Last Updated on 08/12/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
Trying to hold a camera steady can be challenging at any age. We’re taking a look at some of the best stabilized lenses for shaky hands.
Too much coffee or too many years behind us and our hands can sometimes fail us. Shaky hands can take what should be a sharp photo and make it slightly soft or worse. Below, we cover some of the best lenses with IS built in which also happen to be some of the better lenses available for DSLR or mirrorless systems.
Canon 28mm f2.8 IS
There are not many wide angle primes with IS built in so if you’re shooting with Canon, count yourself lucky. The Canon 28mm f2.8 is a good choice for stills and a must have for video.
Pro tip – If you’re considering the Canon EF 28mm f2.8 for shooting DSLR video get a good ND filter.
In our review we state:
“Canon’s 28mm f2.8 IS is one of the company’s latest additions into the wide angle image stabilized market. Like the 35mm f2 IS that we also previously reviewed, the lens is a wide angle stabilized optic designed for the photographer that loves to shoot wide while stopped down and for the person that loves to shoot video and wants an affordable option. And like many of Canon’s newer lenses, it shows that the company knows that they’re on top and doesn’t want anyone to dethrone them anytime soon.” – Read our review
Fujifilm 18-135mm f3.5-5.6
If you are a shaky-handed traveler or are not wanting to change your lenses, the Fujifilm XF 18-135mm is an excellent choice for the Fuji X mount. You’re getting wide to telephoto coverage and it’s sharp enough to make high-quality enlargement prints.
Pro tip – The Fuji 18-135mm is a larger lens so consider a grip for your camera to increase stability.
In our review we state:
“The lens perfectly slots into a long vacant gap within Fujifilm’s X-series lens lineup as a jack-of-all-trades tool for tourists on vacation to journalists in need of a flexible lens for events. It’s not designed to excel in any particular field like the sports shooting XF50-140mm f2.8 or architectural wide-angle XF10-24mm f4, but it’s more than decent for capturing any type of photo you need.”– Read our review
Olympus 12-100mm f4 PRO (Micro Four Thirds)
Micro Four Thirds has the largest number of high-quality native glass of any mirrorless system, and as such it can be hard to stand out. With features like rock solid Sync IS stabilization, an 8X zoom and weather sealing, the Olympus 12-100mm f4 not only stands out, it’s one of the best on any system.
Pro tip – If you have an Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera and want the ultimate travel lens the Olympus 12-100mm f4 is it.
In our review we state:
“In absolutely so many ways, the Olympus 12-100mm f4 PRO is the only lens you’ll probably ever need if you’re combining it with the company’s fantastic higher-end cameras. Micro Four Thirds camera owners who use this lens may never take it off unless they want something with a faster aperture. But time and time again, I was absolutely surprised by the output of this lens due to how it was constructed. It boasts weather sealing, a simple way to switch to manual focus, image stabilization, and the ability to produce some beautiful image quality. It’s designed for the landscape and travel photographer more than anything. And when you consider the format is more or less based on a sensor that’s around the size of 110 film then you can see just how far the system has evolved.” – Read our review
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens
If you’re shooting Canon and want a 24-70 f2.8 Sigma has you covered. The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens is beautiful, stabilized, and is a solid choice for Canon or Nikon DSLR shooters.
In our review we state:
“The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Art earns very high marks in our book. It’s got beautiful image quality, pretty good focusing abilities, weather sealing, keeps the overall size to a fairly compact package, and works reliably. For professional photographers, the question isn’t about whether or not the lens can perform, but more about Sigma’s professional service options. I mean, if your lens breaks after a wedding and you’ve got another wedding in a few days, knowing that you can get it swapped out is very nice.” – Read our review
Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS
The 24-105mm zoom lens is one of the most popular zooms on for any brand and with good reason. You get a 24mm that is good for street, landscapes, and interiors, and you top out at 105mm which is good for portraits. The Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS is not only a solid lens in general on cameras like the A7R III, but the lens IS works in tandem with the camera’s IBIS, giving you extra stability. If you’re shooting Sony Alpha, the Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS (Sony E, Full Frame) is the logical choice.
Pro tip – Because Sony bodies are so small, you might want to invest in a grip for extra stability.
In our review we state:
“The Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS is mostly designed for enthusiasts, but I can totally see how and why photographers would want to use it for more professional reasons. It can deliver gorgeous image quality and with the right lighting I doubt that anyone would really be able to fault the lens or the photographer. Combine this with the little bit of weather sealing, and I can totally see how this lens can be one that stays glued to your camera in most instances. It gives you quite a bit of zoom range to work with, reliable focusing in most instances, and good enough image quality that can be tweaked inside of the camera or in post.” – Read our review