{"id":360601,"date":"2021-05-07T12:37:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T11:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/?post_type=learning-centre&p=360601"},"modified":"2021-05-07T12:37:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T11:37:56","slug":"image-stabilization-explained","status":"publish","type":"learning-centre","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-gb\/learning-centre\/image-stabilization-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Image Stabilization Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back in the day, before camera technologies got really clever, there was only one way to ensure you got shake-free images: put your camera on a solid tripod. As soon as the camera was off the tripod, there was always the possibility of camera shake spoiling your shots. More recently, however, image stabilization technologies have been created to help reduce the chances of camera shake happening when shooting handheld. Fujifilm uses two systems: Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS). Let\u2019s take a look at each in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optical Image Stabilization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fujifilm\u2019s OIS system is found in selected XF, XC, and GF lenses. Put simply, if your lens name has OIS in its name, it has an image stabilization system built in, such as the XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR. OIS is designed to combat camera shake caused by horizontal or vertical movement. To do this, a series of gyroscopic sensors within the lens make thousands of calculations per second to calculate when and how the lens is moving. Then one of the lens elements, which is motorised, is moved to combat the shake. It\u2019s why you can hear an internal whirring on an OIS lens when the system is active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The OIS systems in XF and XC lenses offer varying levels of image stabilization. Some lenses, such as the aforementioned XF50-140mm lens, offer up to five stops of compensation, while others offer less than this. But it\u2019s down to the individual photographer to ascertain how much compensation they can actually achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do this, attach your OIS lens and select the Shutter Priority exposure mode. With the OIS system turned off, take a shot at 1\/125 sec and then check image sharpness. If it is sharp, try 1\/60 sec and check again. Keep doing this, selecting a longer shutter speed each time, until you spot shake in your shot. Now turn the OIS system on and repeat this process using progressively longer shutter speeds until you see shake again \u2013 all being well, this will be a longer shutter speed than you managed with the OIS turned off. The difference in the two shutter speeds is the number of stops you can achieve personally. For example, if you could achieve shake-free shots with OIS off at 1\/60 sec and with it on at 1\/8 sec, that\u2019s three stops of compensation. Remember this for each one of your OIS lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While OIS is lens based, there is an option on your camera where you can choose when OIS works. Go to the SHOOTING SETTING menu and choose IS MODE, where you\u2019ll have two options: CONTINUOUS or SHOOTING ONLY. On the CONTINUOUS option, the OIS system is always active when the camera is on, whereas SHOOTING ONLY switches the system on when the shutter release is pressed halfway to focus. To maximise battery life, choose SHOOTING ONLY. This function also works for IBIS.<\/p>\n\n\n

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