iPhone 6 Plus Optical Stabilisation Photos Only - Not Video

[CBlakeston]

I'm pretty sure I read in one of the many reviews I've soaked in over the last few days that the optical image stabalization with the 6 Plus is only used for taking photos. Can anyone confirm that or remind me where I read it?

On Apple's own site it only calls out the stabilisation for photos whereas both cameras get 'cinematic video'.

 

[jrcsh6]

No. It's full time. And video will be one of the places it really shows off. That and low/crappy light. In sunshine it'll be identical to the 6.

 

[bmms8]

No. It's full time. And video will be one of the places it really shows off. That and low/crappy light. In sunshine it'll be identical to the 6.

Where is a link to this info?

Just like the OP I'm starting to think its for pictures only.

 

[CBlakeston]

That would make sense - but video is different to single images and apple have only ever mentioned it alongside low light photography. I've read reviews that categorically state it does / it doesn't.

Can you link to a source that definitely says it does?

 

[jrcsh6]

I don't have a link but soon enough there will be video on YouTube or there is a great review from a photographer with the verge who took a press phone to Iceland last week. Defiantly worth a watch if you like photography.

That said. I could be the fool but I'm 99% sure on all of this.

 

[iregret]

At about the 2:00 mark in the video.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/when-apple-unveiled-the-iphone-6-last-week-it-97685451544.html

 

[MisterMankind]

Get your facts straight, guys. OIS only works for photos in the 6+, cinematic Video stabilization is a Software feature that works the same in both models and is great nontheless.
This has been discussed here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1777671/
Watch the rollercoaster Video in the Disneyland review in this thread, taken by a non-+-iPhone 6 and plain awesome.

TL/Dr: Video stabilization is a Software feature and thus the same in both models

 

[CBlakeston]

I read the Iceland thing too. Fantastic article with amazing photos. For anyone who wants to read http://austinmann.com/trek/iphone-6-plus-camera-review-iceland

So the way OIS works to get better low light photos is it holds the image steady, letting you expose for longer with a lower shutter speed to capture more light and detail. Up to 3 stops I believe.

Video doesn't work like that. You can't alter the shutter speed to let in more light and you need 25/30 images a second. And with the 'cinematic stabilisation' examples i've seen from both phones there are examples of ever so slight digital warping in the background if you know where to look. It looks like it's been run through an incredible good stabilisation plugin. The fact that this can be done in real time is tremendously impressive. But it definitely applies to footage from both phones. Which prompted my question

 

[MisterMankind]

Yep, you're right in this. As i wrote above you: OIS for better low light photos in the 6+, cinematic Video stabilization (Software feature) in both

 

[CBlakeston]

Get your facts straight, guys. OIS only works for photos in the 6+, cinematic Video stabilization is a Software feature that works the same in both models

Your posts came in as I was replying. Thanks for the clarification. That's awesome.

 

[jrcsh6]

Well, that makes me a fool. That 1% I had not been sure about
I don't feel as bad now about not having OIS! (still wish I had it!)
Good to know!

 

[mjschabow]

For those of you with the 6 Plus, what camera settings do you use? HDR?

 

[jrcsh6]

Not to sound dumb or beating a dead dog but I've watched some more review videos. Side by side stuff is showing the 6+ with smoother video and people claiming it is OIS in video. Might we be wrong here?

 

[CBlakeston]

I've seen the OIS refereed to in so many videos as 'better for images and video' and then they don't really go into it. I think a lot of it is lazy reporting.

There's a general belief it's better - it sounds like it should be - but the video stabilisation is software based. So it's the same on both.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

I get the bit about longer shutter speed with IOS, but isn't IOS a passive feature? In other words, even if the video's don't use a long shutter speed, woudln't the stabilized lens still provide some minor benefit due to ios lens passive ability to reduce shake?

 

[CBlakeston]

That's what I would have normally assumed. With a DSLR OIS smooths out the micro jitters you get from hand holding. But it's not passive. it takes power to drive (and is often quite noisy).

The following is what i'm going on:
Well respected reviewers saying the OIS is explicitly for photos, no video.
Most reviews saying OIS is great for videos and photos with no further detail
Apple explicitly calling out OIS for photos
cinematic stabilisation being pushed on both phones (software)

I suspect we'll have to wait for Anandtech's review for the final verdict?

 

[TrueBlou]

Currently the OIS is for photos only. Well, let's put it this way, Apple are allowing us (developers) access to OIS for use in our apps and it is specifically for photo mode only.

While it is possible that Apple could be holding back video OIS for themselves, it's not uncommon for them to do so, I've not seen anything so far that would suggest they are.

While that's said, the hardware can support it so there is always the possibility that it could be added in the future. My own thoughts, not that they're worth much, is that come next year when the 6s is released OIS for video will be one of the new things and it's likely at that time it is also made available for the 6+.
Of course I've been wrong before, many, many, many times

 

[CBlakeston]

That would be a definitive answer, thanks

Also, listening to the new 'Upgrade' podcast discussing the new iPhones last night, they were asking for questions so I emailed Jason Snell. He replied instantly - It's only for photos.

 

[BrettDS]

iPhone 6 Plus Optical Stabilisation Photos Only - Not Video

Maybe I'm misunderstanding exactly how OIS works, but it seems to me like it wouldn't be possible to use it for videos. My understanding is the OIS physically moves the camera or lens/sensor combo to compensate for physical movement of the phone, but it only has a very limited distance that the camera can move. I'm just speculating, but I can't imagine it would be more than a mm and probably less than that.

Clearly this can work fine for taking picture. The shutter is open for a fraction of a second and unless you're swinging the phone around I'm sure that the phone's movement would be far less than a mm during the short time the shutter is open. The camera moves slightly to compensate, the picture is sharp and in focus and life is good.

But videos are much longer than a fraction of a second. And just holding the camera at arms length and trying to keep it still would produce more movement than OIS could compensate for, much less the movement induced by walking or riding a bike. You'd need something that could move the camera several cm or more to be able to compensate for that movement. I suppose OIS could be used during a video for each individual frame as I describe above to make sure that frame was as focused as possible, but there's no way it can compensate for the movement of a phone during an entire video. That has to be done in software unless I'm totally misunderstanding this.

 

[TrueBlou]

Well I'm by no means an expert when it comes to photography, just an enthusiastic amateur. But from what I've seen on teardown videos the range of movement for the 6+ does look to be at most a couple of mm.

That in theory though should be plenty, when combined with the software trickery, for very good results in video.

I think for good results with OIS you are looking at movement somewhere in the region of 1/50th of the focal range of the lens. If so then the small amount of movement provided by the 6+ should be plenty as I think that would equate to the 6+ needing 0.7mm of movement to be effective.

Although I'm entirely certain that someone on the forums will know more on the subject than I do.