Definition: Optical IS (image stabilization) is a digital camera technology that works to reduce blurry photos by using hardware corrections inside the digital camera to compensate for camera shake as the photograph is snapped. Optical IS the most precise type of image stabilization, as it uses a gyro-sensor to measure camera shake. The camera then shifts the image sensor to compensate.
Contrast optical IS with digital IS, which makes use of software corrections inside the digital camera to compensate for camera shake. Digital IS is not as effective as optical IS in creating high-quality photos.
