What Is Optical Image Stabilization & What Does Image Stabilization Do

Achieving Sharper Photos: A Guide to Camera Stability

If you’ve ever captured a photo that turned out blurry or filmed video footage that looked shaky, you’re not alone. Stability is essential for sharp images and smooth video, especially when shooting handheld, in low light, or with long focal lengths. That’s where understanding what image stabilization is becomes crucial. This guide breaks down how image stabilization works and why it’s a game-changer for both photographers and videographers.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What image stabilization is and how it helps reduce camera shake
• The different types of stabilization: optical, in-body, and digital
• How Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) technology enhances your photography
• When to use—or turn off—image stabilization
• Which Tamron lenses offer the best stabilization features for your needs

What Is Optical Image Stabilization?

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is a technology used in camera lenses and camera bodies to reduce blur caused by small, unintentional camera movements. It works by detecting motion and compensating for it mechanically before the image is captured by the sensor.

At its core, what is optical stabilization refers to a physical system designed to counteract camera shake. Instead of relying on software after the image is taken, OIS uses internal mechanical movement to stabilize the image path in real time. This makes optical image stabilization especially effective for handheld photography and video, where even slight movement can affect sharpness.

How Optical Image Stabilization Works and Why It Matters

Image stabilization helps reduce blur caused by camera movement by actively responding to motion as it happens. When you’re shooting handheld, your camera is never perfectly still—small movements from your hands, breathing, or stance can introduce vibration. Image stabilization systems are designed to recognize those movements and correct for them instantly.

Rather than being a passive camera stabilization feature, image stabilization is an active system. Sensors detect motion, processors calculate the direction and intensity of that movement, and corrective adjustments are applied in real time. This process helps maintain clarity when shooting in low light, at longer focal lengths, or during video recording, where shake is more noticeable.

How Optical Image Stabilization Detects and Corrects Camera Shake

Optical image stabilization systems use motion sensors, such as gyroscopes, to detect camera movement in real time. A processor then calculates how much correction is needed and moves specific optical elements to counteract that motion, keeping the image stable on the sensor.

This workflow explains how does lens image stabilization work at a fundamental level. The correction happens optically—before the image reaches the sensor—rather than digitally after capture. Because of this, lens OIS systems can reduce blur without cropping or degrading image quality, making them particularly valuable for still photography and video.

Behind the Scenes: How Stabilization Systems Operate

Watch Tamron’s VC in action.

What Types of Camera Shake are Corrected by Tamron’s VC

Tamron’s VC is designed to correct multiple types of camera shake, not just one or two. Here’s the complete, plain-language breakdown you can use internally or adapt for content.

1. Angular (Rotational) Shake

This is the most common type of camera shake.

• What it is: Small up-and-down (pitch) or side-to-side (yaw) rotations of the camera caused by hand movement.
• When it happens most: Handheld shooting, long focal lengths, slow shutter speeds.
• How VC helps: VC detects rotational motion and shifts optical elements in the opposite direction to keep the image stable on the sensor.

2. Shift (Linear) Shake

This type of movement becomes more noticeable at closer distances.

• What it is: Side-to-side or up-and-down translation of the camera without rotation.
• When it happens most: Close-up shooting, macro-style distances, handheld video.
• How VC helps: VC compensates for linear movement by repositioning the stabilizing lens group to maintain image alignment.

3. Combined Multi-Axis Shake

Real-world camera movement is rarely just one type.

• What it is: A combination of angular and shift movements happening simultaneously.
• When it happens most: Telephoto shooting, walking while filming, unstable footing.
• How VC helps: VC continuously analyzes motion data and applies real-time correction across multiple axes to counteract complex movement patterns.

How to Reduce Camera Shake

Camera shake can be reduced by stabilizing the camera during image capture using optical, in-body, or digital image stabilization technologies. These systems work by detecting unintentional movement and compensating for it through mechanical adjustments within the lens or camera body, or through software-based correction. This helps produce sharper photos and smoother video when shooting handheld.

There are several different approaches to reducing camera shake, each using a distinct method to stabilize the image.

Type 1: Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

This type of stabilization is built directly into the lens or camera lens system. It typically involves moving lens elements to compensate for detected motion. Optical image stabilization is particularly effective for still photography and works well with interchangeable lens cameras. Tamron’s lens OIS technology is known as Vibration Compensation (VC).

Type 2: In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

IBIS systems are integrated into the camera body rather than the lens. Instead of moving optical elements, IBIS stabilizes the image by shifting the camera’s image sensor. This approach is beneficial when using lenses without built-in stabilization and can work alongside lens-based stabilization for enhanced results.

Type 3: Digital Image Stabilization (DIS)

Digital image stabilization relies on software rather than physical movement. The camera analyzes motion and adjusts the image or video frame to compensate. While useful in some situations—such as action cameras—digital stabilization may crop the image or reduce resolution, making it less effective for high-quality still photography.

OIS vs IBIS vs Digital Image Stabilization: Key Differences

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) corrects camera shake using moving lens elements, In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) stabilizes by shifting the camera’s sensor, and Digital Image Stabilization relies on software adjustments that may crop or process the image.

At a conceptual level, the difference comes down to where stabilization occurs:

• OIS: Inside the lens
• IBIS: At the camera sensor
• DIS: Through software processing

Each approach serves a different purpose, and many modern camera systems combine multiple camera stabilization features for optimal results.

What Are the Benefits of Image Stabilization?

1. Improved Image Quality

Image stabilization significantly reduces camera shake, helping you capture sharper photos and smoother videos even in difficult situations such as low-light environments, long focal lengths, or handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds. This results in cleaner, more detailed images with fewer motion-induced blur artifacts.

2. Versatility in Shooting Conditions

With image stabilization built in, you can confidently shoot in a wider range of environments—whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or dealing with unpredictable lighting. It offers more flexibility when you don’t have a tripod handy, allowing you to adapt quickly and still achieve steady, professional-looking results.

3. Enhanced Creativity

Stabilization gives you the freedom to explore creative shooting techniques like panning, tracking moving subjects, or experimenting with longer exposures without the distraction of unwanted shake. This opens up more artistic possibilities and helps you execute your vision with precision.

4. User-Friendly Experience

For beginners or casual photographers, image stabilization provides a more forgiving and enjoyable shooting experience by increasing your chances of getting sharp, in-focus images. It reduces technical barriers so you can focus more on composition, timing, and creativity rather than worrying about maintaining perfect stability.

When Does Image Stabilization Matter Most?

Image stabilization matters most when shooting handheld, in low-light conditions, at long focal lengths, or when recording video. It is less critical when using fast shutter speeds or shooting from a stable tripod.

Stabilization is especially useful for telephoto lenses, travel photography, indoor shooting, and video capture. In situations where the camera is already stable, such as tripod use, stabilization may provide little benefit.

What Is Vibration Compensation (VC)?

Vibration Compensation (VC) is Tamron’s lens-based image stabilization technology designed to reduce blur caused by camera shake. VC uses motion detection and optical correction to improve stability for handheld photography and video.

VC is Tamron’s terminology for optical image stabilization and functions as a form of lens-based OIS.

How Does Vibration Reduction Work?

Vibration reduction (or Vibration Compensation) works by detecting small, unintentional movements of the camera and compensating for them in real time. In lens-based systems, this is achieved by shifting specific optical elements to counteract motion before the image reaches the camera sensor.

Vibration reduction is another term commonly used for optical image stabilization, with different manufacturers using different names for similar technologies.

Top Tamron Lenses Equipped with VC (Vibration Compensation)

When capturing images in the ultra-telephoto range, even minor vibrations can result in a loss of image sharpness. And in low light, VC provides robust assistance for handheld photography in low-light conditions, such as evenings and indoor settings, eliminating the need for a tripod.

Find your standard, telephoto, or all-in-one camera lens with image stabilization from Tamron.

Standard Lenses

• Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070) for crop-sensor APS-C Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless cameras. The image stabilization in this fast standard zoom is optimized for both still and video use. When capturing video, the VC is leveraged by AI to automatically adjust to provide optimal compensation across various shooting scenarios. It’s wide to medium telephoto focal range is very versatile for interview work, portraits, and POV video.

Telephoto Lenses

• Tamron 50-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A069) for Sony E mirrorless cameras. The Tamron 50-300mm lens is a versatile zoom lens ideal for wildlife, sports, and landscape photographers who need a wide focal range to capture everything from distant subjects to broad scenes with clarity.
• Tamron 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD (Model A067) for Sony E and Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. This lens has an 8X zoom range from standard focal length all the way to ultra-tele for great versatility. It is an ideal lens for outdoor sports where the action is constantly on the go moving comes close to the sidelines and moves across the field.
• Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 (Model A065) for Sony E and Nikon Z. This fast telephoto zoom lens for mirrorless cameras is extremely compact and lightweight in its class and is ideal for handheld image-making with is VC image stabilization design.
• Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Model A057) lens for Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z. This ultra-telephoto full-frame mirrorless camera lens comes with VC (Vibration Compensation) technology, ensuring clear images even in situations where camera movement is unavoidable, such as on a boat. The ultra-telephoto focal range is perfect for wildlife, sports, and birding where handholding may be frequent and where lighting is often low.

All-In-One Lenses

• Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061) for crop-sensor APS-C Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless cameras. This all-in-one 16X zoom lens is perfect for travel that takes you indoors and out, from sunrise to sunset. The VC image stabilization allows you to handhold under all lighting conditions and achieve excellent image results.
• Tamron 28-300mm F/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD (Model A074) for Sony E mirrorless cameras. This highly versatile all-in-one zoom lens features VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization. This highly versatile all-in-one zoom lens features VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization. Travel and street photographers can capture everything from wide landscapes to distant subjects with sharpness and stability using this compact lens.

Limitations and Considerations of Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is extremely beneficial, but there are a few limitations you should take into consideration:

• Moving Subjects: Image stabilization reduces camera shake but cannot eliminate blur caused by subject movement.
• Tripod Use: Turn off image stabilization when using a tripod or gimbal to avoid unwanted correction.
• Battery Consumption: Continuous stabilization use may increase battery drain, especially with IBIS.

Conclusion

Image stabilization is a powerful tool that helps photographers and videographers capture sharper images and smoother footage across a wide range of shooting conditions. By understanding how stabilization works—and when to use it—you can make the most of your camera stabilization features and expand your creative possibilities.

Where to Buy Tamron Lenses with Image Stabilization

Learn about the lenses in this article and more at an authorized Tamron dealer in your area or visit the TAMRON Store today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Image Stabilization

1. What does image stabilization do in a camera?

Image stabilization reduces blur caused by small, unintentional camera movements, helping produce sharper photos and smoother video when shooting handheld.

2. Is image stabilization the same as optical image stabilization?

Image stabilization is a general term that includes optical, in-body, and digital systems. Optical image stabilization specifically uses moving lens elements to counteract shake.

3. Do all cameras have image stabilization?

No. Some cameras rely on lens-based stabilization, some use in-body stabilization, and others may not include stabilization at all.

4. Should image stabilization be turned off on a tripod?

Yes. When the camera is already stable, leaving image stabilization on can introduce blur due to unnecessary correction.

5. Does image stabilization help in low light?

Yes. Image stabilization allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds in low-light conditions while reducing camera shake.

6. Is digital image stabilization as effective as optical stabilization?

Digital stabilization can help, but it may crop or reduce image quality, making optical stabilization more effective for still photography.

7. How does action camera image stabilization work?

Action camera image stabilization typically relies on advanced digital processing to smooth motion, often using software algorithms rather than optical components.

More Photo Tips | Watch Videos | Learn More About Tamron Lenses | Photo Gallery