Short Description
Affordable Image Stabilization
The
Nikon Coolpix S9700 is an affordably priced digital camera with at least 6x optical zoom and and lens image stabilization for only $59.99.
Image stabilization prevents blurring images from camera shake. It's especially important to have image
stabilization when buying a large zoom camera, or when shooting in low light situations because the images are at
significant risk of being blurred. There are different types of image stabilization. Lens stabilization is the best,
senor stabilization second best and digital stabilization the worst. If image stabilization is important to you than
we recommend either lens or sensor based stabilization and don't recommend digital image stabilization.
Lens Stabilization
Lens based stabilization is the best and most versatile option. A portion of the lens group is typically moved
horizontally and vertically to compensate for vibration/shake, depending on the implementation accelerometer, gyros
and electro magnets and tiny motors do the work. Fortunately lens based image stabilization is not that expensive of
an addition to most digicams but it can be with SLRs because each lens requires it. Since mid to high end dSLRs don't
have image stabilization built into the body the only way to get image stabilization is to buy lenses with it built
in - the cost of this adds up over time. SLRs with sensor shift can avoid this price premium on each lens.
Nonetheless lens based image stabilization is king and that's why the most camera manufacturers use it in their best
cameras. Additionally, it is the only option that provides stabilization during video recording.
Travel Zooms with Optical Image Stabilization
The following are some of the best travel zooms digital cameras with optical image stabilization.
Sensor Shift
Sensor shift can provide excellent results and provides a means of giving non image-stabilized lenses free image
stabilization, this can lower the cost of your lens collection significantly and instantly modernize a collection of
vintage glass. Some very high end full frame cameras do use sensor shift so it is indeed a viable option, although it
is still largely used by the smaller makers of dSLRs, namely Sony and Pentax. Its use in digicams is more widespread.
Sensor shift detects vibrations and physically adjusts the position of the image sensor accordingly to cancel out
shifts in the image. One disadvantage to sensor shift is the image in the viewfinder is not image stabilized which
can make composition harder. A further disadvantage is the inability to use image stabilization during video shoots
as the image sensor typically must be locked. Finally auto focus performance in low light can suffer in cameras using
phase-detection auto focus (typically SLRs).
Best Sensor Shift Digital Cameras
The following are some of the best cameras that incorporate sensor shift image stabilization.
Digital Image Stabilization
Although theoretically capable of reducing blur, we do not recommend digital image stabilization because it is
difficult to ascertain how good the software algorithms will be in range of conditions, especially in low light when
they are most needed. Theoretically by reducing the resolution of the sensor and using the outside border to
approximate sensor shift image stabilization should be possible but typically digital image stabilization is a
technique utilized in lower end cameras and again the effectiveness across all conditions cannot be guaranteed. We
suggest you stick with either optical or sensor shift image stabilization.
Ultra Affordable IS Cameras
The following cameras use lens image stabilization and are ultra affordable illustrating that there is no need to
settle with digital image stabilization.
DSLRs with IS
Although many manufacturers only offer image stabilization in lenses, some DSLR manufacturers do offer IS in the body meaning you can use it with all of your lenses.
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It includes an animation that tries to show visually how each method works.