Canon announces Hybrid Image Stabilizer

Compensates for two types of camera shake

22 July 2009 16:30 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Canon has announced the development of its "Hybrid Image Stabilizer", apparently the world's first optical image stabilisation tech that compensates for both angle camera shake and shift camera shake.

The Hybrid IS tech basically offers more image stabilisation than ever before. Canon explains: "Sudden changes in camera angle can significantly alter images taken during standard shooting, whereas shift-based shaking, which occurs when a camera moves parallel to the imaging scene, is more pronounced in macro photography and other close-range shooting".

As well as an angular velocity sensor, that's old news now, the tech offers a new acceleration sensor that determines the amount of shift-based camera shake. An algorithm then takes the info from the two sensors to make adjustments.

The camera company says the technology will be featured in an un-named (and un-priced) interchangeable single lens reflex camera lens that will launch before the end of 2009.