The E-3 and E-510 incorporate a image stabiliser unit based on a breakthrough SWD* system designed and developed originally by Olympus to correct blurring of images caused by unsteady hands even under low light or when a lens with a long focal distance is used.
The newly developed sensor with blurring frequency analysis/detection capability and a motor with excellent responsiveness and controllability enable the image stabiliser unit to respond to vibrations caused by handshake and camera movement and achieve a correction effect equivalent up to 5EVsteps, making it the world's most effective solution (E-510: 4 EV steps).
In-body application for low costs and uncompromised image quality
The image stabiliser unit for in-body vibration correction is optimized for the Four Thirds System which has near-telecentric optics. It allows all Four Thirds-compliant lenses to be used with the camera body and corrects blurring without compromising the optical performance. Results are best when a ZUIKO DIGITAL lens is used, even more effective blur correction is possible. The E-510 is a digital SLR camera with multiple functions as represented by the blur correction provided by the image stabiliser unit with breakthrough SWD.
Also, having the image stabiliser built in the body means to make no compromise in image quality, compared to a stabilising element inside the lenses. With the E-3's firmware version 1.1 and version 1.3 for the E-510, you can even enjoy the stabilisation effect in legacy OM lenses or other non-Four Thirds lenses. In the IS setup, you can now enter the used focal length to provide the accurate stabilisation.
The E-510’s built-in image stabilisation unit has two modes supported by two elements. One mode - IS 1 - performs corrections of unsteady hands in both the XY directions. The other mode - IS 2 - performs corrections in the Y direction and is especially useful when taking following shots, e.g. in sports or moving cars etc. It inhibits the correction of blurring in the longitudinal direction of the image.
