OIS is good?
 

I have read this OIS here and think it is good. How is it good?

OIS or, "Oh it's stable" is better than the digital kind of built-in stabilization. DIS stands for, "disfunctional image stabilizer." Hope that helps. :-))

I just want to add that I always noticed Sony's non-OIS'd cams seemd to have good stabilization unlike my JVCs, though I almost always use an external stabilizer with my JVCs. OIS would be for your upcoming run and gun adventures in and about Edmonton. Ever shoot video in that big mall? Is it still the largest in the world? I read the one in the Twin Cities is larger---don't know if that's right, however.

That is funny Frank. I don't know if our mall is the biggest. It used to be and maybe it still is. Do not know for sure. I know where the biggest egg is.

Glad you liked it. By the way, I know where the biggest mosquito is (a wee town in Manitoba)...I know where the biggest sturgeon is (Kenora)...I know where the Paul Bunyan statue is (Bemidji). OIS is better but few cams have them, and the pro cams don't even have built-in stabilzers. The prosumers use Miller tripods, the pro's use O'Connor's and we use Manfrotto's). I wonder how my MX300 would look like sitting on an O'Connor? :-))

I have a cheapo set of sticks for my K1000. It is no good for video and I do not want sticks for video. I am going to run and gun. I sure like that term. In the winter I am going to run indoors and take a bus to get there, so I will be recording indoors or just shooting with my K1000. Tapes sure cost an arm and a leg. I want to reuse tapes but I do not want to erase footage. Thanks for all the tips.

That K1000, a Pentax? That's a good manual still cam. If you find miniDV tapes expensive, don't shoot so much. :-))

Sony employs electronic sensors (EIS) for their Super Steady Shot (sans optical) and I agree that it appears to be superior to cams using digital image stabilization (DIS) which is less effective and noticeably reduces resolution.

Tommy, didn't the Pana's cams have EIS?
but if i remember when you pan with no subject you have "frames droped" (jurky movement)...

"Pana's cams have EIS?"

My JVCs have DIS. That's why I shut this feature off and use a tripod. (Degrades the video; can't have that.)

DIS - disfunctional image stabilizer
OIS - Oh it's stable
EIS - ?

What about on the DVX100/DVX100a? Leave OIS on for handheld, off for tripod?

That's a good plan. I disengage DIS and OIS when I'm using a tripod.

How about for running?

The marzpak would be bad for running but for rollerblading or skateboarding it's great. I wonder if OIS would help there?

http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/marzpak.php

It's better to leave OIS/DIS/EIS on for 'er run 'n gun. I don't run, I do ride a bike, though.

its funny you mention the OIS and tripods., i too have read that you should turn it off., it think they might even mention it in the manual. yes i did read the manual. i was bored and wanted to see if there were any cool functions that were hidden that i didn't know about. but i didn't find anything. anyways i find that if i leave the OIS on i can get smoother pans in a lot of cases however sometime it gets to its limits and then all of a sudden seems to reset itself and you get a big jerk in ur footage.

Justin