Friday, 23 January 2015

Image Stabilizer, the essential features of a digital camera

 
 
One of the important features that affect the quality of the image is an image stabilizer or stabilizer gambar.Fungsi this feature is to dampen vibration (hand shake) when shooting the potential to make the images become blurry. Often without realizing it, our hands can not actually really solid in holding the camera.

The working principle of this feature is to rely on a gyrosensor that detects camera shake and mechanically compensate for the vibration damping. The camera manufacturer adheres to two different versions of mechanical compensation, namely the principle of lens-shift (add the stabilizer on the lens elements) and sensor-shift (stabilizer incorporated in the sensor). Both although technically different, but the principle is the same.

System stabilizer of the most common is the stabilizer with lens-shift principle embedded in the lens. Most digital cameras and even digital SLR camera lens was put on this manifold stabilizer. In principle, the hand vibration detected by the sensor are processed digitally and stabilizer on the lens element to be moved in the opposite direction to the direction of hand tremors.

Different as lens-shift principle, the principle of the camera with a sensor-shift stabilizer system combined with the camera sensor itself. So the camera's sensor which embraces the principles of sensor-shift can move to compensate for hand-shake is detected. Most DSLR cameras like Pentax, Sony and Olympus implement this system so that the stabilizer feature can be used with any lens used.

Naming the image stabilizer feature can be different for each brand camera, although the principle is the same:

Canon : Image Stabilizer (IS), including the lens DSLRnya
Nikon : Vibration Reduction (VR), including the lens DSLRnya
Panasonic : Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
Pentax : Anti-Shake (AS)
Sony : Super Steady Shot (SSS)
Other brands : Use the generic name Image Stabilizer (IS)

While the third party lens manufacturers also began to provide stabilizer feature in some of their lenses as:

Tamron : Vibration Correction (VC)
Sigma : Optical Stabilizer (OS)

In conditions such as whether the stabilizer feature is very beneficial?

There are at least two conditions that require the presence of a stabilizer feature, namely a low speed when shooting wear and when to wear lenses with a focal length (telephoto). Indeed vibration when shooting hand does not always result in the images become blurry. Apaalaagi when using high shutter speed, vibration experienced by the camera does not affect anything because the time between the shutter button is pressed until the photo is taken only in the range of milliseconds. However, when using a low speed, for example, 1/20 sec or slower, vibration hands will begin to potentially interfere. Even when using a very low speed like 1 second, the use of stabilizer feature is no longer effective and it is necessary to use a tripod.

There is a classic guideline in photography where to produce images that avoid blur due to hand shake, use a shutter speed that is contrary to the position of the focal length used. So for example, we use a lens with a focal 300mm, then the required value of at least 1/300 second shutter speed to a safe outcome of a blur. In other words, when using a lower shutter speed of 1/300 sec then the images are at risk of blur. Compare when using wide angle lens with 30mm focal instance. According to the guidelines above, it is necessary to 1/30 second shutter speed so that the images are not blurry. In conclusion, the focal length of the lens blur due to hand shake potential greater.

How to prove that this stabilizer feature actually works according to his theory?

In principle, using stabilizer feature, we can take pictures with a lower shutter speed can be compared by using a camera without a stabilizer features. So to prove the performance of this feature is quite easy, by trying to shoot at low speed. Manufacturers usually claim that features homemade stabilizer able to work between 2 to 4 stops lower.

Examples of cases, for example when no stabilizer we can only shoot at the lowest speed 1/100 sec (if lower than the result will shake), then when the stabilizer we can use up to 1/20 sec speeds, it means that the effectiveness of the stabilizer feature around 2 stops lower.

Features stabilizer can be utilized to stabilize the hand-shake when recording video. Although not applicable to all digital cameras, but generally feature stabilizer function well when taking pictures or recording video. Without the stabilizer features, hand tremors can be seen when the recorded video is played back. Vibration will appear more severe when the focal length of the lens being used enough.

Tips to maximize the features stabilizer


Stabilizer feature is intended to help reduce vibration hand, while the results will vary depending on many factors. Here are the things that need to be considered to get the most out of this stabilizer feature:
  • Most people feel to have had a full-featured camera stabilizer, he can shoot with the condition of a moving hand. Whereas before photographing make sure the position of the body and has been silent and steady hand. This will facilitate the work stabilizer function.
  • Features stabilizer starts working when the shutter button is pressed half, and to achieve the best performance of this feature needs a little time. For that do not directly press the shutter button too quickly because there is a possibility of photos taken while this feature is not yet achieving the best results.
  • When shooting without a tripod, avoid wearing shutter speed is too low. The lower the shutter speed, the work will be heavier stabilizer. At very low speed stabilizer feature has no use, that's why it takes a tripod.
  • Because sometimes despite the stabilizer result is still too blurry, it helps to use a multi shot facility. For example, take three or four at once, and then select the best one. Thus opportunities medapat sharp photos even greater.