For Nikon panning, VR Normal is usually the best starting point. Nikon’s Normal VR generally includes panning detection, so it stabilizes unwanted shake while allowing your horizontal pan motion.

Use Active VR mainly when you are moving unpredictably, such as shooting from a car or other moving platform. For a normal pan from a stable position, Active can work against your intended movement and make tracking less smooth.

A practical setup for panning is:

• AF-C: good choice for moving subjects
• Continuous/burst: optional; use if it helps your timing
• Shutter speed: experiment—1/60 can work, but slower speeds like 1/15 and below can create stronger motion blur if your technique is solid

There isn’t one perfect setting for every subject. Keeper rates are often low even for experienced photographers, so practice matters a lot. Depending on the shot, VR off can also be worth trying, especially at faster shutter speeds where stabilization becomes less useful.

In short: start with Normal VR + AF-C, try different shutter speeds, and compare results. If you’re shooting from a moving vehicle, switch to Active.