OIS necessary? f10,f11,f30 look good But...

There are other similar cameras out there with image stabilization. Is OIS a deal breaker/maker?

I think if you are not shooting action pictures then either I good OIS with low noise at ISO400 is comparible to a Fxx.

However, if you intend to shoot action pics, then the higher ISO is of more relevance

From F10 review:

I cannot emphasize enough the value of usable high ISO settings in a compact camera - from reducing camera shake to more natural low light portraits (without flash) to extended flash range and all the other advantages DSLR users take for granted and most compact users - stuck to ISO 200 (or 400 at a push) can only dream of.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/

To me it's not a deal breaker. Why I don't get for example SD700 with IS is that those other similar cameras are not at the same level as F10/11/30 in high ISO. Plus that SD700 is way over priced and FX01 doesn't have as good picture quality. If you look at other forums you can see that people still compare their cameras with Fuji F10 even that it's a year old model!

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If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment of knowledge always pays the best interest.

Look at the resolution tests. The F10 sensor + lens are still great.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/page9.asp

It's near the Rebel350

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/page27.asp

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Mauriet

All true, but for me IS is great. I miss fewer shots with my Ricoh R4 than with any small P&S without a viewfinder. The Fuji F series can't be beat, but with IS, I would stop looking at digital cameras althougher (with wide angle and a better zoom, it would be game over!!)

rube

My experience is that it isn't necessary in the F series, i have the F11 myself...awesome camera all around.

That said, I also just picked up the image-stabilized Panasonic TZ-1, and am stunned...in a good way...at how well the I.S. works. In fact, speaking in point and shoot terms, I'd say once you get to the 5x+ zoom factor (not an issue with the Fuji f11) then I.S. is important.

The solution for me is to have two pocket cameras...a dayzoom and a night. In the day the Panny TZ-1 cannnot be beat by any other pocket camera, I'm having the most photo fun I've had in many years. But at low light, I can't be without my f11...it's smaller, does amazingly well in lower light. So, I now get 95% of my shots clear as a bell by having these two cameras. They both can be had for about $300 each or less...not bad at all.

If you look back I have posted learning and using propertrchniques will gain you the equivalent to 3 to 5 stops where camera or lens based IS will gain 1 to 3 stops.

That means if you convert the actual lens mm used to its 35mm coverage equiavlent and invert it i.e. if the converted mm is 250 then the minium shutter speed would be 1/250th second [if the equivelent is 50 mm the minimum would be 1/50th second].

1 stop smaller equals ½ the light passing 1 stop larger equals 2X the light passing. So, a gain or loss of 2 stops equals ¼ if loss and 4X if gain.

IN English [well sort of]:

If you are using a lens that equals the coverage of a 200 mm lens on a full frame 35mm camera then the longest standard handheld exposure would be 1/200 second.

With a stationary subject:

With IS you COULD gain up to 3 stop equivalencies 2X2X2;
1 stop equals 1/100th second.
2 stops equals 1/50th second.
3 stops equals 1/25th second.

With proper technique:
Above plus
4 stops equals 1/12th second.
5 stops equals 1/6th second.

NOW in theory you can add the proper technique and the IS together but that has a practical limit. For each person that limit is different and will vary with circumstances.

Is IS a good thing? Yes! when used as a adjunct.
Am I against IS? NO! It is a very good tool.

Is IS vital? Or even very important? NOT often if you learn proper techniques.

Is IS usefull for Sports and other action. NO!!! Maybe!! Yes?

The NO! and Maybe is that it will dampen your movement a little but will have little or no effect on the subject.

The "Yes!" is little effect is for the Advanced IS that allows for stabilization in only 1 direction for use with panning.

IF Someone offered 2 identical cameras with the exception that 1 had IS and 1 did not for very close priced I would take the one with IS, but the prices woud have to be at least fairly close.

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Ray
RJNedimyer

I 2nd the idea on having 2 digital cameras. I have the F11 which is perfect for night pictures and the Nikon S4 (but soon to be replaced by the Panasonic TZ1) for my day pictures.