Optical Image Stabilisation and Image Quality...

[Ambriel]

Has anyone any views upon the FZ50's Optical Image Stabilisation system and the effect it may have upon the quality of the recorded image?

What do you do about O.I.S.? Leave it switched on? Only enable it when you think you'll need it? Never use it at all?

[John_Reed]

Has anyone any views upon the FZ50's Optical Image Stabilisation system and the effect it may have upon the quality of the recorded image?

What do you do about O.I.S.? Leave it switched on? Only enable it when you think you'll need it? Never use it at all?OIS enables shots at slower shutter speeds than without, and can even enhance sharpness at higher shutter speeds where you normally wouldn't think it was needed. I've been using Panasonic cameras with OIS for 4 years now, and have taken beaucoup thousands of shots with the lens set at full zoom, where it's actually possible to capture sharp images, because of the OIS system. The only time I've ever turned my OIS system OFF was to shoot fireworks, where switching off the system enables longer shutter times while shooting from a tripod.

If you're familiar with the "1/F" rule of thumb, it states that for a given equivalent lens focal length, handheld, you shouldn't shoot any slower than the inverse of the focal length. So, if your equivalent focal length is 700mm, any shutterspeed slower than 1/700 of a second is likely to result in a blurry image. Here's a 700mm image shot with my trusty FZ30:

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/39690793-L.jpg

There's actually a little motion blur in that image; I couldn't get the Egret to freeze, even if it WAS only for 1/5 of a second?

[Ambriel]

Yes I know all that and generally leave it active, set to the first setting, but I've been wondering what effect the image processing has on images that don't really need O.I.S., whether by virtue of the focal length used or the higher shutter speed.

[David Metsky]

Probably no impact on image quality if it is turned on when you don't need it. The reasons to turn it off are battery power and tripod use.

[Mike63]

Yes I know all that and generally leave it active, set to the first setting, but I've been wondering what effect the image processing has on images that don't really need O.I.S., whether by virtue of the focal length used or the higher shutter speed.
You mention you have it on the first setting, most of us prefer the mode 2 setting. Mode 1 is active all the time and mode 2 only activates when you push the shutter button. Mode one will consume battery power faster and is always in motion trying to stabilize the image even when just carrying the camera (turned on) between shots. Mode 2 works better by only trying to stabilize the image at the moment the shutter snaps.

When in video mode the camera will automatically put the OIS in mode 1 because of constant motion.

I personally leave mine in mode 2 all the time, so much so that I forget to turn it off when shooting from a tripod. Which explains why my night time shots look less than desired. To bad there is not a tripod sensor!

[genece]

I never turn it off and my preference is mode 2.....but thats only my preference.
There are those on the DSLR forums that believe it should be turned off over a certain SS but I have never seen anything to back that up.....and I need all the help I can get.

[John_Reed]

Except when I can't use a mode with OIS ON (as in Fireworks mode). I prefer Mode 1, because it helps me to frame the distant object before squeezing the shutter.

As far as what effect it has on IQ, I'd say that I've captured so many images WITH OIS that would've been garbage WITHOUT OIS, it would be difficult to make an apples to apples comparison.

[Paradox]

IS just effectively stops the image jittering around as your hand shakes; it's movement of parts of the camera, not an ISO adjustment. It's hard to see why it would adversely affect image quality.

I have it on mode 2 permanently for my FZ50, and have encountered no problems. It's a brilliant system I find, and helps a great deal, particularly in lower light (Slower shutter speed) and telephoto shots.

[Ambriel]

Thanks everyone, I'll switch mine across to mode 2 then and carry on shooting.

It certainly came in useful yesterday when I was photographing a Basking Shark at maximum zoom. Of all the days to leave my TCON14 at home...

Cheers
A.