Image Stablizer and Video Quality

[Mark Fredrickson]

I thought I heard somewhere that turning on your camcorder's Digital Image Stablizer can degrade your captured video quality. Is this true and if so,

1. What does it actually do?

2. How much does it affect the quality. If you don't have the shakes, should you have it on just for normal camcorder bumps?

3. Is there any difference between analog and DV camcorder Image Stablizers?

4. Do most people leave it on, off, or switch it off/on depending on the situation?

[vidiot]

Hello Mark,

you have to differ also between optical stabilizing and electronical!

My camcorder does only support electronical stab., which simply leads to reduces in resolution...
The optical way is more sophisticated: The hole optical system (lenses) is slighly moving (ehhh - not moving while your are "shaking" the camcorder).

If I could I turn that thing off, or - even the best solution - film with a tripod...

Harald