Welcome to part three of our series on lens technology and its influence on today’s broadcast and video world. Today, let’s take a close look at optical stability technology.

High def has brought with it crystal clear pictures that allow viewers to see the smallest imperfections. It also has made slight variations in camera operation stand out much larger than if they were made in standard definition.

That is one of the reasons optical stabilization technology has become so important. First, let’s explain how and why a shaky picture happens. To create an image, light rays travel through the lens into the camera, where they are converted into an image. If the camera operator happens to be on an unstable platform, is shooting in a driving wind, or simply has an unsteady hand for a fraction of a second, the lens will move. This causes the light rays to bend, relative to the optical axis. The result is a blurred image.

Optical stability technology has been developed to make sure those images remain crystal clear. Lenses are designed with OS systems that feature gyro-sensors that can detect the slightest movement that may cause vibration and subsequent bending of the light ray. The sensors detect the angle and speed of movement and send this data to a high-speed 32-bit microcomputer. The microcomputer then converts the detection signals into a correction signal that is applied to the optical correction system which actually moves the internal lens elements. This offsets the movement and helps to maintain a stable image.

OS systems are not just helpful during HD shoots. They’re also handy in applications in which a very long focal length is necessary, since the slightest movement will cause image shake and an unacceptable picture.

To learn more about how lens technology is reshaping optical stabilization systems, visit Fujinon.com.