Is Vibration Reduction Important at Short Focal Lengths?
Sep 2, 2014 10:10:13 #
boberic wrote:
As an older person with less steady hands, the shorter faster primes allow me to shoot at faster speeds than the standard 1/focal length rule. a 35mm lens shot at 1/500 secs will kill camera shake. Only problem is low light, of course. That having been said If I have booze on board 1/1000 wont help.
Hand held in low light is where stabilization really can help a shorter focal length. For instance the new 10-18 Canon wide angle has stabilization to balance its not so open apeture.
I know you are asking about primes but the issue is the same. You can pick up a stop or two with stabilization. Night street scenes come to mind as an application.
Sep 2, 2014 10:20:16 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
OddJobber wrote:
Having consumed, by my guesstimation, 9000 gallons of beer during my life, my hand is not as steady as before, therefore this is an important consideration for me.
Having consumed, by my guesstimation, 9000 gallons of beer during my life, my hand is not as steady as before, therefore this is an important consideration for me.
The higher that number goes, the more you will appreciate VR! :)
Sep 2, 2014 10:29:18 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
rpavich wrote:
I think that it's not as important in real life.
In my experience it's MUCH easier to hold a short lens steady than a long one...why? I don't know but I do compare it to this:
Look at an object across the room and shift your head slightly...you don't even see a problem.
But now look through a paper towel tube and do the same thing...the slightest movement causes an issue and it's VERY tough to hold steady.
Probably a bad analogy but that's how I view it.
In my experience it's MUCH easier to hold a short lens steady than a long one...why? I don't know but I do compare it to this:
Look at an object across the room and shift your head slightly...you don't even see a problem.
But now look through a paper towel tube and do the same thing...the slightest movement causes an issue and it's VERY tough to hold steady.
Probably a bad analogy but that's how I view it.
For an example of this, hold a can (beer, soda, etc) at arms length for a minute. Then hold it next to your chest for a minute. It is much harder to hold it away from you. The same thing happens with a longer lens.
This is because of the idea of a lever-arm (and moment of inertia). It's like using a wrench to unscrew a nut, pushing the wrench from the end helps loosen the nut more, but you have to move it more to turn one revolution.
Sep 2, 2014 11:54:02 #
amehta wrote:
For an example of this, hold a can (beer, soda, etc) at arms length for a minute.
While I understand this, it's maybe not the best example. I don't believe I've ever held a beer can at arm's length. :wink:
Sep 2, 2014 12:01:40 #
dsmeltz wrote:
Hand held in low light is where stabilization really can help a shorter focal length. For instance the new 10-18 Canon wide angle has stabilization to balance its not so open apeture.
I know you are asking about primes but the issue is the same. You can pick up a stop or two with stabilization. Night street scenes come to mind as an application.
I know you are asking about primes but the issue is the same. You can pick up a stop or two with stabilization. Night street scenes come to mind as an application.
And that's another part of the overall equation and decision making process; faster shutter with bigger aperture.
So it's VR/size and weight/max aperture/shooting technique/price/etc., etc., etc., that matter. Nikon alone has produced a whole bunch of different 85mm lenses, priced from $100 to $2000. But I will find the one that's perfect for me. :-D
Sep 2, 2014 12:22:06 #
If you DO have VR, you don't have to use it.
If you DON'T have VR, you can't use it.
I like the idea of choices, myself.
If not for my stupid Doctors, I'd still be choosing beer.
In my prime I was at 2 - 30 packs a week. I don't know what that was in gallons.
But thanks to the nutritionists, I can at least choose wine.
Pinot Noir has some sort of medicinal qualities for the heart/circulatory system. But it technically doesn't go with chicken or salmon.
From a mechanical standpoint, no VR would mean less stuff inside the lens.
And not lifting, moving, stocking the fridge, and hoisting 12 ounces cans has led to muscle loss.
I can die healthy, or I can die happy.
But I know some day I'm gonna die.
That's probably the ultimate VR. :lol:
If you DON'T have VR, you can't use it.
I like the idea of choices, myself.
If not for my stupid Doctors, I'd still be choosing beer.
In my prime I was at 2 - 30 packs a week. I don't know what that was in gallons.
But thanks to the nutritionists, I can at least choose wine.
Pinot Noir has some sort of medicinal qualities for the heart/circulatory system. But it technically doesn't go with chicken or salmon.
From a mechanical standpoint, no VR would mean less stuff inside the lens.
And not lifting, moving, stocking the fridge, and hoisting 12 ounces cans has led to muscle loss.
I can die healthy, or I can die happy.
But I know some day I'm gonna die.
That's probably the ultimate VR. :lol:
Sep 2, 2014 12:34:38 #
Go Sony the VR is in the camera not in the lens!!!
Most advice is to use a tripod and turn off VR. Surely you can turn that on its head by working out at what length you don't need VR and when to stick it on a stand.
That way you can save a few $$$ and buy a even longer prime.
Most advice is to use a tripod and turn off VR. Surely you can turn that on its head by working out at what length you don't need VR and when to stick it on a stand.
That way you can save a few $$$ and buy a even longer prime.
Sep 2, 2014 12:55:25 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
OddJobber wrote:
While I understand this, it's maybe not the best example. I don't believe I've ever held a beer can at arm's length. :wink:
:thumbup: :lol:
Sep 2, 2014 13:01:28 #
OddJobber wrote:
I'm now convinced that prime lenses are generally ... (show quote)
Drink with your left hand, the one you should have been using all along. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sep 2, 2014 13:09:56 #
davidrb wrote:
Drink with your left hand, the one you should have been using all along. :lol: :lol: :lol:
All this time I have been drinking with my mouth. Please explain how I can drink with my left hand. LOL
Sep 2, 2014 14:13:10 #
OddJobber wrote:
And that's another part of the overall equation and decision making process; faster shutter with bigger aperture.
So it's VR/size and weight/max aperture/shooting technique/price/etc., etc., etc., that matter. Nikon alone has produced a whole bunch of different 85mm lenses, priced from $100 to $2000. But I will find the one that's perfect for me. :-D
So it's VR/size and weight/max aperture/shooting technique/price/etc., etc., etc., that matter. Nikon alone has produced a whole bunch of different 85mm lenses, priced from $100 to $2000. But I will find the one that's perfect for me. :-D
The GAS solution: buy them all!!!!
Sep 2, 2014 15:25:37 #
G Brown wrote:
Go Sony the VR is in the camera not in the lens!!!
Most advice is to use a tripod and turn off VR. Surely you can turn that on its head by working out at what length you don't need VR and when to stick it on a stand.
That way you can save a few $$$ and buy a even longer prime.
Most advice is to use a tripod and turn off VR. Surely you can turn that on its head by working out at what length you don't need VR and when to stick it on a stand.
That way you can save a few $$$ and buy a even longer prime.
Yes it is in the camera on sonys.I was on the phone with a sony tech once and asked him about turning off the image stabalization while using a tripod...he said they have run many test and found it did not make any difference. I still try to remember to turn it off--but then have to remember to turn it back on.
Sep 2, 2014 15:54:13 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
plessner wrote:
Yes it is in the camera on sonys.I was on the phone with a sony tech once and asked him about turning off the image stabalization while using a tripod...he said they have run many test and found it did not make any difference. I still try to remember to turn it off--but then have to remember to turn it back on.
Some Sony's have it in the lens, some in the camera.
Sep 2, 2014 17:46:26 #
OddJobber wrote:
I'm now convinced that prime lenses are generally ... (show quote)
I have found VR to be useful on short zooms but not as important as on tele photos. In general I like VR but I like primes more.
Sep 2, 2014 18:46:58 #
OddJobber wrote:
I'm now convinced that prime lenses are generally ... (show quote)
It isn't as important. It definitely matters what the focal length of the lens is. It directly multiplies the movement.
The main reason I like it is that I use my wide angle lens for Landscapes. Since I want to use f22 to get the widest possible DOF, and ISO 100 to get the lowest noise, shutter speeds get long. Thus, if I need to handhold the VR is very helpful.
But I confess I do most such shuts with a tripod and turn VR off.
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