Is the click and slight viewfinder shift normal when VR turns off on a Nikon 55-200mm?
Asked 5/31/2013
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I’m using a Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR on a D5000. With VR enabled, if I half-press the shutter to focus and then let go, about two seconds later I hear a click and see the image in the viewfinder shift slightly to one side. This does not happen with VR turned off. Is this normal behavior for this lens, or could it indicate a problem?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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The two second delay (if it is actually that long) is the amount of time it takes for the gyros in the VR to spin up to operating speed when it is activated. The time it takes could be potentially longer when your camera's batteries are low than when they are fully charged. When you release the shutter button the VR remains active for a short time and then becomes inactive to conserve battery life. The shift you see in the viewfinder indicates when the VR becomes active or when it becomes inactive after you have released the shutter button. The sound and shift is more noticeable in some lenses than others, and will also depend on the stability of the lens at the time it kicks on or off. The sound is usually not perceived in any but the quietest of environments, but most stabilized lenses make some sort of sound when active.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — that sounds normal for a VR lens. When you half-press the shutter, the lens’s vibration reduction system powers up and the stabilizing elements engage. After you release the button, VR stays active briefly, then shuts down to save battery power. The click and the small shift you see in the viewfinder are typically the VR system engaging or disengaging.
The exact delay can vary, and low battery power can sometimes make the startup/shutdown a bit more noticeable. Some lenses are louder or show a more obvious image shift than others, especially in a quiet room.
So if the lens focuses and stabilizes normally and the behavior only happens with VR on, it’s generally nothing to worry about.
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