It Took Fujifilm Almost a Year to Develop the X100VI’s Stabilization Unit https://petapixel.com/2024/03/13/it-took-fujifilm-almost-a-year-to-develop-the-x100vis-stabilization-unit/ #inbodyimagestabilization #fujifilmx100vi #stabilization #Interviews #Technology #technology #interview #Features #fujifilm #x100VI #ibis

Canon Develops System That Improves IBIS When Shooting HDR Photos

Canon has designed a system that makes it easier and more reliable to capture high-dynamic-range (HDR) photos by better pairing an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with shake detection algorithms that actively correct for changes in a scene at the point of capture.

As spotted by Canon Watch, Canon's patent describes a process where IBIS during automatic exposure bracketing is improved to compensate for differences between single images of a sequence because of movement.

Canon explains the problem and briefly describes the solution in its patent:

In the dynamic range expansion processing of an image signal, for example, a plurality of signals having different output conditions are combined to generate a high dynamic range (hereinafter, also referred to as HDR) image signal. In an imaging apparatus, a photographing for synthesizing a plurality of images having different still image exposure periods is known, and is referred to as HDR photographing hereinafter. Since a plurality of photographing operations are performed in HDR photographing, a time required for completing all photographing operations becomes longer than a time required for photographing 1 images.

When HDR photographing is performed by an imaging device having an image blur correction function for correcting image blur of a captured image due to camera shake or the like, HDR photographing is possible while performing image blur correction. In this case, since it is necessary to perform image blur correction for a long time, a limit of a correction range related to an image blur correction lens (hereinafter, also referred to as a correction lens) becomes a problem. In other words, when the drive control of the correction lens in the imaging optical system is performed on the basis of a detection signal such as camera shake, it is impossible to perform the image blur correction beyond the movable range of the correction lens. Thus, when the image blur correction amount reaches the limit of the movable range (correction stroke limit), no further image blur correction effect is obtained.

In short, Canon understands that in order to take an HDR image, multiple frames must be captured in succession with different exposure values and then combine those in post to create an image with a wider dynamic range than a single frame would be able to capture. However, when photos are taken, sometimes there is a bit of shift either due to shake, optics, or the IBIS system that interrupts the ability to make a clean HDR composite.

While it's not exactly clear how Canon intends to implement the patent, the company describes a way for it to detect when there is shake as well as the pattern of that shake and actively correct for it.

Adobe has implemented a similar system into Photoshop back in 2013 that grants mixed results. Shake Reduction, as it was eventually named, was deployed in the main software but doesn't quite work as well in real-world cases as Adobe demonstrated. Hopefully, Canon does a better job at solving this problem since it will be attempting to correct for the shake at the time of capture, where it has more ability to tweak its IBIS system in real-time to perhaps prevent a blur from happening in the first place.

The full details of the patent can be read on J-PlatPat.

#equipment #news #technology #canon #canonpatent #hdr #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #newdesign #patent #shakereduction #stabilization

Canon R5 Beats Out the Sony Alpha 1 in Comprehensive IBIS Test

The Digital Picture has published an in-depth in-body image stabilization (IBIS) test that compared the performance of the Canon EOS R5 and the Sony Alpha 1. In many cases, Canon's EOS R5 showed a 1/3 to 2/3 stop advantage over Sony's flagship.

The camera and lens review website recently published a detailed IBIS test that compared the two mirrorless cameras, but just one day after that was published, Sony released a firmware update for the Alpha 1 camera. The Digital Picture writes that IBIS was not specifically called out as a list of updated features, but there was some discussion that it may have been at least addressed in some way under an "Other improvements and operational stability" line item.

Since Sony did not divulge those details, The Digital Picture decided to redo the test with an updated Alpha 1 to make sure that its results were accurate.

The IBIS tests were conducted in a studio with what is described as "ideal" handheld testing conditions: concrete footing and no wind. During the tests, The Digital Picture used the electronic viewfinder instead of the rear monitor and did not strengthen their stance by placing their elbows against their body.

For lenses, on the R5 the RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM was used and on the Alpha 1 the FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master was used. Both cameras were set to front curtain shutter, single-shot mode, in shutter priority. The subject was placed 3.3 meters away from the camera. The shutter speed was initially set at 1/25 of a second and increased by 1/3 of a stop until it became a full second. In total, 150 images were taken with each camera during a round of the test, and The Digital Picture completed two rounds to check for consistency.

According to the results, The Canon EOS R5's IBIS technology was found to be slightly superior to the system found on the Sony Alpha 1. In many cases through the test, Canon R5 showed an advantage of 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop over the Alpha 1. This is not a huge difference, which means that both cameras do a similarly good job, but it is a difference nonetheless.

To read the full details of the test and see all the individual results, read the full report at The Digital Picture.

#equipment #news #alpha1 #canon #canoneosr5 #canonrfmount #comparison #emount #eosr5 #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #r5 #rf #rfmount #sony #sonyalpha #sonyalpha1 #sonyemount #thedigitalpicture

Sony Firmware Update Fixes Alpha 1 IBIS and EVF Issues

In May, PetaPixel reported an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) bug in the Sony Alpha 1 camera. It, combined with issues with the electronic viewfinder (EVF) had left a large number of users upset. Today, Sony released new firmware that fixes both issues to the delight of the community.

The IBIS issue was noticed and logged by photographer Jamieson Dean. He reported that through what appears to be standard, normal use, his Alpha 1 would sometimes not initiate its IBIS mechanism for several seconds, which often resulted in him missing a shot. In PetaPixel 's original coverage, he demonstrated the issue as it occurred multiple times.

Dean originally worked directly with Sony to get his Alpha 1 unit replaced, but when he noticed the same issue on the new camera, he knew it wasn't an isolated issue. In posts to a Sony Alpha 1 Facebook Group, Dean found that though he wasn't the only one with the issue, it wasn't seeming to happen to everyone.

“It occurs with all non-stabilized lenses and happens roughly 50% of the time for me during normal use,” Dean said. “If your Alpha 1 does not have this problem, that’s great, but please don’t be dismissive or minimize the issue for those of us who do. Please understand that the issue is very real for some Alpha 1 users, and there is currently no solution.”

At the same time, some users were reporting what was described as an “EVF blackout” bug. As several Alpha 1 users attested in that same Facebook Group, there appeared to be an issue on some of the cameras where the eye detection sensor below the EVF malfunctions and does not activate the electronic viewfinder.

Gratefully, Sony today has published a firmware update, version 1.10, that has fixed these issues.

Firmware version 1.10 says that it improves: overall AF performance and stability, operability when using the Remote Camera Tool app, eye sensor detection performance with strong light sources -- such as sunlight, operational stability when using the Imaging Edge Mobile apps, operational stability when using the SEL100400GM, SEL200600G, or SEL600F40GM lens, and the overall stability of the camera.

While the update does not specifically mention the IBIS issue, it does explicitly state that the performance of the eye sensor with strong light sources has been addressed, which was what many believed to be the cause of the EVF blackout issue.

Even though the IBIS issue is not specifically noted in the update notes, in the video below Dean shows that by updating to version 1.10, the IBIS issue has been resolved:

In a conversation with PetaPixel , Dean says that the response from the Alpha 1 community has been wholly positive and extremely grateful. The users are very pleased that Sony was able to fix the problem so quickly.

"A huge thanks has to go to Rikky from the Sony Alpha team," Dean tells PetaPixel. "He was really the guy on the inside that made sure everything was communicated to engineering in Japan, and he always gave us updates when possible. It's crazy, but we would even get into conversations off-topic, and he is the exact person you would want representing Sony."

Alpha 1 users can download the latest firmware on Sony's website here.

#equipment #news #software #a1 #alpha1 #bug #bugfix #bugreport #delay #error #firmware #firmwareupdate #fixed #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #sonya1 #sonyalpha1

Canon’s ‘Subject Blur Correction’ Dips Toe into Computational Photography

Canon has applied for a patent that would use an in-camera algorithm in tandem with the camera's image stabilization system to intelligently determine the difference between blur caused by motion and blur caused by a moving subject, and correct it.

First spotted by Asobinet and reported by CanonWatch, the patent describes a way to suppress blur of a subject in a photo by using the image stabilization system in the camera (on sensor) and in the lens.

In the patent, Canon says that the problem is that blur correction in current cameras isn't able to differentiate between "camera shake" and "subject shake" and correct for both at the same time. To get around this, Canon's Subject Blur Correction would be able to correct for "subject shake" when a face is detected and "camera shake" when a face is not detected.

"'Camera shake' and 'subject shake' should be corrected depending on the intention of the user (target of interest) in the shooting scene," the patent says. "For example, when the user pays attention to the background, it is desirable that the 'camera shake,' which is the shake of the entire screen, is corrected. On the other hand, when the user is paying attention to the main subject, it is desirable that the 'subject shake' is corrected. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately control the shake correction target according to the user's intention that changes with the shooting scene."

The patent was originally applied for by Canon in September of 2020, but was published on June 24.

While technically this process does not fall into the pure definition of computational photography according to Wikipedia -- that is to say, the process of using digital computation instead of the optical process -- it does get close and more falls into expanded definitions of the term. For example, the idea of computational photography now expands into computer vision, graphics, and applied optics. Since the tech would need to use some kind of algorithm to intelligently determine how to use its stabilization system, it could be argued that Canon's Subject Blur Correction is a type of computational photography.

To date, outside of some HDR and panoramic capabilities, full-size cameras have done very little as far as advancing image processing to the degree that is seen in mobile devices and have mostly relied on physical corrections in camera or in lenses to achieve quality results. It could be argued that the hesitancy from dedicated camera manufacturers to adopt computational photography techniques that have led to vast improvements to image quality on mobile devices is a detriment to the advancement of the medium overall, and Canon's patent here shows what could be possible if camera makers begin to do so more readily.

#equipment #news #software #technology #canon #computationalphotography #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #intelligentstabilization #onsensorstabilizatoin #opticalstabilizatoin #patent #stabilization #subjectblurcorrection

Apple’s iPhone 13 to Feature Sensor Stabilization on All Models: Report

Following a rumor that the iPhone 13 would possibly feature sensor stabilization in some capacity on all of its models, a new report alleges that looks more and more likely as it appears Apple will be purchasing the necessary parts for the feature in large quantities in the next two months.

Apple is expected to increase orders for the voice coil motors (VCM) that are used as the basis for sensor-shift image stabilization in handheld devices in late June into early July, even outpacing the number of orders that were placed by Android manufacturers for the second half of 2021 according to a report on DigiTimes.

As noted by the report, Japan's Mitsumi and Alps are now main suppliers of VCMs for new iPhone camera modules, and Mitsumi in particular has placed increased contract production orders to Taiwan makers including Audix and Chinese peers such as Zhonglan Electronic Technology, JCT Electronics, and GYZ Electronic Technology. Alps apparently handles automated production on its own.

Those parts makers to this point have mainly delivered shipments of the motors to Android handset manufacturers and are now expecting to dramatically increase delivery of the same parts to Apple. According to DigiTimes sources, VCM makers have been told to raise capacity for production of the parts by 30 to 40-percent to meet "strong demand for iPhones."

At present, Apple only needs to order enough VCMs to operate a single sensor in just one of its smartphones: the iPhone 12 Pro Max. If the company were to plan to add the stabilization feature to more cameras on more phones, the number of parts it would need to do so would also need to grow dramatically. If true, this level of increase would indicate that Apple at the very least plans to add the feature to more cameras on its flagship line, if not across the board.

DigiTimes sources believe that since “demand for VCMs to support the function will grow three to four folds after all new iPhones incorporate the capability” that all of the iPhone 13 models will adopt the sensor-shift stabilization functionality in some way.

The iPhone 13 is expected to make a few notable changes to the design, but more impressive leaps aren't expected until 2022. This year, a smaller front-facing "notch" is expected thanks to a redesigned front-facing camera, and the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are expected to feature notably larger rear camera modules.

#mobile #news #rumors #apple #digitimes #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #iphone #iphone13 #oss #report #rumor #sensorstabilization #stabilization #vcms #voicecoilmotors

The Sony Alpha 1 Has An Experience-Breaking IBIS Error: Report

The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony's latest and greatest full-frame professional camera, but some users are reporting a situation that can cause them to miss important moments: in some cases, the camera's in-body image stabilization (IBIS) will not turn on -- a delay that can last for several seconds.

Photographer Jamieson Dean has reported that through what appears to be standard, normal use, his Alpha 1 will sometimes not initiate its IBIS mechanism for several seconds, which can result in him losing a shot. He demonstrates how the problem in the video below.

"I noticed the issue exactly one week into owning my first Alpha 1 which I bought on March 26," Dean tells PetaPixel. "I immediately reached out to Sony on the issue and after them requesting for me to send them video examples of what was happening, they said they were forwarding those video samples to their engineering team.

"I had to keep on top of them and, eventually, they wanted me to bring my camera to their local service repair center. I did exactly that and their repair center replied saying that they see the issue with various Sony and Sigma lenses And they recommended a replacement Alpha 1."

Dean says that he received that replacement unit this past Monday and immediately tested the IBIS issue he was experiencing with his original unit.

"Of course the new Alpha 1 also had the issue," he says. "At that point, I decided to update the community and they wanted to see me create a video demonstration of how I'm using the camera."

The video above was made in response to these requests and to show that he doesn't believe his use case is outlandish or unusual.

"I've been very vocal about the problem, but I've also been the one doing the most leg work on it," Dean continues. "Every time I share the issue I will have at least a handful of other Alpha 1 users reply saying that they also have the IBIS issue the exact same as I do."

He explains that through a Sony Alpha 1 Facebook group as well as comments on his video, he can confirm that the problem affects multiple users. That said, it doesn't seem as though it affects every Alpha 1 and as a result, he cannot confirm how widespread the issue actually is. PetaPixel can confirm that it did not experience this issue with its Alpha 1 review unit, but that does not mean the issue doesn't exist.

Dean makes it clear that this is not an "attack" on Sony, and is thus far grateful for the company's customer service. He also says that he loves everything else about the camera, but has unfortunately not had any success getting Sony to address this specific issue.

"Some people seem to say theirs is fine, but then later change their minds and say they noticed it. Other people will test with optically stabilized lenses and then report that they don't have the problem. Then there are other people who seem to legitimately test it and not notice the issue," he says.

"I've actually gone over pretty much every YouTube reviewer's video of the A1 and been able to spot even brief examples of the shaky IBIS in most of them, so I think it's just one of those things that goes unnoticed."

Dean says that users won't notice the problem if they are using optically stabilized lenses, as the issue is greatly mitigated in these cases. Additionally, he says that if a dedicated video mode is used, the IBIS stays engaged and never has a chance to reset in a way that would cause the delay he is experiencing. Finally, he says that stills-focused photographers who use the camera hand-held will likely notice it the most, especially if those photographers also decide to record video clips without going into the dedicated video record mode.

"It occurs with all non-stabilized lenses and happens roughly 50% of the time for me during normal use," Dean says. "If your Alpha 1 does not have this problem, that's great, but please don't be dismissive or minimize the issue for those of us who do. Please understand that the issue is very real for some Alpha 1 users, and there is currently no solution."

PetaPixel shared these findings with Sony for further review, but the company was not immediately available to respond.

The IBIS issue noted here is not the only problem that some users are experiencing. According to several threads in that private Sony Alpha 1 Facebook group, some users are reporting what is being described as an "EVF blackout" bug. As several Alpha 1 users attest, there appears to be an issue on some of the cameras where the eye detection sensor below the EVF malfunctions and does not activate the electronic viewfinder.

Both of these issues seem to be software-based and theoretically repairable with a firmware update should the company choose to address them.

Image credits: Icon in header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

#equipment #news #a1 #alpha1 #bug #bugreport #delay #error #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #sonya1 #sonyalpha1

Canon Patents IBIS-Powered AA Simulation Tech, Similar to Pentax

![image](https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2021/05/Canon-Patents-IBIS-Powered-AA-Simulation-Tech-Similar-to-Pentax-800x420.jpg" width=)

Canon has applied for a patent that would allow a camera to use its in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS) to approximate the effects of an anti-aliasing filter. The idea is similar to how sensor-shift multi-shot works, but in reverse.

The application -- which was found by Northlight Images and shared by Canon Rumors -- notes that Canon is proposing a way for the sensor to shift during image capture in such a way that it approximates how an anti-aliasing filter works.

As Northlight Images writes, the idea "uses fine movement of the sensor stabilization system to perform one of the jobs of the anti-alias filter for the AF system and address problems of sampling and spatial aliasing. A version for DPAF and contrast AF is discussed… The fine control of sensor positioning is also part of a multishot super-resolution solution, where a traditional AA filter might also get in the way."

If this idea sounds familiar, it is because it is a technology that Pentax has been using in its cameras for several years, including the most recently announced K-3 Mark III. The video below shows how the technology works:

Basically, unlike sensor-shift high-resolution photo modes that use a camera's image stabilizer to capture more data and compile a high-resolution image in-camera, this feature would quite literally do the opposite and move the sensor to effectively blur the image slightly and give the appearance of an anti-aliasing filter.

As Ricoh explains:

Based on original ideas and innovative technology, Pentax has developed the world’s first AA filter simulator, which reproduces the effects created by an optical AA filter. By applying microscopic vibrations to the CMOS sensor during exposure, the K-3 minimizes false color and moiré. You have a choice of three settings to obtain the desired effect: “TYPE 1” to attain the optimum balance between image resolution and moiré; “TYPE 2” to prioritize moiré compensation, and “OFF” to prioritize image resolution. Thanks to this innovative feature, the K-3 offers the benefits of two completely different cameras — the high-resolution images assured by an AA-filter-free model, and minimized false color and moiré assured by an AA-filter-equipped one. You can switch the AA filter effect on and off as you wish.

This feature is not magic, however, and has limitations. Using a camera's image stabilizer on a pixel-level like this while shooting has some tradeoffs. For example, Ricoh states that the AA-filter effect is "more evident" when a shutter speed of 1/1000 second or slower is used, which dramatically reduces the feature's usability in anything other than brightly lit conditions.

For those unfamiliar, anti-aliasing filters -- also known as optical low-pass filters -- were designed to deal with a situation where the spatial frequency of what a digital camera is trying to photograph was smaller than the pixel spacing on a sensor. This is most commonly found when taking photos and videos of tight patterns on fabrics or wide-angle shots of buildings where windows are particularly close together. The resulting visual discrepancy is referred to as moire, which is a French term that means "watered textile" and accurately describes what the visual effect looks like: wavy water. An optical low-pass filter was placed in front of the image sensor in a majority of digital cameras up until the last several years and would make the moire less noticeable or have it disappear entirely. The side effect, however, was a drop in perceived sharpness.

Chart from Canon's patent.

Pentax and now Canon are not the only companies that have tried to come up with ways to give photographers a way to turn the idea of an anti-aliasing filter on and off. Sony pioneered a digital low-pass filter technology into its RX1R Mark II camera.

"Splitting of incident light flux is controlled by varying voltage to the liquid crystal between low-pass filter one and low-pass filter two in order to activate, deactivate, and modify low-pass filter effect. LPF bracketing simplifies comparison of LPF effects," the company writes.

Because it was electrically controlled and responded nearly instantaneously, photographers could configure how it would work and even apply an "auto" mode to it. It's unclear as to why this feature is only in a fixed lens camera and not found in any of Sony's Alpha cameras, and that may be related to the fixed-lens nature of the RX1R Mark II.

Another reason it might not be in other cameras is the need for an optical low-pass filter is disappearing.

It used to be that anti-aliasing filters were quite common, but in the most recent releases by most manufacturers, it is not a feature that even makes it onto the public-facing specifications sheet. This is because as cameras grow in resolution and have smaller and smaller pixels, the incidence of moire even without an anti-aliasing filter has fallen dramatically. Basically, it has become less likely that the subjects photographers are taking pictures of have a spatial frequency that is smaller than the distance between pixels on modern sensors.

As a result, some may find it a bit odd to see Canon attempt to patent a technology to address a problem that has been shrinking in importance over the last few years. Additionally, since Pentax clearly already uses a similar technology, Canon's patent has to obviously do something different in order to get around the fact a competitor has been using a similar idea in the market for almost a decade. You can read the full patent application here.

#equipment #news #technology #antialiasing #canon #canonpatent #ibis #inbodyimagestabilization #opticallowpassfilter #patent #pentax #ricoh #sensorshift #sony