BobT wrote:
AS I age, I'm finding that I'm getting a bit more unstable (shakier) when holding my cameras. I'm aware that the use of tripods and monopods would help, but there are times when neither is practical, and hand holding is the only way. So my questions are:
which of the 2 major camera stabilizations is more reliable......lens stabilization, or in-camera-body stabilization? And if IBIS is the better, is there any particular brand of camera that seems to be at the top of the list?
Thanks
Bob
AS I age, I'm finding that I'm getting a bit more ... (
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It depends... at focal lengths shorter than around 200mm, IBIS is better. At focal lengths longer than that, in-lens is better.
Olympus makes the very best IBIS system on the planet, good for 5.5 to 6 stops of shake reduction. Recently, they started putting stabilizers in their longer lenses. Their new 300mm has it. Used on the OM-D EM-1 Mark II, it uses IBIS and in-lens IS together. The combination yields some of the sharpest images that I've ever seen, at an effective full frame field of view of 600mm.
Panasonic has three kinds of stabilization in their latest cameras. They have had in-lens stabilization for years in their better lenses. They have added IBIS. Now they can combine the two for the best of both worlds. However, the combined effect of "Dual IS II" is barely good enough to match Olympus' IBIS scheme.
Most IBIS systems are good for about 2.5 to 3.5 stops. Most in-lens systems get you about that much, too. I have three Panasonic pro lenses, all stabilized. I get a solid 3 stops of shake reduction with each, using my GH4, which is not stabilized. They will all get a firmware upgrade this year which will enable them to work with Dual IS II in the G85 and GH5.
The main advantage of in-lens IS is that the system is tuned for that focal length or focal length range. It's most effective in longer telephotos.
The main advantage of IBIS is that it works for nearly EVERY lens you mount, even adapted lenses from other manufacturers.
One note about ALL IS/VC/VR systems: Image stabilization will not make your action photos less blurry at slow shutter speeds. It only addresses CAMERA SHAKE. If the subject moves during a 1/8 second exposure, the surrounding area will be sharp, and the subject will be blurry.
HOWEVER, some systems allow you to turn off one axis of the stabilizer so you can pan the camera to track moving subjects at a slow shutter speed. This helps avoid up and down shake, by eliminating horizontal stabilization and using only vertical stabilization.