GH4 GH4 OIS vs Olympus E-M5 Mark 2 OIS

[Thomas Smet]

For those that insist lens based optical stabilization is better.

Here is to hoping Panasonic eventually adds OIS to the camera body in the GH5. I understand Panasonic is invested in lens based stabilization but considering the issues they have been plagued with the OIS on their 12-35 and 35-100 lenses and the cost difference I think it is time for them to reconsider. Since many use adapted lenses or cine lenses on their GH cameras, body OIS really could be a huge new feature to have and if it was the only new feature on the GH5 would be worth the upgrade price alone. This is a feature Panasonic could eventually lose market share over if a direct competitor makes a good internal recording 4k alternative to the GH4 with in body OIS.

 

[stoneinapond]

There are manufacturing issues that point away from such a development, namely heat dissipation when shooting 4K.

 

[Jim Simon]

OIS really is a lens only feature, being that it's Optical Image Stabilization. If it's in the camera body, it's more of an EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization.)

 

[stoneinapond]

OIS really is a lens only feature, being that it's Optical Image Stabilization. If it's in the camera body, it's more of an EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization.)

They are both the same thing. One does it by moving optical elements in the lens, the other by moving the sensor around. Electronic stabilization is what an NLE does.

 

[Bruce Foreman]

I have the OMD E-M5 (original model) along with a pair of GH3's, a GH4, and a GX7. The 5 axis sensor shift IBIS of the Olympus is easily far superior to the OIS in any of the Panasonic lenses I have. I have the IBIS set to engage with a half press of the shutter button and it's effect can be seen instantly in the EVF, it is very much like almost having a "steadycam" built into the camera.

My only complaints are that until the E-M5 MkII Olympus has felt like the only frame rate the world needs is 30fps and they have applied a very weak codec so that as far as I am concerned the video from the original model does not interface properly with footage shot with the Panasonics.

My E-M5 is going up for sale with a 2 lens outfit to partially fund the new MkII. While it won't have 4K like the GH4, 1080p will still be viable for a few years yet (if not longer).

Thanks for this comparison, Thomas!

 

[yslee]

Despite the potential issues with image quality, stable footage is a quality that's far more noticeable to most viewers. Very impressed with the short time I spent with the E-M5 II.

 

[Jim Simon]

They are both the same thing. One does it by moving optical elements in the lens, the other by moving the sensor around. Electronic stabilization is what an NLE does.

It's my understanding that the image is cropped on the sensor and the sensor moved around to compensate for the motion. The only difference between this and software stabilization is that the software will move the image beyond the 'active area' and show black in the frame, whereas the camera won't. But they're both version of electronic stabilization.

 

[Bern Caughey]

There seems to be no concrete definition of Optical Image Stabilization except it happens before the image is processed by the sensor (or recorded on film). Manufacturers use the term to refer both to lens-based, & sensor-shift solutions.

Perhaps it better to refer to the various technologies as Lens-based, Sensor-shift, & Digital, stabilization.

 

[Thomas Smet]

It's my understanding that the image is cropped on the sensor and the sensor moved around to compensate for the motion. The only difference between this and software stabilization is that the software will move the image beyond the 'active area' and show black in the frame, whereas the camera won't. But they're both version of electronic stabilization.

The reason why I don't think this is the case is because there doesn't seem to be extra jello in the Olympus version of the video. Typically when one stabilizes a very shaky camera in post you get an odd wobbling jello effect because the CMOS sensor had a lot of rolling shutter visible due to the shaky camera. Stabilizing in post fixes the shakiness but it doesn't get rid of the wobble or motion blur. Now maybe the Olympus does crop the sensor a bit but I have not heard this and I would think most Olympus users who shoot stills with the full sensor would complain if it did. Even if it does it is still exponentially better than stabilizing in post where you still end up with wobbling and motion blur from the camera whipping around. I also think because the m43 sensor is so small there is a lot of room even with m43 lenses to move that sensor around. The Olympus form of stabilizing is clearly far superior to stabilizing in post.

 

[R Hudson]

Maybe Panasonic can add IBIS to the next GH4 firmware update

 

[Thomas Smet]

I do agree that there could be manufacturing issues with the GH4 as it stands for Panasonic to have supported this. That does not however rule it out for a GH5 or other future cameras. Olympus has been actively working on adding 4k video to their cameras and at one point were testing a firmware that would allow 4k recording. 4k alone should have been difficult for the GH4 yet Panasonic figured out a way to do it without heat being an issue. I think with advances to technology this very well could be possible in the future.

Not saying it will happen but I for one would welcome it with open arms as I'm sure every single other m43 user would as well.

 

[Vesku]

GH4 has no OIS, E-M5 II has.

GH4 stabilization depends on lenses used and there are big differences between Panasonic OIS lenses. With a proper lens and post stabilization the result is as good as IBIS and sometimes better.

 

[stoneinapond]

GH4 has no OIS, E-M5 II has.

I think you have that reversed.

 

[Thomas Smet]

GH4 has no OIS, E-M5 II has.

GH4 stabilization depends on lenses used and there are big differences between Panasonic OIS lenses. With a proper lens and post stabilization the result is as good as IBIS and sometimes better.

Did you watch the video? The lens on the Panasonic was the 12-35 f2.8 lens with POWER O.I.S turned on. Therefore everything was equal in the test. Both similar focal length lenses and both were using the systems best form of stabilization for that particular body + lens combo. I don't think anybody can honestly say the Panasonic version looked better. Post stabilization can lead to many other forms of unwanted artifacts like wobbling, motion blur, lower resolution and scaling up already compressed material which can show artifacts more. Plus an encoder has to work a lot harder with shaky footage so you will get a lot more macro blocking with 100mbps 4k video. IBIS stabilizing before compression will almost always be better because the encoder doesn't have to work as hard.

 

[Vesku]

Did you watch the video? The lens on the Panasonic was the 12-35 f2.8 lens with POWER O.I.S turned on. Therefore everything was equal in the test. Both similar focal length lenses and both were using the systems best form of stabilization for that particular body + lens combo. I don't think anybody can honestly say the Panasonic version looked better. Post stabilization can lead to many other forms of unwanted artifacts like wobbling, motion blur, lower resolution and scaling up already compressed material which can show artifacts more. Plus an encoder has to work a lot harder with shaky footage so you will get a lot more macro blocking with 100mbps 4k video. IBIS stabilizing before compression will almost always be better because the encoder doesn't have to work as hard.

Running with camera is not a typical shooting situation. In normal handheld shooting GH4+POWER OIS+little post stabilization can give tripod like shots and very fluid and sharp camera movements. The GH4 codec can handle vibration and complex motion without problems. My point is that GH4 normal carefully shooted handheld shots with post stab are better and sharper than Olympus results. With 4k and post stab the result is twice as sharp but still smooth.

 

[R Hudson]

^^I think you have missed the point entirely. The OP had not intended to compare the cameras themselves, but rather, IBIS vs. in-lens stabilization. The IBIS is clearly MUCH better and you can tell that within the first 30 seconds of the video. Any time you can stabilize before vs. after it will always look better.

 

[Vesku]

^^I think you have missed the point entirely. The OP had not intended to compare the cameras themselves, but rather, IBIS vs. in-lens stabilization. The IBIS is clearly MUCH better and you can tell that within the first 30 seconds of the video. Any time you can stabilize before vs. after it will always look better.

Yes the IBIS is better but the final result is what I care and a perfectly stable 720P-like video with over contrasty colors is not my goal in these days.

 

[R Hudson]

Yes the IBIS is better but the final result is what I care and a perfectly stable 720P-like video with over contrasty colors is not my goal in these days.

I agree 100%. I think that the OP was just hopeful that Panasonic would switch to IBIS for the GH5 release, that's all. I don't think he ever intended to compare the video quality between the two cameras. Just the stabilization.

 

[Thomas Smet]

Hey I just thought it was a neat video that showed how two different stabilization systems can work in comparison to each other. We rarely if ever get to see just how OIS and IBIS stack up against each other. Many of us tend to form opinions on both systems without ever seeing what the end results actually are. Hopefully we can continue to have conversations on the subject and maybe someday we will have it in the GH5 or GH6. I myself included have been trained for decades to believe OIS would always be far superior but I am starting to second guess that old school belief. Most of this belief comes from theory and very old technology and the belief just sort of carried over throughout the years.

The beauty of a IBIS system is it can always be turned off if you don't want to use it. If you happen to have Panasonic lenses with OIS then you can always use that instead. Thats a choice Olympus users get right now.

 

[walkaboutcamera]

@vesku
you have to remember that post stabilization leads to cropping, and in the type of video test posted with a high level of action, there will be a lot of cropping. That been said a bit of post stabilization could also be added to the oly and make it even better.