VR or not VR that is the question
Dec 26, 2019 03:43:51 #
I often shoot wildlife at high shutter speeds, bif 1/2500-3200+. I also regularly shoot other slower moving wildlife at 1/1000++. Up to now I have always had VR on. While I appreciate that at higher shutter speeds VR is not generally needed I find the steadying effect of VR on my viewfinder focus helps when tracking fast moving subjects. However, I have recently seen reports that VR at high shutter speeds can downgrade your images. I wonder what others do? So the question is do you use VR or not at higher shutter speeds. Apologise to Canon users so same question for IS.
Dec 26, 2019 04:22:16 #
TonyBrown wrote:
I often shoot wildlife at high shutter speeds, bif... (show quote)
I do not, and i agree with your statements
Dec 26, 2019 05:35:35 #
I have used IS at higher than 1/1000 with my 300m f/4L and fretted over very soft images assuming it was a defect of camera or my focus technique. Several acquaintances switched to the 400/5.6 (non-IS) because they found it was "sharper." Then I read an article that said shutter speeds above 1/640 cause soft images as IS battles for stability against the high shutter speeds. Tried turning IS OFF and there it was! SHARP images at high shutter speeds on my 300/f4L! I saw the result now I'm a believer!!
Dec 26, 2019 06:44:51 #
Don, the 2nd son wrote:
I have used IS at higher than 1/1000 with my 300m ... (show quote)
I am not a believer. However, I use only version II IS-enabled Canon lenses that also include a Setting 3 where IS kicks-in with the shutter release. I use this Setting 3 and IS active in all situations, shutter speeds and both on and off tripods. There's not a universal guideline regarding VR / IS that applies to all lenses and brands. Instead, everyone should consider ideas that demonstrate superior results in their images when using their own specific equipment.
Dec 27, 2019 06:32:27 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
TonyBrown wrote:
I often shoot wildlife at high shutter speeds, bif... (show quote)
VR was introduced to keep the lens steady at SLOWER shutter speeds. I turn mine off at anything over 1/500 sec.
Since I shoot birds in flight at speeds well over 1/1000 sec. I do not use VR
Dec 27, 2019 10:36:48 #
I keep VR turned off unless I'm shooting hand held at a shutter speed that is slower than the focal length of the lens I'm using.
Dec 27, 2019 10:57:32 #
I am a Nikon shooter and use fast shutter speeds a lot. My general rule is to turn off VR at shutter speeds of 1/500 or faster on both Nikon DX and FX bodies.
Dec 27, 2019 11:14:03 #
Tony, I use a mixture of lenses. Some have and a lot don't have VR (IS). So, I never use VR. That's easier than keeping track of which lens I'm using. Perhaps I'm the "odd man out" but I've shot at 1/10 of a second with very satisfactory results.
--Bob
--Bob
TonyBrown wrote:
I often shoot wildlife at high shutter speeds, bif... (show quote)
Dec 27, 2019 12:44:23 #
I am not the steadiest so I almost always have VR turned on and have never had a problem with image quality as a result. D850 and D5 with 70-200mm F2.8 and 200-500mm F5.6
Dec 27, 2019 13:52:40 #
SeaBrat
Loc: St Petersburg, FL
Here is a good in-depth article: http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-articles/lens-technique/all-about-nikon-vr.html
Dec 27, 2019 15:10:31 #
TonyBrown wrote:
I often shoot wildlife at high shutter speeds, bif... (show quote)
I do most wildlife shots hand held, so IS/VR, or whatever is always turned off! If I have suject holding still, I'll put the rig on a tripod, so stabilization not needed and turned to off. If I shoot other things than wildlife or sports, I do apreciate having image stabilization!
Dec 28, 2019 12:30:03 #
I read in Steve Perry's Secrets_To_The_Nikon_Autofocus_System that for VR the system samples at a rate of once every 500th of a second and in order for it to work it needs two samples. If you are shooting at 1,000th of a second the shot there is not enough time for the two samples so the system could cause a problem at speeds higher then 500. This is based on older technology and doesn't however take into account newer lens and other factors. He recommends testing to determine when it should be used.
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