An image-stabilization apparatus for counterbalancing a camera shake, the apparatus comprising: an image stabilizer having as drive modes an image-stabilizing drive mode comprising an image-stabilizing operation, and a fixed drive mode comprising a reduced image-stabilizing operation or no image-stabilizing operation; a shake-detecting sensor (26a, 26b) for providing sensor signals (Vx, Vy) to the image stabilizer for the image-stabilizing operation to counterbalance a camera shake; and a status-determining processor; wherein the status-determining processor performs, at the start time of an exposure, an initial status determination process with reference to the latest N number of said sensor signals issued over a period of time until a present time to determine whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the initial status determination process; and wherein the status-determining processor performs, during the exposure, based on the status determined by the initial status determination process a subsequent status determination process which on the basis of current said sensor signals determines whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the subsequent status determination process. an image stabilizer having as drive modes an image-stabilizing drive mode comprising an image-stabilizing operation, and a fixed drive mode comprising a reduced image-stabilizing operation or no image-stabilizing operation; a shake-detecting sensor (26a, 26b) for providing sensor signals (Vx, Vy) to the image stabilizer for the image-stabilizing operation to counterbalance a camera shake; and a status-determining processor; wherein the status-determining processor performs, at the start time of an exposure, an initial status determination process with reference to the latest N number of said sensor signals issued over a period of time until a present time to determine whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the initial status determination process; and wherein the status-determining processor performs, during the exposure, based on the status determined by the initial status determination process a subsequent status determination process which on the basis of current said sensor signals determines whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the subsequent status determination process. wherein the status-determining processor performs, at the start time of an exposure, an initial status determination process with reference to the latest N number of said sensor signals issued over a period of time until a present time to determine whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the initial status determination process; and wherein the status-determining processor performs, during the exposure, based on the status determined by the initial status determination process a subsequent status determination process which on the basis of current said sensor signals determines whether the present status of the camera is a fixed state status or a non-stationary state status and selects the drive mode of the image stabilizer according to the results of the subsequent status determination process.