image stabilizers

[davidkelly]

Does anyone know about how various stabilizer technologies work, and how they compare?
They are mainly in the lens, but some move the sensor instead.
Within the lens, they may shift the lens laterally or axially, but some have two sheets of glass with a liguid between (probably professional video cameras), to compensate for lens tilt.
Speed of the stabilizer seems also to be important.
Thanks,
Dave Kelly.

[petal666]

Canon IS is on the lens and is a gyroscope like (not exactly) mechanism.

[DaveB]

In the Canon system the IS lens group is moved parallel to the film plain by magnetic drivers, with gyroscopic motion sensors and IR sensors for feedback of the group position.

I'm not aware of the "liquid lens" technology being used in any Canon cameras (SLR or compact). As for how Nikon's VR, Sigma's OS, and Panasonic's MegaOIS work, I think they share some basic techniques with IS (although the sensing technology is presumably different, and with VR the body participates in the sensing whereas with IS the lens does all the work). The IS system has been refined over the years of course, with various improvements apparent in different lens models.

K-M/Sony's AS/SteadyShot and Pentax's system move the sensor, but I can't speak to the mechanics of that. They can't give you the same viewfinder feedback as the lens-based systems (i.e. the viewfinder isn't stablised) but at least they work with all lenses.

The "Canon Corral" forum is probably not a good place to get answers other than regarding Canon's system...

[stubbsy]

The "Canon Corral" forum is probably not a good place to get answers other than regarding Canon's system...

Agreed - I've moved this post to general Discussion.

To add to Dave's excellent discussion, you'll find the full details on the nikon VR system HERE along with a pretty animated graphic.

Here is an extract

To compensate for image blur caused by camera shake, the angular velocity (amount of camera shake) should be detected accurately. Two angular velocity sensors are used in the VR System. One detects "pitching" (vertical movement), while the other detects "yawing" (horizontal movement). Diagonal movements are detected by combining the results of both sensors. These sensors detect camera movement as angular velocity every 1/1000 second. Angular velocity data is sent to a microcomputer built right into lens, which then calculates the amount of compensation needed. After this data is transmitted to the VR unit, the adjustments are made instantaneously. (Fig. 2)

The built-in microcomputer calculates the amount of lens movement necessary using data from the angular velocity sensors. Commands are sent to two VCMs (Voice Coil Motors), which move the VR lens in a particular direction. This is controlled by the electric current inside the VCM's magnetic field. One motor controls the vertical, while the other controls horizontal, with both working together to compensate for diagonal movement.