being a much more portable and practical option as it prevents the user from having heavy camera equipment. However sensor based option is not totally perfect. Since the image projected onto a sensor is not already stabilized negative qualities such as reduce low light autofocus performance can be an issue especially in instances where there is noticeable lag in the electronic view finder or screen image also these type of stabilizers are greatly dependent on their movement, speed and the size of the lens in front of them. That means to improve long distance and motion performance at some point the lens must get bigger and as many of know getting bigger for good performance is simply not the option.

However, image stabilization is the feature which is warmly welcomed by everyone, in the sense who does not want better photo or duck faced selfies.