Optical image stabilisation has been around for some time now, but Panasonic’s exclusive “MODE 2” Mega OIS is unique and very special 

Developed from conventional OIS, “MODE 2” Mega O.I.S. makes the impossible possible. With tradition OIS systems, shake reduction is often achieved by de-centering the image with the resultant loss of image quality. But still images need extremely high resolution and ensuring the light passes through the exact center of the lens is vital.  This is where Mega OIS “MODE 2” excels.

With “Mode 2” OIS, the stabiliser function stays in standby mode until the moment the shutter captures the image, when it is activated.

This mode offers the advantage that stabilisation is achieved as the O.I.S. lens block moves into position more quickly, ensuring the light passes through the exact center of the lens. Not only does this give a higher degree of stabilisation but it ensures the highest image quality too. This is unique in my experience.

As an example I was at Milestones museum yesterday and by using the Lumix G1 which has no mirror and hence avoids mirror bounce and vibration in combination with Mode 2 Mega OIS on the attached 14-55mm f3.5-5.6, was able to take pin sharp images, hand held, at 1/6th of a second or even 1/4 of a second (with proper holding technique). Not acceptably sharp you understand, but completely sharp i.e. both shake free and optically sharp too. 

This was reminiscent of using a rangefinder camera with fast primes in the “old days” of film where, once again with proper technique, hand held photography at slow shutter speeds was successfully practiced.

Great technology from Panasonic.