In-Body Image Stabilisation
A system that moves the camera sensor to cancel out small hand movements, giving sharper photos and steadier video with any lens attached.
On this page 4 sections
Every time a camera is held in the hands, it shakes slightly. In good light this hardly matters, because the shutter opens for a tiny moment. In dim light, or with a long zoom lens, those small movements turn into blurred photos and wobbly video. In-body image stabilisation, often shortened to IBIS, moves the sensor inside the camera to cancel out that shake.
How it works
Motion sensors in the camera measure the movement. The camera then shifts the sensor in the opposite direction, usually along several axes that include tilt and rotation. It works with every lens that is fitted.
Other forms of stabilisation
- Lens-based: built into the lens, so it works only with lenses that have it.
- Electronic: done by software on video, common in action cameras and phones. It slightly crops the frame.
What the numbers mean
Makers state stabilisation in stops. Each stop lets the shutter stay open about twice as long and still give a sharp photo.
What it does not promise
Stabilisation steadies the camera, not the subject. A running child or a moving car still blurs at a slow shutter speed. The stated figure is a best case, and real results depend on the lens and the length of the exposure.