Glossary
Optical image stabilization
A camera feature that physically shifts the lens (or sensor) to counteract hand shake, enabling longer exposures and steadier video.
OIS uses gyroscopes to detect motion and a micro-actuator to move the lens or sensor in the opposite direction, keeping the image still on the sensor.
On smartphones
Modern flagships use sensor-shift OIS (the sensor itself moves), more effective than lens-shift on tiny modules. Gives 2–4 stops of low-light improvement.
On dedicated cameras
- OSS / IS / OIS — lens-based, included in the lens spec.
- IBIS — in-body image stabilization, sensor-based, included in the body spec.
The two combine when both are present. Modern systems advertise 7–8 stops of combined stabilization, enough for handheld 2-second exposures.
Where this matters
Categories that use optical image stabilization
See it compared
Optical image stabilization on real comparisons
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