An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a manner to allow the image-stabilizing optical element to move in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, the guide device including at least one mechanical movement limit preventing movement of the image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction; a driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element in the plane; and a drive controller which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element within an image-stabilizing movement range so as not to reach the mechanical movement limit for correction of image shake during an image stabilizing operation, and which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element to a standby position located outside of the image-stabilizing movement range in the guide direction, when the image stabilizer changes from an operating state to a non-operating state.