Is a 70-300mm lens without VR okay for wildlife photography?
Asked 11/21/2018
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I bought a Nikon AF-P 70-300mm lens and expected the VR version, but the one that arrived does not have VR. I feel awkward returning it, so I’m wondering whether it’s practical to keep it.
How difficult is it to get sharp handheld photos without a tripod or vibration reduction, especially for wildlife photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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The general rule of thumb is that, for a non-vr lens, a photographer of average skill can take a stable image at a shutter speed of 1/{focal length}.
So at full zoom, 1/300 of a second shutter speed is the slowest you can go unless your hands are uncommonly stead. Depending on the model year, the VR version of that lens compensates for 4-4.5 stops of camera shake. Realistically, you're probably looking at less at full extension, but 1/60 should be possible for an average photographer.
Assuming you paid for the VR and they sent you the wrong one, send it back. Otherwise, no, a VR lens is not strictly necessary, but for the kind of shooting you want to do, it does have significant value.
You could also poke around the used department at some of the bigger camera suppliers, you can frequently find a late model Nikkor 80-400 VR in very good condition at about the same price point.
Originally by user68136. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user68136
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A non-VR 70-300mm can still be used handheld, but VR is definitely helpful—especially for wildlife.
A common guideline is to use a shutter speed at least as fast as 1 divided by the focal length. At 300mm, that means about 1/300s or faster for an average photographer to avoid blur from camera shake. With VR, you may be able to shoot several stops slower in some situations.
That said, VR only helps with camera shake. It does not freeze subject movement, so for wildlife you’ll often need fast shutter speeds anyway. Even so, VR can still be valuable when light is low or when your subject is relatively still.
If the seller sent the wrong version after you paid for VR, you should return or exchange it. If you knowingly bought the non-VR version, it’s not unusable—but for wildlife, the VR version has meaningful practical value.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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