4K Video from iPhone 6S Plus Shows Striking Advantage of Optical Image Stabilization

[cdm283813]

Before I post my comment I'm sitting in my car at 5:25 am in front of a Verizon store waiting to jump in line for my wife's iPhone 6s plus. With that out the way I'm also a Samsung S6 owner. Samsung was nice enough to give the S6 and Note 5 the same camera features. I don't see any reason why Apple can't do the same. Size and the s-pen are the only major differences between the 2 devices.
I had to tell my wife the extra advantages but should I really be doing that? This video made the smaller 6s look horrible.

 

[mattopotamus]

When I watched this video before seeing this article, I immediately had an issue with it.
My iPhone 6 was NEVER that jerky when recording 1080p 60fps.

Reading the article, it does mention that 1080p isn't bad using digital stabilisation, and it's just 4k that was bad.

So it is worth noting, folks. 4k on the iPhone 6s isn't stabilising very well. 1080p will stabilise just as good as it did on the iPhone 6.
It might be a software update that apple can do to "fix" the 4k judder.

Although as someone above me said, there just may not be room in the sensor to stabilise.

I wonder if it has more to do with 4K at 30fps vs 1080p at 60fps. Personally, I will take the later.

 

[Imory]

When I watched this video before seeing this article, I immediately had an issue with it.
My iPhone 6 was NEVER that jerky when recording 1080p 60fps.

Reading the article, it does mention that 1080p isn't bad using digital stabilisation, and it's just 4k that was bad.

So it is worth noting, folks. 4k on the iPhone 6s isn't stabilising very well. 1080p will stabilise just as good as it did on the iPhone 6.
It might be a software update that apple can do to "fix" the 4k judder.

Although as someone above me said, there just may not be room in the sensor to stabilise.

There's no fix. The reason the iPhone 6 looks great with digital stabilisation is that the 6S doesn't use it when shooting 4K. It only activates when shooting 1080p, just like the regular iPhone 6.

 

[joueboy]

I doubt 6S+ camera with OIS takes up much more space than the camera on the 6S. I hate the fact fact that I am making a compromise buying the 6S now. Honestly I would pay $100 more for this on the regular 6S. This is total BS in my opinion to get people to spend $100 more. I'm already paying $200 for 128GBs, why am I getting an inferior product? I cannot walk comfortably with an iPhone 6S+ in my pocket, belt holsters make an ugly bulge under my shirt, so how else am I suppose to carry it (somewhat fashionably)?

I have the same feeling before. I said I never ever going to buy that big ugly iPhone. But I guess my love for photography influenced me of getting one because of OIS. It took awhile of getting used to it, I said to my self everyday for couple weeks this is huge. Addressing about your fashion question big phone is now a new a trend so that's a fashion statement itself. Second, 90% of the time our phone stays out of the pocket nowadays (heck people don't look each other anymore). Third, with the new iPhone 6s you can now put it on your back pocket without worrying about bendgate. Last one something that I said to myself I'm NOT doing it, but who knows Apple might start making one. Buy yourself a man purse some men thinks this is the most fashionable, besides pink is in I mean rose gold.

 

[6836838]

A fair comparison would have been

i could of sworn this was the already standard on iPhone 6 Plus?

of sworn?

 

[6836838]

Post production digital stabilisation for 4K it is then. A new app opportunity beckons.

 

[840quadra]

One thing that apps like hyperlapse and others have shown us, was the ability to stabilize via software is quite good. I really wish Apple expanded the built in algorithm for a bit more stability than the videos show.

My Sony pxw-x70 camera does an awesome job with its 4K sensor, acting as a large overscan area for HD video to be stabilized within. It is nice that Apple is doing this in a small way, but other apps, and that camera both show their Apple could do a bit more.

 

[jrcsh6]

This doesn't make sense. Yea OIS should look better but I don't think I've had my non OIS iPhone 6 ever be this shaky. Could be like last year when people were going on about the OIS in the 6+ and making convincing videos about how much better it was. There were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different. I'm pretty sure the people were holding them differentl there were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different.

 

[jrcsh6]

The other thing is that software image stabilization such as Final Cut or iMovie should be able to do quite a lot because most people are not going to be exporting 4K anyway. Not immediate future at least. So the software and crap these videos ridiculously and not affect picture quality for 1080

 

[BarcelonaPaul]

On an iPhone 30fps is always going to look very shaky/juddery whilst panning. That's why 60fps on 1080p is smooth. Surely 30fps 4K is poor then and not of much use?

 

[doctor-don]

I doubt 6S+ camera with OIS takes up much more space than the camera on the 6S. I hate the fact fact that I am making a compromise buying the 6S now. Honestly I would pay $100 more for this on the regular 6S. This is total BS in my opinion to get people to spend $100 more. I'm already paying $200 for 128GBs, why am I getting an inferior product? I cannot walk comfortably with an iPhone 6S+ in my pocket, belt holsters make an ugly bulge under my shirt, so how else am I suppose to carry it (somewhat fashionably)?

In March I paid $70 for a 256GB USB flash drive. To charge $200 more for the 128GB iPhone 6s than for the 16GB 6s is nothing more than gouging.
I do not want a phone larger than my 5-inch HTC ONE M8, so I ordered the iPhone 6s. Since it will be used for MANY videos and photos, I had to order the 128GB model. Apple does not allow an iPhone owner to swap his own storage cards.
If I needed OIS, I would have considered the Plus. However, I know how to hold my camera / phone for shake-free photos and videos - I've been doing it for decades.

 

[JAT]

So this is a +$100 feature all by itself? Come on. Have all same year updates have the same feature set despite screen size. Pay for screen size. Heck, have a +$100 double battery feature on all models which, since the cost basis is negligible, have far higher margins.

Margins for features users NEED, good, right?

P.S. Get a camera tripod for 4K.

Rocketman

With Canon, it actually costs a lot more. One of their most commonly purchased pro lenses is $750 more ($500 more in the lesser models) than the non-IS version. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...4261208161+4108103567&origSearch=canon 70-200

Really seems you are getting it for free from Apple, after paying for the screen.

 

[JawnVawka]

I doubt 6S+ camera with OIS takes up much more space than the camera on the 6S. I hate the fact fact that I am making a compromise buying the 6S now. Honestly I would pay $100 more for this on the regular 6S. This is total BS in my opinion to get people to spend $100 more. I'm already paying $200 for 128GBs, why am I getting an inferior product? I cannot walk comfortably with an iPhone 6S+ in my pocket, belt holsters make an ugly bulge under my shirt, so how else am I suppose to carry it (somewhat fashionably)?

Holsters can't be worn fashionably

 

[RedNibs]

If I had a 6s, I would probably want to shoot videos in 4k just to downsample them again to 1080p. The space seems wasted with 4k, but I guess it's nice to have the full sensor for the details.

Agree with you on having the extra pixels for the detail. Even for those wanting the final video in HD, there is an advantage shooting in 4K, so you can zoom/pan in post (editing) and still have good definition.
I'm happy with my 6+, but must say tempted to upgrade with the improvements on the 6s+. The force touch, which isn't getting the attention it deserves, is almost enough reason by itself - but, the camera might be the bigger motivator for me.

 

[ghost187]

I have the same feeling before. I said I never ever going to buy that big ugly iPhone. But I guess my love for photography influenced me of getting one because of OIS. It took awhile of getting used to it, I said to my self everyday for couple weeks this is huge. Addressing about your fashion question big phone is now a new a trend so that's a fashion statement itself. Second, 90% of the time our phone stays out of the pocket nowadays (heck people don't look each other anymore). Third, with the new iPhone 6s you can now put it on your back pocket without worrying about bendgate. Last one something that I said to myself I'm NOT doing it, but who knows Apple might start making one. Buy yourself a man purse some men thinks this is the most fashionable, besides pink is in I mean rose gold.

Thank you for the suggestions but there are more reasons why I use the iPhone 6 vs the 6+. Using the phone with one hand is very important to me since I use Swype to type everything on my iPhone. I don't even carry a wallet in my back pocket because it affects the blood circulation in my body (health concern). Lastly, I have no insecurities carrying a man purse, but that's one more thing to carry around all day. I'm praying that the next iPhone significantly reduce the top and bottom bezel, because the height is the dimension that bothers me the most.

 

[Imory]

This doesn't make sense. Yea OIS should look better but I don't think I've had my non OIS iPhone 6 ever be this shaky. Could be like last year when people were going on about the OIS in the 6+ and making convincing videos about how much better it was. There were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different. I'm pretty sure the people were holding them differentl there were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different.

There's no fix. The reason the iPhone 6 looks great with digital stabilisation is that the 6S doesn't use it when shooting 4K. It only activates when shooting 1080p, just like the regular iPhone 6.

 

[JawnVawka]

Can we talk about that blue iPhone in the video's thumbnail???

Haha it's like that dress photo ^_^

 

[JAT]

In March I paid $70 for a 256GB USB flash drive. To charge $200 more for the 128GB iPhone 6s than for the 16GB 6s is nothing more than gouging.
I do not want a phone larger than my 5-inch HTC ONE M8, so I ordered the iPhone 6s. Since it will be used for MANY videos and photos, I had to order the 128GB model. Apple does not allow an iPhone owner to swap his own storage cards.
If I needed OIS, I would have considered the Plus. However, I know how to hold my camera / phone for shake-free photos and videos - I've been doing it for decades.

You haven't been avoiding OIS for decades, have you? It makes even the best better. There are guys that can hand-hold 10lb lenses to shoot tiny birds in flight because of OIS. (not myself) I wouldn't buy my phone because of a photography feature (the 6s being delivered today shows that), but sounds like you have 'real' cameras, too.

 

[Shirasaki]

The 6 Plus' OIS doesn't work on videos.

Maybe I have missed something, but Apple use a short video shot with their "brand new iPhone 6 Plus (or 6)" to show how splendid their OIS technology is. This was happened in last year's special event.

 

[Imory]

Maybe I have missed something, but Apple use a short video shot with their "brand new iPhone 6 Plus (or 6)" to show how splendid their OIS technology is. This was happened in last year's special event.

They showed off the cinematic stabilisation. Apple never claimed that the OIS was ever used for video.

 

[JAT]

This doesn't make sense. Yea OIS should look better but I don't think I've had my non OIS iPhone 6 ever be this shaky. Could be like last year when people were going on about the OIS in the 6+ and making convincing videos about how much better it was. There were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different. I'm pretty sure the people were holding them differentl there were early videos last year when people were making videos that were drastically different.

It does make sense. Higher res means shakiness is that much more obvious. Physics. The more intense your situation, caused by: light level, pixel size/quality, f-stop used, number of pixels, etc., the more difficult it is to take a picture without blur. Many people bought into a new level of pixel size/count a few years ago, like with the Canon 7D when these cameras jumped from 10-12mp to ~20mp, and suddenly couldn't take a non-blurred pic. And that's with >$2000 setups. They had to adjust their shooting technique because the tech was harder to use.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I wish Apple would try to make same specification products with just different screen sizes! 4", 4.7", 5.5"

Hate to be left out just 'cause I don't want the Plus.

strange that you think they didn't try. I'd be willing to bet its due to the case size.

 

[Imory]

It does make sense. Higher res means shakiness is that much more obvious. Physics. The more intense your situation, caused by: light level, pixel size/quality, f-stop used, number of pixels, etc., the more difficult it is to take a picture without blur. Many people bought into a new level of pixel size/count a few years ago, like with the Canon 7D when these cameras jumped from 10-12mp to ~20mp, and suddenly couldn't take a non-blurred pic. And that's with >$2000 setups. They had to adjust their shooting technique because the tech was harder to use.

It seems like they're not applying any stabilisation for shooting 4K. That would explain the shakiness.

 

[EldonChew]

Maybe I have missed something, but Apple use a short video shot with their "brand new iPhone 6 Plus (or 6)" to show how splendid their OIS technology is. This was happened in last year's special event.

That was Cinematic Video Stabilisation.

 

[JAT]

It seems like they're not applying any stabilisation for shooting 4K. That would explain the shakiness.

Yes, that would be one of the factors. But if you took IS out of it, like on the 6s, it is that much harder in 4k vs 1080, as well. Focal length is one I left out, since it doesn't apply to phones, but that is essentially the same thing as resolution. Going to 4k means you've essentially zoomed in 2x, and shakiness is that much harder to fight. Zoom/pixel count will affect your shake much faster than f-stop/OIS. (these are also essentially the same) That's why I gave the 7D example, many of the people that had problems with the 7D already had OIS and knew how to use their cameras well.