VR?

How much of a improvment has the VR been for you? Has it been a significant

improvement hand held at about 200mm mid f stop range over a non VR lense?

Thanks

I believe depending on the version of VR you're referring to, it is up to two stops improvement. Fun to play with for sure. I'm too old school and use a tripod, and VR means $$$.

With handheld shots in lowlight at longer focal lengths, it is the difference between getting the shots and not getting them.

I don't really depend on VR, but I did find that I could use up to two stops on my 105 f/2.8

lens. Telephoto lens users can definitely make use of VR, but then if it's mounted on a tripod

being that heavy of a lens already...

About 2 stops at the short end (same as my monopod) and 3 stops at the long end - but not always as reliably as I would like. While I love the versatility and ease of use of the 18-200VR, there are increasingly times when I would prefer faster lenses - especially for focusing in low light.

VR means my tripod only gets use for REALLY long exposures, and it means that I can take

photos I didn't used to take. I get the full 3 to 4 stop improvement.

 

It's awesome.

 

It's worth it.

No question that it has made keepers out of some shots/circumstances in which I would have otherwise had nothing worthy. Great technology, but only really constructive if you understand how it works and what its limitations are. I'd hate to give it up, that's for sure. I use it on an 18-200 for walk-around stuff, and on a 70-200 (sometimes with a 1.7x TC). Glad to have it at my disposal, and the results are tangible.

It's unbelievably good. I have a Panasonic FZ20 with it, and a Nikon 70-300 ED VR. Both the Nikon lens and the Panasonic provide, at the far end, a field of view equivalent to about 450mm at the long end. It is hard to believe that I can hand-hold that and come out with decent photographs. It is particularly useful when photographing fast, erratically flying birds, especially hummingbirds, that make a tripod difficult or imposible to work with.<div></div>

I use it on my 70-200 for stage productions. It is very useful for me given the low light and

my shaky hands. Easily a 2 stop advantage over a non-VR. In fact, when I got back into Nikon

I purchased an 80-200 f2.8 thinking I'd save a few bucks and use a monopod. I traded up for

the 70-200 VR after the first time I used it at a performance.

I use a tripod when ever at all possible, but when it's not, the VR makes a dramatic difference. I used to own the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D and was used to that. I now have the 70-200mm f2.8 VR, so I am used to both. My conclusion? I won't buy another long lens without VR.

 

 

Kent in SD

I use a 70-200/2.8 VR lens with good results at 1/30 second, and occasionally 1/15 second at 200 mm. Without VR, I would need 1/200 second to get comparable results, or a tripod. It is perfectly suited for events and weddings. For anything more leisurely paced (e.g., landscapes and architecture), I use a tripod with VR switched off.

About 3 stops with my 70-300 VR. I have always had shaky hands and the VR definitely helps when I'm at 300mm.

 

I am getting better with holding the camera steady but when you depress the shutter halfway and the VR kicks in, you can really see the difference. Instead of some jittering, the image looks a little wavy - that's my best description of VR in action - and you quickly get used to the noise the VR mechanism makes.

 

I love my 70-300mm VR. I think the 70-200 VR f2.8 is next on my list but it will take a while to save for it. The faster glass would definitely help.

I love my Nikon 80-400mm VR lens. It frees me from the tripod. I use it a lots for taking multiple shots to make large pans in photoshop and stitch them together. I used it in my "Eagles of Homer" in my portfolio.

At the present time, I am using the Nikon 70-200 VR, 70-300 VR and the 80-400 VR, and

I must say; VR is definitely one of the best tricks to come along (especially on longer lenses

and marginal light), right there with AF. The more you use it, the more you like it. As one

of the previous replies said, it can be the difference between getting the shot or not. Learn

to work with the newer technologies, and let them help you get those great pics.

I have a question about VR. Will it relevant in the 18-55 range? Considering the good price (199.00)I might get this one instead of the standard kit lens that is not VR.

TIA

Robert: I use the 18-200 VR within the range that the new 18-55 VR covers. I might notice the VR's benefits less on the wider end of that, but it's helped me get some wide room/structure shots in very low light - very helpful. By the time you're out to 55mm (which is short telephoto on a DX sensor), the VR is very noticeable.