Sensorshifting

Sensorshifting refers to a family of imaging techniques in which the camera’s image sensor is moved by small actuators relative to the lens axis. The primary purpose is to compensate for camera motion (stabilization) or to capture multiple sub-pixel samples for higher-resolution imaging (pixel-shift). In-body sensor-shift stabilization uses motion data from the camera to drive precise sensor shifts, reducing blur from hand-held shooting and, in some modes, enabling higher effective resolution.

In stabilization mode, the sensor is moved along one or more axes to counteract detected movement. Modern implementations commonly support two to five axes, including horizontal, vertical, pitch, and roll adjustments. By shifting the sensor in the opposite direction of camera shake, the system preserves the intended scene sharpness without relying on lens-based stabilization. Sensor-shift stabilization can work with any attached lens, including those without built-in stabilization.

In pixel-shift or high-resolution modes, the sensor is moved by exact, small steps between exposures to gather multiple samples of the same scene. The images are then combined algorithmically to produce a higher-resolution image with improved color accuracy and reduced demosaicing artifacts. Pixel-shift is particularly useful for stationary subjects and controlled lighting and is sensitive to motion between frames.

Advantages of sensorshifting include lens-agnostic stabilization, potential improvements in color fidelity with pixel-shift, and applicability to both stills and video. Limitations include mechanical complexity, potential AF interaction during sensor movement, reduced burst rates for multi-frame modes, and unsuitability for moving subjects in pixel-shift capture. Several camera makers offer sensor-shift stabilization and pixel-shift features as part of their in-body stabilization systems.