archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

I almost hesitated to ask a question since I have seen some of the smarmy responses some participants have received. I admit that I am more of a "lurker" and read posts that are of interest and look at photos that members have posted that I enjoy looking at (especially the Bald Eagle photos that Regis and others post).
I have a fledgling interest in macro photography that I have explored casually with my Canon T6i (sorry Nikon aficionados, but years ago in my film days I had Nikons, the last an F3).
OK my question, I noted in some older posts it was suggested with macro and photos using a tripod that vibration control should be turned off. Why is that? I would appreciate understanding to add to my personal knowledge base.
And please if you can not say something constructive or decent PLEASE do not respond. I have seen too many RTM or RTFM to last a lifetime.
Many thanks and to all a Happy HEALTHY New Year....................
Neil

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

Everybody here is nice. You must be visiting another forum. I don't use the VR/IS/SR(That's Nikon/Canon/Pentax talk) as the manual say not to. I think the camera is trying to compensate for vibration that does not exist. Some of the more knowledgeable and nice folks here will chime in.

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

I wish that I could remember where I read the reason. The bottom line is that with vibration control off on a tripod you will get a sharper image than with it on. I have also found that using manual focus and mirror up will produce far better results. Depth of field is so shallow with macro lenses that the slightest internal or external movement will affect focus. Suggest you Google macro photography-vibration control.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

in a nutshell, the IS/VR system is tuned to the kind of vibration that occurs in hand holding.
Tripod vibration is much different and the VR/IS is more likely to harm than help.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Yeah, we're all nice guys. I always use VR when the camera is hand held and not on a tripod.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I believe royden is correct. When the camera is on a tripod, the VR/IS system looks for a movement to correct. Since it can't find any, it "hunts" for some, thereby causing a <slight> blur. When hand held, there is ALWAYS some type of movement, so there is no problem as it has something to correct. They appear to be that sensitive.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yes, basically, with VC on the camera "looks" for movement that is not there, in doing so the focus jumps around slightly. This works when hand held but adds blur when not needed say on a tripod. Also there are recommendations for shutter speed as well. And different brands accomplish VC differently. VC is definitely a no no for macro on a tripod, you will see a decrease in IQ there. Some of our UHH engineers might sully an explanation of exactly how all of these systems work.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yup, we are all nice, except those that can be mean, nasty, and sarcastic. Others can be a bit wicked in humor (this at times can include me).

archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

Thanks for the NICE responses. However I have seen a few that were not "friendly" to others
Regards and thanks
Neil

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

There is no one answer, depends on the lens. Best to follow the user’s manual recommendation.

morvib

Yes it should be switched off when on a tripod. Some cameras sense the tripod and switches it off automatically.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Turn it off when on a tripod (or whenever else you don't need it - such as fence posts etc.), if there is no movement the camera will try to compensate by looking for some. That's how I understand it.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

VR is designed for situations where the camera might be vibrating during exposures, ie. hand held shoots with a 600 mm lens, as you look through that 600 mm lens hand held you might feel or even see vibrations (in your arms, body parts) effecting the steadiness of your hold, no one can hand hold a 600 mm lens that steady, enter VR, it senses that MOVEMENT and corrects for it. If you are on a tripod, and I am assuming that it is a very good one, and that your camera then has no MOVEMENT. If you set the VR to ON, then it will search for movement (and there is none cause you are on a tripod) since you set VR to ON, it will continue to search for MOVEMENT (which there is none) the VR control will then cause the inside of the lens elements to move slightly as the VR searches for MOVEMENT (which there is none) and this slight movement of the elements inside your lens, cause you left the VR ON, WILL EFFECT THE IMAGE QUALITY OF THE RESULTING SHOT.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I use it on mostly stationary or slowly moving subjects when I know that the shutter speed will be low enough to benefit from it, when I know that the image quality will be negatively impacted if the ISO is too high to permit using the lens without stabilization. Here is an example of a shot, taken hand held, with a 600mm lens and the stabilization was on. In this case I could use an ISO of 400, aperture of F8 and the resulting shutter speed was 1/25 sec. I would have trouble holding a 50mm lens steady at that long a shutter speed without stabilization. The image is an extreme crop from a much larger one, so you can appreciate how well stabilization worked for me.

If I am shooting flowers and other closeup/macro, I often use an off camera flash which freezes motion anyway. At 1/4 power the flash duration is 1/3000 and at 1/8 power its 1/6000 with the flashes that I use, so I really don't have a need for lens stabilization.

If I am shooting with a long lens and have decent light, my shutter speed will be at least 1/500 sec or shorter - at these durations stabilization may contribute sharpness-robbing micro vibrations as the shutter speed is often shorter than the response time of the stabilization mechanism to movement, so the camera will be taking the picture as the stabilization system is trying to react to movement.

A similar thing happens on a tripod. If stabilization is not, it will attempt to adjust for movement that is not there, and you may take a shot while the system is adjusting/reacting to non-existing movement. Some lenses have a "sport" mode that will only stabilize in one direction, apparently allowing panning, like when you are on a gimbal head or a monopod.

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY