Does IBIS really matter that much?

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis


What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

A tripod or gimbal without IBIS will yield better results than handheld with IBIS. How are you planning to film?

This is correct in most all cases. This also allows the use of dedicated 4K rigs, like a blackmagic cam, as opposed to a DSLR/mirrorless camera with video capabilities.

If you want to hand hold the camera, the Sony A7m3 or Panasonic GH5 ( more so than any Olympus) are probably your best bet for overall quality and IBIS at a decent price.

Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

Any stabilization only matters when it matters.

It just depends on what exactly you do with the camera. Like someone already stated, a gimbal works better and a tripod works better.

But if you don't want to carry stuff along with you, then good video stabilisation is very important. I can't say which camera does a better job at it, you can compare videos on youtube. Quite useful.

It can't be argued that a (rock-cement) steady tripod is best, and that any IS can be counterproductive when the camera must be moved for moving subjects.

BUT ... initial in-lens was only available in "tele" lenses and IBIS can be used w/ ANY lens, (I have successfully held WA at 1-sec that I would never even attempt before).

And 3200mm @ 1/100s.

Also in-body (IBIS) can be "5" way compared to only 2-way in-lens.

So YES ... it is very important to me.

Image stabilization isn't ESSENTIAL, but I would hate to do without. In my mind, IBIS makes the most sense. I think Olympus' IBIS is about the best there is, certainly there isn't anything better, I think.

As to whether or not YOU should go without, that depends on what features you will get that you couldn't get from a camera WITH IBIS, and how much you value them. This applies to video as much as stills.

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Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

From the online videos I've seen IBIS can be used for run and gun style video and some cameras have the IBIS for it, while other IBIS is not usable. In the case of unusable video IBIS, a 5 axis gimbal will be needed for any kind of smooth moving camera shot.

For pro video there are 2 factors that make up good VIDEO quality. One is stabilizaiton, and the other is smoothness of the video. You can achieve both with a GH5, XT3, or A7III.

If you're shooting for professional video production, you'll need to look into a 5 axis hand held gimbal, and even a harness if you plan to do it for money. If you're shooting run and gun video in closed areas like a car, behind a bar, or any small area, a IBIS like GH5 or GH5s will allow for hand held smooth shots with a wide 24mm lens.

Also, keep in mind the focal length and distortion. Some video production prefer no distortion from a wide angle. Too, drone and GoPro look for them. Not that there's anything wrong with the GoPro look, but it's a specialty shot, not one that should be used for everything.

Good luck on your choice. Only you'll know what camera meets your video/photo standards.

For video, Sony and Panasonic are still the leaders of this sector.

IMHO as a casual video shooter, IBIS can replace a gimbal for handheld run and gun shooting to certain extent. The continuous correction of IBIS is very helpful to steady the footage vs lens IS only that is good on type of single shots. Panasonic might be the first to use Dual IS (a combination of IBIS and lens IS).

For very serious shooting with a lot of assisting tools like tripod, rail etc setup IBIS might not be required.

So it is really depending on how you use the camera and your requirement.

ToxicTabasco said:

Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

From the online videos I've seen IBIS can be used for run and gun style video and some cameras have the IBIS for it, while other IBIS is not usable. In the case of unusable video IBIS, a 5 axis gimbal will be needed for any kind of smooth moving camera shot.

For pro video there are 2 factors that make up good VIDEO quality. One is stabilizaiton, and the other is smoothness of the video. You can achieve both with a GH5, XT3, or A7III.
If you're shooting for professional video production, you'll need to look into a 5 axis hand held gimbal, and even a harness if you plan to do it for money. If you're shooting run and gun video in closed areas like a car, behind a bar, or any small area, a IBIS like GH5 or GH5s will allow for hand held smooth shots with a wide 24mm lens.

Click to expand...

Only GH5 is IBIS/DUAL IS (version 2) supported.

ToxicTabasco said:

Also, keep in mind the focal length and distortion. Some video production prefer no distortion from a wide angle. Too, drone and GoPro look for them. Not that there's anything wrong with the GoPro look, but it's a specialty shot, not one that should be used for everything.

Good luck on your choice. Only you'll know what camera meets your video/photo standards.

Click to expand...

I am mainly a somewhat experienced beginner, but here's my peanuts.

Watch some youtube videos of IBIS vs non IBIS for video. There are many.

- The absolutely best professional broadcast/video cameras do not have IBIS. I believe in part this is for ruggedness and in part for heat - getting heat away from the sensor is much harder with IBIS. Instead of IBIS they use external stabilization, machine movement or rails etc. Bear in mind, those cost a LOT. What is your budget? If it's $3000 or $20000 to get a single camera rig makes a difference.

- There are some very good cameras with IBIS - the GH5 (GH6 probably out soon), the Sony ones, probably the new Nikon mirrorless.

- When you watch those videos, you will notice that IBIS does not usually get you "long, perfect shots". Like those long perfectly smooth sweeping motions. The shakiness of your hands combines with the "best efforts" of the sensor, but does not give that "perfect" steadiness you might see in a car video where the camera spins around the car etc. This comes back to price and what you are looking to do.

- you might however get the smoothness you want by filming in 4K, then using tracking in Davinci Resolve to "zoom in" and cut off the edges if they are slightly shaky. This is what I would recommend and should help you a long way.

- if you have to ask the question, then you are probably not at the most advanced level where a full broadcast rig makes sense, and you should probably go for IBIS.

- Watch some youtube videos of GH5, Nikon Z6, Sony A7iii, A7Riii

Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

As with many features, they can be incredibly useful if they solve a problem you have, and are irrelevant if they address a problem you don't have.

Image stabilization reduces camera shake. If you are shooting with a tripod, monopod, dolly, or fixed camera mount, then camera shake is not an issue, and Image Stabilization is not needed.

If you are in a situation where stabilization would be a help, you have your choice of three general categories:

1. Gimbal
2. Lens Based Image Stabilization
3. In Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

Each has various advantages and disadvantages.

A gimbal is versatile. it will work with all your lenses and all your cameras. Some can be programed for specific moves. Gimbals can be very useful for providing stabilization for a moving camera. Gimbals increase the size and weight of your rig. My understanding is that a gimbal is capable of larger corrections than lens/body based stabilization.

Len based stabilization has the disadvantage that it only applies to that specific lens. It has the advantage that it can be optimized specifically for that specific lens.

Like a Gimbal, IBIS will work with all of your lenses. However, it only works with that body. IBIS doesn't noticeably increase the size & weight of your rig.

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So the question becomes what sort of shooting will you be doing?

If your plan to shoot primarily with a tripod or dolly, then you don't really need any sort of stabilization.

If you are going to be doing a lot of hand held movements, then you might find a gimbal quite useful.

If you are going to be handholding when you should use a tripod, and you don't want the weight/size of a gimbal, then body/lens based stabilization is helpful. Both work well. I wouldn't rule out an otherwise good camera because it has the "wrong" type of stabilization.

Personally, I use a gimbal for video, so I don't need either lens or body based stabilization.

Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

The day you come home from a long photo shoot and realize your key photos were blurry because of camera shake, and they might not have been had your camera been stabilized, is the day that you would pay twice what camera manufacturers are asking for IBIS. And people who say "but a good tripod" are correct, but the problem is a good tripod costs as much as IBIS anyway.

MinAZ said:

Afsimonsen said:

I´m looking for a new "semi to professionel" camera, for some marketingvideos for cars, and general videos
but does the IBIS really matter?

I have been looking at the Fujifilm X-t30 (really love that one) and also the X-t3. But both of these doesn´t have any IBIS.

For example the Olympus E-m1 II, got some crazy good iBIS. Also the Alpha A7 M III, got some good ibis

What would you guys recommend? Is their something better maybe for a more fair price? But still good enough to be professionel.

Thx

Click to expand...

The day you come home from a long photo shoot and realize your key photos were blurry because of camera shake, and they might not have been had your camera been stabilized, is the day that you would pay twice what camera manufacturers are asking for IBIS. And people who say "but a good tripod" are correct, but the problem is a good tripod costs as much as IBIS anyway.

Click to expand...

A good tripod works for your current camera, and your next camera.

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The argument against lens stabilization is that it only works for that lens (and any body that lens is mounted to).

The argument for tripods is that they work for any camera/lens combination that your currently own, or might buy in the future.

IBIS is a compromise. It works only on that one body, but for any lens on that body.

The theory is that most people have more lenses than bodies, so IBIS means you pay for fewer stabilization mechanisms. The other point of view is that people keep lenses longer, so lens stabilization means you buy fewer stabilization mechanisms over time.

There is no universal choice that is right for everyone.

====

By the way, sometimes the best answer is a lens with a wider aperture diameter and a faster shutter speed. That works for stoping camera motion and subject motion.

I agree with alcelc.

alcelc said:

For video, Sony and Panasonic are still the leaders of this sector.

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That could be the case. But recently, the Nikon Z series has similar 3 axis IBIS like the Sony, and it seems to do better. Also, when the LUMIX S1 comes out next month, there may be a new standard for 5 axis FF IBIS. I just saw some video of the hand held 4K ability of the Lumix S1 IBIS, and it's claimed to be 5 stops, and the video demonstration looks to beat any other FF IBIS on the market. But that was pre-production camera. So, we'll see if the new S1 will have the best IBIS of FF.

As for the leaders in IBIS, that would still be Olympus and Panasonic. Their IBIS which is 5 axis IBIS in the camera, and even more with IS lenses. There are several videos demonstrations comparing the GH5 to the Sony A7III. And in all the videos I see on YouTube, the Sony will work for stationary static video shots. But once they move the camera, the video is unusable. Where as the GH5 OMD EM1, EM1x, and G9 all have usable hand held 4K video moving the camera.

alcelc said:

IMHO as a casual video shooter, IBIS can replace a gimbal for handheld run and gun shooting to certain extent. The continuous correction of IBIS is very helpful to steady the footage vs lens IS only that is good on type of single shots. Panasonic might be the first to use Dual IS (a combination of IBIS and lens IS).

Click to expand...

I concur. For me the IBIS of the Lumix cameras were a game changer for hybird photo/video. It eliminates the need for external gimbals, and tripods.

alcelc said:

For very serious shooting with a lot of assisting tools like tripod, rail etc setup IBIS might not be required.

So it is really depending on how you use the camera and your requirement.

Click to expand...

Exactly. All IBIS is not the same, and there are many tools to get stability for video and photo. It all depends on what the goal is, and what compromises one will make for what they need.

Dear friend, might I add that lens IS or IBIS alone was a thing of yesterday.

The latest stabilisation, is a combination of 5-axis IBIS and lens IS. It is so called DUAL IS (already developed the 2nd generation) by Panasonic or Synchronised IS so called by Olympus. It can enjoy the benefit of both IS... Technology has moved a long way in last 3~4 years.

alcelc said:

Dear friend, might I add that lens IS or IBIS alone was a thing of yesterday.

The latest stabilisation, is a combination of 5-axis IBIS and lens IS. It is so called DUAL IS (already developed the 2nd generation) by Panasonic or Synchronised IS so called by Olympus. It can enjoy the benefit of both IS... Technology has moved a long way in last 3~4 years.

Click to expand...

I don't doubt stabilization has improved. I may be wrong, but I am under the impression that a good gimbal can compensate for larger rotations than DUAL IS.

Of course, not everyone needs to compensate for large rotations. The best solution will depends on the needs of the particular situation.

Michael Fryd said:

alcelc said:

Dear friend, might I add that lens IS or IBIS alone was a thing of yesterday.

The latest stabilisation, is a combination of 5-axis IBIS and lens IS. It is so called DUAL IS (already developed the 2nd generation) by Panasonic or Synchronised IS so called by Olympus. It can enjoy the benefit of both IS... Technology has moved a long way in last 3~4 years.

Click to expand...

I don't doubt stabilization has improved. I may be wrong, but I am under the impression that a good gimbal can compensate for larger rotations than DUAL IS.

Of course, not everyone needs to compensate for large rotations. The best solution will depends on the needs of the particular situation.

Click to expand...

100% agreed with you that gimbal might have benefit over other means of stabilisation but at extra cost and extra hardware very often as large or larger than the camera.

For most analog dslrs without IBIS (IMHO lens IS is good for shot to shot stabilisation, but not that good for video which needs continuously correction), a gimbal might be a better option without doubt.

There was a video posted on M43 forum (sorry that I am away from my computer that can't access to the bookmark of that thread) had demonstrated the stability of shooting with a G85 using DUAL IS inside the cockpit of a small aircraft. Most impressed of all was the very steady footage taken during took off and landing...

So as said in my previous opinion, what stabilization to use will depend on how we wish to do and what to use...

I agree with the above. I shoot a lot of adventure road trip videos in 4K hand held one handed with a GX85. A entry level ICL mft camera, at 35mm equivalent while driving off road in very bumpy conditions. The only thing that can stabilize the shot would be a 5 axis gimbal. No amount of lens IS or 3 axis could do the job. And in some tight areas, a external gimbal would not work due to the limited mobility.

When I explored a new camera system, I checked out all the brands, and their best offerings in IBIS. And quickly found that not all IBIS is the same across brands and models. Some can be used for hand held video while others can't.

IBIS is for HAND held of a still subject, mostly useful for long lenses.
for Video its hard to beat a gh4 gh5
the xt30 is a great camera.

will you shoot on a tripod?
will your subject ( cars ) be moving?
will YOU be moving panning? ( ibis is good here )

also STRONGLY consider a gimbal, it is a MUCH bigger improvement, like MUCH MUCH bigger.