Demystifying image stabilisation: Understanding OIS, EIS, and more

At the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple introduced Action Mode, a new camera feature to deliver smooth-looking video that adjusts to shakes, motion, and vibrations. The feature was another demonstration of how smartphone photography has reached new heights, and are now competing against the expensive, dedicated camera gear.

While image sensors, lenses, focusing systems, and the software pipeline all form the basis of a great camera experience, smartphone camera technology also relies on image stabilisation to deliver a great camera experience. A good image stabilisation system has become the backbone of great videography on phones and here’s how it works on mobile devices.

What is image stabilisation?

One of the biggest challenges with capturing photos is reducing the camera shake. It is especially challenging when you are taking hand-held photos. Image stabilisation is used to overcome camera shake by using either hardware or software to compensate for yaw, tilt, and rolling movements.

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Image stabilisation is necessary to stabilise your photos and videos. When we take hand-held photos with our phones, we believe that our hands are not shaking but in reality, there is a slight shaking that could result in blurry images or videos. With image stabilisation, that small movement can be compensated for and you can capture great memories.

While you can stabilise your camera with a monopod or a tripod, smartphones are all about mobility and carrying a monopod or tripod isn’t always convenient. Thus, all modern smartphones come with built-in image stabilisation features that allow you to take low-light photos and capture shake-free videos. Here are all the different types of image stabilisation.

4 types of image stabilisation

1. Optical image stabilisation (OIS)

2. Electronic image stabilisation (EIS)

3. Hybrid image stabilisation (HIS)

4. Sensor-shift image stabilisation (SIS)

1. Optical image stabilisation (OIS)

Optical image stabilisation (OIS) is the most popular technique used to stabilise images and videos. It is a hardware solution that uses a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope to detect movement and adjust the camera system accordingly. If you are taking a hand-held photo and there is a slight movement of your hand to the left, the MEMS gyroscope will detect it and shift the camera slightly to the right.

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For every movement, the OIS system will take a compensatory action by moving the camera system. Since it is a hardware solution, there is no loss in image resolution or cropping of the image. The result is a full sensor readout and cameras with OIS also produce videos with zero-distortion or jelly effect common with digital stabilisation.

The downside of OIS is that it adds another moving component to the device and as with any mechanical component, it is bound to malfunction. Good OIS hardware may not be cheap, but it vastly improves the result and plays a vital role in capturing blur-free images and videos. Smartphones with OIS cameras are becoming common and on high-end models, OIS is available on both primary as well as telephoto cameras.

2. Electronic image stabilisation (EIS)

For smartphone makers, the real puzzle is to replicate the effect of a hardware component with software. In that regard, electronic image stabilisation (EIS) aims to replicate the effect of OIS without the need for additional hardware. It works by relying on your phone’s accelerometer to detect even the smallest movement. The camera software then aligns each frame together to compensate for that movement.

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EIS is useful in capturing HDR and night mode shots where the camera takes multiple pictures at different exposure levels. An EIS is not particularly effective while capturing videos since they rely on a high contrast point and try to keep that point in the same part of the frame.

The downside of EIS is that it produces distortion that looks unnatural and videos can have a jelly effect. You also lose out on full sensor readout with EIS since it crops the sensor to stabilise the frame. As computational photography becomes the norm, smartphone makers are using machine learning to detect the subject and lock the stabilisation.

3. Hybrid image stabilisation (HIS)

The combination of OIS and EIS is called hybrid image stabilisation (HIS) and it aims to deliver the best of both worlds. With this system, OIS provides the essential hardware required for stabilisation while EIS offers the additional benefit of software stabilisation.

The benefit of HIS is not that profound while capturing images since OIS eliminates the shake. However, while capturing videos or shooting in HDR, multiple exposures, and night mode, you can see the combined benefit of OIS and EIS. Google Pixel 2 was the first phone from the search giant to use hybrid image stabilisation and it offered an excellent image system that could compete with modern devices for many years.

4. Sensor-shift image stabilisation

Sensor-shift image stabilisation was introduced by Apple with the launch of the iPhone 12 series. While the feature was initially only found on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple brought it to all the models with the release of the iPhone 13 series. This technique of image stabilisation hasn’t gone mainstream but Apple has demonstrated its benefits.

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If the OIS camera is all about moving the actual camera lenses to stabilise the image and EIS did that in post-processing, a sensor-shift image stabilisation moved the actual image sensor to stabilise the image. Since a camera’s image sensor is much lighter than the glass in lenses, sensor-shift image stabilisation is much faster than traditional optical image stabilisation.

Image stabilisation: Which one is right for your phone?

This is a no-brainer since hybrid image stabilisation offers the best of both OIS and EIS. With HIS, you will get the natural stability in video thanks to OIS, while EIS will aid in other forms of photography. Today, most smartphones come with EIS by default.

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However, it is a well-known fact that the Apple iPhones have the best video system of any smartphone right now. They also capture excellent images even in difficult lighting conditions. It just proves that Apple has struck gold with its sensor-shift image stabilisation.

However, your choice of best image stabilisation will often boil down to your budget. If you are looking for an entry-level smartphone then you might have to go with EIS. Premium smartphones though, combine OIS with EIS to offer hybrid image stabilisation.