Vibration compensation device for a camera and an associated visual display

A vibration compensation device suitable for use in an optical imaging system to reduce blur in the image during exposure, said vibration compensation device comprising:

• a vibration detection unit to detect vibrations which would blur the image;
• a vibration compensation unit to compensate for vibrations;
• a vibration compensation selection switch having a first position to enable said vibration compensation unit and a second position to disable said vibration compensation unit;
• and
• a control unit to initiate exposure after a time period has elapsed upon the full press of a release button, the time period being the same when said vibration compensation selection switch is in the first position and when said vibration compensation switch is in the second position.

A method of exposing an image in an optical system comprising:

• detecting vibrations which would cause blur in the image when a user half presses a release button;
• displaying an indication to the user of the detected vibrations;
• repeatedly determining, after the user half presses the release button, whether the user desires to compensate for detected vibrations;
• initiating exposure of the image upon the full press of the release button and compensating for the detected vibrations if the user desires to compensate for vibrations;
• and
• initiating exposure of the image upon the full press of the release button if the user does not desire to compensate for vibrations and compensating for vibrations if it was determined at any time after the half press and prior to the full press of the release button that the user desired to compensate for the detected vibrations.

A method of exposing an image comprising:

• identifying whether a user desires to compensate for vibrations while exposing the image;
• if the user does not desire to compensate for vibrations, initiating exposure of the image after a first period of time, from when the user indicates that an exposure should be initiated;
• and
• if the user desires to compensate for vibrations, initiating exposure of the image after a second period of time from when the user indicates that an exposure should be initiated, during which vibrations are detected and preparations are made to compensate for vibrations during the exposure, the second period of time being equal to the first period of time.