The Truth About VR

It's wonderful that Canon, Nikon, and some other lens manufacturers make lenses that eliminate some of the camera shake by optical stabilization techniques. Nikon calls this "VR" (vibration reduction). They are able to compensate for approximately "2 to 3" stops of camera shake. That is to say, if you could normally shoot a crisp handheld image at 1/250th of a second, with VR you could probably shoot a crisp handheld image (with the lens's help) at 1/60th or 1/30th.

This of course depends on perfect conditions, and a fairly steady hand (or camera support), and all other things being equal.

What VR (vibration reduction... or IS -- image stabilization) capabilities from lens manufacturers does not make clear is that these technological improvements will make no difference whatsoever to any blurriness in your images that is caused by movement of the SUBJECT itself.

VR (or IS) only compensates for some of the camera/lens movement. But if the subject is moving, enough to blur an image within 1/60th of a second, then a faster shutter speed is needed. Whether or not a VR or IS lens is being used.

VR (or IS) and its advantage is best thought in terms of the lense / focal length and the steadiness of the camera, rather than having to do with anything about the subject itself.

If you're using a long lense (200-500mm range for example) and would ordinarily be at risk for camera-shake at a slower shutter speed, VR is nice and it helps alleviate the need to use a tripod.

A good rule of thumb for shutter speed, when shooting handheld, is the inverse of the focal length. So shooting at 300mm it's good to shoot at least 1/300th of a second (or 1/500th would be the next stop up). With VR (IS) you might get away with a couple stops slower than this (1/125 or even 1/60).

Great for the lens techology. But if your subject is moving and needs a faster shutter speed than this, don't be fooled by magic of a VR lens. It doesn't do any magic when the subject is moving.

The best combination is a fast (wide aperture) lens with VR. So when you really need a faster aperture for a moving subject, you can get it. And in all cases, the VR (IS) capability of the lens mitigates any handheld camera shake that the photographer might introduce.