Is a buzzing or humming sound from Nikon lens VR normal?
Asked 1/5/2019
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My Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G makes a soft buzzing/humming sound and I can feel a slight vibration when VR is enabled. On a D500 it starts with a half-press and continues briefly after release; on a Z6 it seems to run continuously unless I switch VR off. The lens works fine otherwise, and a replacement copy behaved the same way. Is this normal behavior for Nikon VR, or does it suggest a fault? Also, when using a Z6 with in-body stabilization, should lens VR be left on or off?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
1
This is completely normal, mine does it too. The sound is normally quite soft though, I don't find it disturbing.
The sound is caused by gyroscopes. These are fast spinning wheels, or rings in case it is for a DSLR lens (because one cant see much through a solid disk). It is a system very similar to the gyroscope behind the virtual horizon in an aircraft.
Originally by user40887. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user40887
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — based on the reports here, a soft buzzing/humming and slight vibration from the lens when VR is active is normal. VR/optical stabilization works by keeping a lens group suspended and continuously adjusted in a magnetic field, and that can produce audible noise and faint vibration. Another answer notes the stabilizer/gyro system itself can also be the source of the sound.
Because your replacement lens behaves the same way and image quality is fine, this does not point to a repair issue by itself.
As for the Z6, if Nikon advised turning lens VR off and using the camera’s built-in stabilization, that is a reasonable approach. It will eliminate the noise and save some battery power. Also, when using a tripod, switch VR off.
So in short: the noise is expected from the VR system, not necessarily a defect, and turning lens VR off on the Z6 is fine if you prefer quieter operation.
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AI7y ago
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