Using lenses with IS can take a little practice to get used to and use effectively. There are times when IS/VR may actually add blur to your images, due to the way it functions. Generally, if you are using a lens with image stabilization, you need to make sure that IS is active and tracking before you fully press the shutter button. If you make the mistake of fully pressing the shutter from a fully depressed state, IS will kick in as the shot is being exposed, which results in either blur, or possibly a slight double-image. This can occur at any shutter speed, slow or fast, since it is the lens group inside the lens itself that is causing it when it moves once IS is activated.

The solution is to make sure you have the shutter button partially pressed when you are tracking and framing your shot. Use the IS feature to help you frame your shots hand-held, and when you have it framed, fully press the shutter without lifting your finger first. This will keep the IS active while the image is exposed, and only disable it after you depress the shutter button. If you are using a tripod, you may need to disable your IS/VR feature on the lens. Some lenses have tripod-sensing IS, or mutli-modal IS. If you have either of these, you should be ok to leave IS on while on a tripod, however it is best to take a couple trial shots to determine that for certain. If you have a modal IS feature, you may want to change the mode if there is a tripod-specific mode. If you have any blurring trouble while using an image-stabilized lens on a tripod, it is best to just disable it and go without IS. At times, you may find that you have trouble focusing a shot with a telephoto lens on a tripod, and that IS is the only thing that helps. I regularly enable IS to frame and focus, then disable it (carefully as to not change my composition) and use a cable-release to actually trigger the shot.