When should you turn VR off on Nikon lenses?
Asked 5/21/2012
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Is there any reason to disable VR on a Nikon lens? For example, should VR be turned off for storage or carrying, at very fast shutter speeds, or when using a tripod?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
For storage you don't have to disable VR, but you should wait for the VR system to be disengaged (take your finger off the shutter release and wait a few seconds) before turning off the camera and removing the lens. This isn't critical, but if you wait, the VR elements will lock in place and not rattle around as the lens is moved. See article here: Removing a VR lens from a camera.
Thom Hogan2 says it better than I could - basically you ought to leave VR off until you have a situation where it is needed: for example, at high shutter speeds (1/500th and faster) VR may decrease IQ as the vibration reduction frequency may be slower than the shutter speed and be out of sync, and for many VR lenses, you should switch off VR if you are using a tripod. So better to switch it on when needed, rather than leaving it on all the time - good advice I think.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. VR is useful when camera shake is likely, but it’s best turned off when you don’t need it.
Common reasons to disable VR:
- very fast shutter speeds: if your shutter speed is already high enough to freeze camera shake, VR may offer no benefit and can sometimes slightly reduce image quality
- tripod use: many Nikon VR lenses should have VR turned off on a tripod unless the lens specifically supports tripod detection
- battery saving: VR uses power, so turning it off can help extend battery life
For storage/carrying, you do not need to switch VR off as a special safety step. However, after releasing the shutter, wait a few seconds before turning the camera off or removing the lens so the VR group can disengage and lock in place.
In practice, a good habit is to leave VR off by default and turn it on only when shooting handheld at shutter speeds where camera shake may matter.
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