Regarding binoculars, Lisa Smith wrote:

>Image stabilization sounds great, but a thousand bucks is a lotta moulah
>for a casual neophyte birder like me to invest at this point in a pair of
>bins. If this is a new product, then what are the chances the price will
>fall? Does Canon have any competition as far as this product goes? What
>are the advantages and disadvantages of image stabilization? Comments,
>anyone?

Image stabilization was developed for video & camcorders, and has been
adapted to binoculars. I think the techniques are essentially the same.

I have used camcorders extensively for birds, butterflies and dragonflies
during the past two years. The newer camcorders are extremely versatile and
have some excellent features, not the least of which is the optical image
stabilization found on many of the newer models. I leave the image
stabilization turned on nearly constantly for my needs.

Image stabilization is accomplished by at least four different techniques.
With each of the techniques, a built-in computer detects image movement,
and counteracts that movement by quickly counter-adjusting 'something'
inside the camcorder. What that 'something' is defines the type of
stabilization technique your camcorder (or binocular) uses. The 'something'
may be the lens itself, the computer chip which receives the image, or the
position of a mirror which is actually looking at a bigger picture than you
can see. The smaller the mass which has to be adjusted to correct for your
movement, the faster it can be accomplished, hence the more effective the
stabilization.

Sony camcorders have consistently been rated as having one of the best
stabilization techniques. Their camcorders are stabilized by adjusting the
position of the tiny camcorder computer chip, which has very small mass and
can be moved very rapidly. My guess is that this technique is not available
in binoculars as you are not using a computer sensor chip, but are actually
seeing the object through a lens.

Whatever the technique used in binoculars (or camcorders), you can very
easily overwhelm these stabilization systems. Only the tiny wiggles will be
stabilized, and the larger movements will not. Nevertheless, hand-held
video filmed with stabilization is remarkably better than that filmed
without, especially at higher magnifications. A good rule-of-thumb with any
optical system is to check it out in the store before you buy. But don't
expect that you can perform Indiana Jones feats with motionless precision;
it just ain't so.

Dave Nunnallee
dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov
Bellevue, WA