When to use OIS? at DVinfo.net

Justin Morgan · July 8th, 2003, 04:51 AM

What are good examples of situations to use the Optical Image Stabilisation function?

Is it best for hand-held work where there is minimal camera movent? I was doing some hand-held work at the weekend while walking along and ended up switching the function off (along with Frame mode) to try to get the footage to look smoother.

The XM-2 user manual is very sparse - pretty much all it says about it is how to turn it on and off and not to use it for tripod shots...

Can anyone shed some light on when it is most practical, and when it is not, to use this function?

Thanks

Chris Hurd · July 8th, 2003, 05:52 AM

When shooting from a tripod, it's very important to turn OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) off, otherwise you'll encounter a serious problem: OIS wants to dampen movement (that's what it's designed to do). If your camera is mounted on a tripod, the only movement you have is that movement which you intend to do, such as a pan. Lacking any other extraneous movement, OIS will try to fight your panning, resulting in an undesirable stuttering pan. Likewise, when you do a zoom, OIS wants to counteract that change and you'll see a jump in the image at the end of your zoom. Therefore, be sure to switch OIS to the off position whenever your camera is mounted on a tripod. And don't operate the camera in Green Box (easy recording) mode from a tripod, as OIS is always on in this mode (even when the OIS switch on the lens is set to the off position). Hope this helps,

Chris Hurd · July 8th, 2003, 05:55 AM

OIS does not adversely affect image quality (except when misused, as described in my post above). OIS is an optical process working through a mechanical var-angle prism; this doesn't degrade the image. EIS (electronic image stabilization) definitely results in a hit in resolution, although recent next-generation EIS systems found in newer camcorders such as the Optura 20 are much cleaner than their predecessors. Hope this helps,

Justin Morgan · July 8th, 2003, 06:20 AM

Thanks for the replies - but I'm still not clear about WHEN I should actually use OIS.

I know not to use it when on a tripod (as it says in the manual) - does that mean that it's advisable to use OIS for EVERY shot that is not tripod mounted?

Jesper Hallen · July 8th, 2003, 06:41 AM

Ok dont use it on the tripod=) but I think you should use it when you shoot handheld and it's many moves, maybe unpredictible moves and stuff like that.

Glen Elliott · July 8th, 2003, 07:46 AM

I think you should use OIS for any handheld shots. Besides- you can only keep your arm so still- especially in the telephoto range.

Tripod: Never use OIS
Handheld: Always use OIS

Ron Little · July 8th, 2003, 01:37 PM

I use a rolling tripod with image stabilization on and I get great moving shots around my subject as long as the floor is smooth.

I like the rolling tripod so much that I am having a custom one made with big locking wheels

Luke Gates · July 9th, 2003, 07:33 AM

as they all say...using a tripod turn off the OIS
going handheld turn it on unless you are confident with your shooting.......

Chris Hurd · July 9th, 2003, 11:08 PM

There is a certain shooting situation where you should not use OIS, and that is at night with streetlights, floodlamps or stadium lights present. The vari-angle prism will show reflections appearing as "dancing fireflies" around these light sources. Commonly, this issue is mistakenly attributed to a UV filter (if you're using one), but usually it is indeed caused by OIS. This is an unfortunate by-product of the otherwise excellent vari-angle prism technology within OIS. Hope this helps,

July 8th, 2003, 04:51 AM	#1
Justin Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 189	When to use OIS? What are good examples of situations to use the Optical Image Stabilisation function? Is it best for hand-held work where there is minimal camera movent? I was doing some hand-held work at the weekend while walking along and ended up switching the function off (along with Frame mode) to try to get the footage to look smoother. The XM-2 user manual is very sparse - pretty much all it says about it is how to turn it on and off and not to use it for tripod shots... Can anyone shed some light on when it is most practical, and when it is not, to use this function? Thanks

July 8th, 2003, 05:52 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	When shooting from a tripod, it's very important to turn OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) off, otherwise you'll encounter a serious problem: OIS wants to dampen movement (that's what it's designed to do). If your camera is mounted on a tripod, the only movement you have is that movement which you intend to do, such as a pan. Lacking any other extraneous movement, OIS will try to fight your panning, resulting in an undesirable stuttering pan. Likewise, when you do a zoom, OIS wants to counteract that change and you'll see a jump in the image at the end of your zoom. Therefore, be sure to switch OIS to the off position whenever your camera is mounted on a tripod. And don't operate the camera in Green Box (easy recording) mode from a tripod, as OIS is always on in this mode (even when the OIS switch on the lens is set to the off position). Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 8th, 2003, 05:55 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	OIS does not adversely affect image quality (except when misused, as described in my post above). OIS is an optical process working through a mechanical var-angle prism; this doesn't degrade the image. EIS (electronic image stabilization) definitely results in a hit in resolution, although recent next-generation EIS systems found in newer camcorders such as the Optura 20 are much cleaner than their predecessors. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 8th, 2003, 06:41 AM	#5
Jesper Hallen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gothenburg, EU Posts: 35	Ok dont use it on the tripod=) but I think you should use it when you shoot handheld and it's many moves, maybe unpredictible moves and stuff like that. __________________ - jeha!

July 9th, 2003, 11:08 PM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	There is a certain shooting situation where you should not use OIS, and that is at night with streetlights, floodlamps or stadium lights present. The vari-angle prism will show reflections appearing as "dancing fireflies" around these light sources. Commonly, this issue is mistakenly attributed to a UV filter (if you're using one), but usually it is indeed caused by OIS. This is an unfortunate by-product of the otherwise excellent vari-angle prism technology within OIS. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 8th, 2003, 06:20 AM	#4
Justin Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 189	Thanks for the replies - but I'm still not clear about WHEN I should actually use OIS. I know not to use it when on a tripod (as it says in the manual) - does that mean that it's advisable to use OIS for EVERY shot that is not tripod mounted?

July 8th, 2003, 07:46 AM	#6
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	I think you should use OIS for any handheld shots. Besides- you can only keep your arm so still- especially in the telephoto range. Tripod: Never use OIS Handheld: Always use OIS

July 8th, 2003, 01:37 PM	#7
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	I use a rolling tripod with image stabilization on and I get great moving shots around my subject as long as the floor is smooth. I like the rolling tripod so much that I am having a custom one made with big locking wheels

July 9th, 2003, 07:33 AM	#8
Luke Gates Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: new jersey Posts: 151	as they all say...using a tripod turn off the OIS going handheld turn it on unless you are confident with your shooting.......