OIS or EIS on GS400? at DVinfo.net

Tony Leung · August 18th, 2004, 12:13 AM

Hi all,

I found that there are different reviews of GS400 mentioned about the OIS (Optical Image Stablization) feature. However there are also some other info mentioned it has EIS only. Someone even say that it is OIS for photo image, EIS for video capture.

Which one is correct? Or there are different models in different countries offer different features set?

Thanks!

Andreas Winkler · August 18th, 2004, 12:39 AM

The GS400 definately has optical image stabilisation.
The strange thing is, that (at least on the NTSC version) the menu says EIS, which usually is referring to "electronic image stabilisation". Maybe in this case it's a shortcut for "enhanced image stabilisation"!?
Somewhere I read in video mode it uses "normal" OIS and in photo mode the "Mega optical image stabiliser", but I'm also not totally sure about this. Anyway, as far as I could test yet, the image stabilisation works quite well in both modes, video and photo, but can not replace a good tripod.

Tommy Haupfear · August 18th, 2004, 04:43 AM

Andreas is correct as all the photos I have seen say Optical Image Stabilization on the cam itself. Panasonic isn't know for making great manuals (or websites).

Guy Bruner · August 18th, 2004, 04:50 AM

The DV953 and GS400 have optical stabilization. If you go to the Panasonic Japan website and click into the GS400 info, there is a drawing that shows how it works.

Andre De Clercq · August 18th, 2004, 07:15 AM

The OIS is based on lens shift. Other cams use a fluid prism. Lens shift stabilisation in fast but shows some resolution lowering at large excursions. The "mega"stabilisation for still photography tries to use a more central area by starting the OIS operation only when the "shoot" button is pushed.

Jesse Bekas · August 18th, 2004, 09:48 AM

I have seen so many people confused over whether or not the DV953 had OIS (it does) because it said "EIS" in the menus. I was surprised the GS400 US version still says "EIS" in the menu. I thought Panasonic would have changed this to avoid confusion about the stabilization method, which is so important to so many people.

Mikhail Transact · August 18th, 2004, 12:46 PM

In my PAL GS400 menu says "OIS".

Tommy Haupfear · August 18th, 2004, 01:21 PM

CLick here for a photo of the Japanese NTSC GS400 that clearly shows the MEGA OIS logo (twice).

Jesse Bekas · August 18th, 2004, 03:43 PM

The US version does say Mega Optical Stabilzation in the manual, but the internal camera menu says "EIS", same as with the DV953. When the first people (at least the non-video nuts) were getting those cams, they started ranting up a storm about how OIS was advertised, but the cam only had EIS, and considering how many people bashed the EIS on the GS70, 120, & 200 some perspective DV953 owners got scared. I remember seeing post after post about it, and thinking to myself "Pana should clear that up in the menus otherwise buyers who don't do their homework could get scared away from the cam". Needless to say, they left it the same on the US GS400, and I've seen some posts questioning the stablization method for this cam too.

Tony Leung · August 18th, 2004, 04:52 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for your info. From many GS400 users, I think it is sure that it should have optical image stablizer but using different terms and name that may confuse users.

Rokta Bija · August 18th, 2004, 05:53 PM

What if it has both? Once the optical is done with it, why not refine it further with eletronic.

Jesse Bekas · August 18th, 2004, 11:05 PM

In some sense it does have both. I think the gyro reactions are calculated and controlled electronically, whereas some higher-end OIS systems use fluid reactions to stabilize. So it's a use of an electronic system just not in the traditional EIS sense. BTW, I'm quoting somebody else about the fluid vs. electronic gyro system, so I could be wrong...

Rokta Bija · August 19th, 2004, 02:00 AM

Some of the guys in the sony forum on camcorderinfo say the sony 950 has both OIS and EIS.

Andre De Clercq · August 19th, 2004, 03:31 AM

Fluid prism or lensshift , both concepts are optical so OIS. Gyrosensors (which measure the cam motion) are not very effective for slow shakes. What sometimes is being implemented is an additional electronic image analysis system ("EIS") which generates (and feeds to the prism/lensshift unit) the necessary correction signals for slow motion. The latter not to be confused with the standard EIS which acts on the CCD readout area.

Frank Granovski · August 19th, 2004, 05:16 AM

Panasonic claims, "This advanced optical system uses more that 90% of the effective pixels captured by the CCDs...."

August 18th, 2004, 12:13 AM	#1
Tony Leung Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 46	OIS or EIS on GS400? Hi all, I found that there are different reviews of GS400 mentioned about the OIS (Optical Image Stablization) feature. However there are also some other info mentioned it has EIS only. Someone even say that it is OIS for photo image, EIS for video capture. Which one is correct? Or there are different models in different countries offer different features set? Thanks! __________________ Travel Photos - http://www.fotop.net/hktraveller Traveller Diary - http://hktraveller.blogspot.com

August 18th, 2004, 12:46 PM	#7
Mikhail Transact Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 60	In my PAL GS400 menu says "OIS". __________________ Mikhail

August 18th, 2004, 04:52 PM	#10
Tony Leung Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 46	Hi all, Thanks for your info. From many GS400 users, I think it is sure that it should have optical image stablizer but using different terms and name that may confuse users. __________________ Travel Photos - http://www.fotop.net/hktraveller Traveller Diary - http://hktraveller.blogspot.com

August 18th, 2004, 12:39 AM	#2
Andreas Winkler Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan Posts: 125	The GS400 definately has optical image stabilisation. The strange thing is, that (at least on the NTSC version) the menu says EIS, which usually is referring to "electronic image stabilisation". Maybe in this case it's a shortcut for "enhanced image stabilisation"!? Somewhere I read in video mode it uses "normal" OIS and in photo mode the "Mega optical image stabiliser", but I'm also not totally sure about this. Anyway, as far as I could test yet, the image stabilisation works quite well in both modes, video and photo, but can not replace a good tripod.

August 18th, 2004, 04:43 AM	#3
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Andreas is correct as all the photos I have seen say Optical Image Stabilization on the cam itself. Panasonic isn't know for making great manuals (or websites).

August 18th, 2004, 04:50 AM	#4
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	The DV953 and GS400 have optical stabilization. If you go to the Panasonic Japan website and click into the GS400 info, there is a drawing that shows how it works.

August 18th, 2004, 07:15 AM	#5
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	The OIS is based on lens shift. Other cams use a fluid prism. Lens shift stabilisation in fast but shows some resolution lowering at large excursions. The "mega"stabilisation for still photography tries to use a more central area by starting the OIS operation only when the "shoot" button is pushed.

August 18th, 2004, 09:48 AM	#6
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	I have seen so many people confused over whether or not the DV953 had OIS (it does) because it said "EIS" in the menus. I was surprised the GS400 US version still says "EIS" in the menu. I thought Panasonic would have changed this to avoid confusion about the stabilization method, which is so important to so many people.

August 18th, 2004, 01:21 PM	#8
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	CLick here for a photo of the Japanese NTSC GS400 that clearly shows the MEGA OIS logo (twice).

August 18th, 2004, 03:43 PM	#9
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	The US version does say Mega Optical Stabilzation in the manual, but the internal camera menu says "EIS", same as with the DV953. When the first people (at least the non-video nuts) were getting those cams, they started ranting up a storm about how OIS was advertised, but the cam only had EIS, and considering how many people bashed the EIS on the GS70, 120, & 200 some perspective DV953 owners got scared. I remember seeing post after post about it, and thinking to myself "Pana should clear that up in the menus otherwise buyers who don't do their homework could get scared away from the cam". Needless to say, they left it the same on the US GS400, and I've seen some posts questioning the stablization method for this cam too.

August 18th, 2004, 05:53 PM	#11
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	What if it has both? Once the optical is done with it, why not refine it further with eletronic.

August 18th, 2004, 11:05 PM	#12
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	In some sense it does have both. I think the gyro reactions are calculated and controlled electronically, whereas some higher-end OIS systems use fluid reactions to stabilize. So it's a use of an electronic system just not in the traditional EIS sense. BTW, I'm quoting somebody else about the fluid vs. electronic gyro system, so I could be wrong...

August 19th, 2004, 02:00 AM	#13
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	Some of the guys in the sony forum on camcorderinfo say the sony 950 has both OIS and EIS.

August 19th, 2004, 03:31 AM	#14
Andre De Clercq Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 804	Fluid prism or lensshift , both concepts are optical so OIS. Gyrosensors (which measure the cam motion) are not very effective for slow shakes. What sometimes is being implemented is an additional electronic image analysis system ("EIS") which generates (and feeds to the prism/lensshift unit) the necessary correction signals for slow motion. The latter not to be confused with the standard EIS which acts on the CCD readout area.

August 19th, 2004, 05:16 AM	#15
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Panasonic claims, "This advanced optical system uses more that 90% of the effective pixels captured by the CCDs...."