I've been shooting Nikon for years and often wondered why they never offered that feature.

Years ago I had a Pentax K100D, and that wonderful little camera had it built in.   Was awesome to slap on a 50mm lens, and be able to shoot really slow with it and still get solid images.

They called it Vibration Reduction (VR) but I don't know how it compares with your Pentax

I'd guess it was a business decision by someone at some point?


It's in the new mirrorless bodies, as well as in the higher end lenses.

Simple.  Money.  Canon, Nikon, etc. all use lens mounted IS.  Why?  They can add a premium for the lens to get more money.  You'll pay more for each lens rather than just a bit more for a body for the same function.

Just they way they did it. now I believe most are using both in body and lens stabilization so you can get the best of both worlds.

My Canon EOS R6 mk II has in body stabilization, and coupled with lens with stabilization you can get some really amazing slow shutter speed without a tripod.

In my Pentax K5 it works by moving the sensor to compensate for the movement.  It works so well that I seldom use tripods with that camera.  Only mounted it on a tripod for those very slow night shots or with ND filters.

For what I read, Pentax managed to make the sensor movement so well controlled that the K3 model can take astrophography without those special tracking devices.  The sensor does the tracking.   If I was into night photography would probably get one.

It's the Astrotracer function on Pentax.  A few cameras have the built-in GPS and Astrotracer function (K1, K1mkII), some others need the external O-GPS unit mounted on the hot shoe to use the Astrotracer.  There are limits on shooting time in Astrotracer mode, dependent on focal length and location, due to the amount of sensor movement available.  I haven't used it, but used within its limitations it seems to work very well.

Some notes on Pentax SR (Shake Reduction) if anyone is considering Pentax.

Works great for adding IS to lenses without IS.  Many Pentax shooters still use old Pentax glass on their DSLRs.

Pentax lenses do not have IS.  Exception being one (IIRC) Pentax 645 system lens and older Sigma K mount glass.  Sigma stopped supporting the K mount.

The SR effectiveness is not visible through the OVF.  Definite advantage to mirrorless and EVF in this regard.  (I've acquired essential tremors, and am having issues holding my AF point stable enough to get AF lock using telephoto glass, so I currently researching various gear for a partial system change next year.  It will be mirrorless.  I will be keeping some of my Pentax gear.)