Do I still need a tripod for sharp landscape photos if my lens has VR/IS?
Asked 12/16/2011
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For landscape photography, can image stabilization (VR/IS) replace a tripod when I’m shooting at smaller apertures like f/16 and the shutter speed gets slower? How much does stabilization help with hand shake, and when is a tripod still the better choice for getting very sharp landscape images?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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The rule of thumb is you can hand hold a 50mm lens at 1/50th second, or a 100mm at 1/100th second and have reasonable lack of camera shake. VR extends that a few stops. So it depends on the amount of light.
In bright sunlight, at f/16 and a 35mm lens, you wouldn't need a tripod or VR.
In low light, VR won't be enough, you'll need a tripod
In between there will be a few instances where you could make use of VR, where hand- holding would not really be possible, but there is enough light that with VR you can get a decent image. But as the light fades you'll have to increase to f/8 and f/5.6 because VR won't be enough when the shutter speed drops to 1/8th second.
You can steady the camera against a tree or rock or car window if you don't have a tripod, but as a general rule I'd say a tripod is more useful to landscape photography than VR.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
0
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VR/IS helps reduce blur from your hand movement, but it does not fully replace a tripod for ultra-sharp landscapes.
A common guideline is that you can handhold at about 1/focal length (for example, 1/50s with 50mm, 1/100s with 100mm). VR/IS can extend that by a few stops, so it can help in moderate light when handholding would otherwise be marginal.
But in low light, or whenever shutter speeds get very slow, a tripod is still the better tool. It also helps with precise composition, waiting for the right light, HDR/bracketing, and long-exposure effects like smoothing water.
If you do use a tripod, turn VR/IS off unless your lens specifically supports tripod use, since stabilization can sometimes introduce blur when the camera is already stable.
For landscapes, many photographers prefer a tripod, low ISO, and apertures around f/8 to f/16. In bright sunlight, you may not need either a tripod or VR/IS. In dimmer conditions, VR/IS can help, but it has limits.
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