Image Stabilization stops : a marketing hype ?

[Sandro_gsp]

I came to the conclusion that Image Stabilization stops are blatantly overextimated. At least for Fuji camera and lenses.

recently some lenses are advertized as having 6 stops IS.  See the XF16-80 for example.
Fuji H2S boasts up to 7 stops !!!

Is it realistic ?  To me it is not,  it's far, very far away from the reality.

Let's take a 35mm FL , a very common and appreciated kind of lens.

The FullFrame equivalent is about 50, so the golden rule is  : use a shutter speed at least 1/50. To stay on a safe side let's say : use at least 1/100sec

Now , 1 stop advantage gives 1/50,  2 stops 1/25,  3 stops 1/12,  4 stops 1/6 ,  5 stops 1/3,   6 stops 1/1.5 second.   Crazy. Impossible !

Is there anybody in the world able to shoot hand-free at about 1sec shutter speed ???  Not even a sniper, IMO.

Is any of you able to go out and shoot confidently at that crazy shutter speed ??

Of course many will say : that shutter speed is not necessary, and I agree, but that's beyond the point.  The point is :   is that possible ?  Who can really do it ? who can shoot safely all the times (or at least the majority of the times) at about 1 or 1/2 second ??

And this leads me to a conclusion :  the advertized Stabilization stops are totally deceiving, a blatant marketing hype, and a great exageration.   I wonder how they are allowed to do it !

[SGinNorcal]

You mean the Marketing people were stretching the truth? Inconceivable!

From this Fuji article: 

https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/exposure-center/image-stabilization-explained/

The OIS systems in XF and XC lenses offer varying levels of image stabilization. Some lenses, such as the aforementioned XF50-140mmF2.8 lens, offer up to five stops of compensation, while others offer less than this. But it’s down to the individual photographer to ascertain how much compensation they can actually achieve.

[Penny Fan]

I've seen people shoot sharp image with 1 sec shutter using a camera with good OIS and IBIS....so it's not impossible.

I don't have super stable hands, but not shaky either so I never feel I need IS for still image, but for video they work very well.

[Sandro_gsp]

18 hours ago, SGinNorcal said:

You mean the Marketing people were stretching the truth? Inconceivable!

From this Fuji article: 

https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/exposure-center/image-stabilization-explained/

The OIS systems in XF and XC lenses offer varying levels of image stabilization. Some lenses, such as the aforementioned XF50-140mmF2.8 lens, offer up to five stops of compensation, while others offer less than this. But it’s down to the individual photographer to ascertain how much compensation they can actually achieve.

>You mean the Marketing people were stretching the truth? Inconceivable!

ehehehehhhh !   "television always says the truth" .  Something like this 🙂

>But it’s down to the individual photographer to ascertain how much compensation they can actually achieve.

I would rather say : it's down to everybody to decide how much shakiness he accepts !

 

Btw : that fuji web page only explains how the stabilization is achieved.   There is no mention on how they pull out those fantastic numbers !

Anyway :  I feel sure down to 1/30sec .  1/15 sec with some care, 1/8sec with more care.

Going beyond is like hoping to win a lottery.

I might have great expectations, I know...  samebody less fussy than me can use 1/4, 1/2 or even 1sec.  Good luck !

[BobJ]

When I used my 16-80 in low light for the first time with an x-t3 I was amazed. It's difficult to calculate the benefit in stops, and how Fuji measure that I don't know, but I can use much longer shutter speeds than would be possible otherwise. I now have the x-t5 which, although it has the  addition of IBIS, has a higher resolution sensor. I will make some tests when I get the time. Should be interesting. In practice of course there is subject movement, which means that stabilisation is only useful with static subjects. I wonder what test rig camera manufacturers use to measure it. I am sure that there is marketing hype, but it does work we'll.

[SGinNorcal]

I guess I'm willing to let it go.  I assume there is some scenario where what they claim is possible.  Like mpg rating for a car or the 2 person tent.  I do find stabilization to be really helpful and find it pretty reliable to push the rule of thumb to half of the focal length and still get a clear photo.

[Sandro_gsp]

> I do find stabilization to be really helpful and find it pretty reliable to push the rule of thumb to half of the focal

> length and still get a clear photo.

indeed it is helpful !  But not to the extend they claim.   I'm not a sniper but I don't have shaky hands either. I feel confident to about 2 or 3 stops gain.    6 or 7 stops are pure fantasy (maybe  sometimes, when you are lucky, if ever very specific conditions are met... and so on) .   Not for a regular use.