using VR

[River Junction Photo]

I've seen several time it's recommended to shut of the VR feature of a lens when your using a tripod.

To save myself a lot of searching to find out why, I thought I would post this question here.

Also, will a lens get damaged if you forget to turn VR off when using a tripod.

Thanks in advance for the comments about this one.

Tom

 

[Suntan]

No, the lens will not be damaged.

It is recommended because the VR is detrimental to image quality when the lens is securely locked down. People can claim it is due to this or that (the VR elements moving around trying to calm movement that isn’t there, etc.) but regardless of the underlying physical reasons, the end result is that image quality can be degraded w/ VR on as opposed to VR off. That said, some people find out that their tripods (or more likely their tripod technique) are not so solid after all, in that case VR still helps for them.

Just fyi, some of the newer, long telephotos have a VR setting that is supposed to help even on a tripod (although people still debate if it should be used if the tripod head is locked down.)

Most importantly though: 1) you won’t damage your lens by having VR on 2) try it both ways and see which one actually results in sharper images for you.

-Suntan

 

[bwild]

You asked: Why turn VR off when using a tripod?

Because it says that in the manual that came with your VR lens.

My interpretation: VR is designed to remove user initiated vibrations. It does NOT remove subject vibrations. Use the "Active" switch when you are in a moving vehicle and VR removes vibrations initiated by the user and the vehicle.

If you mount the camera and lens on a rock solid tripod there will be no user initiated movement, so there is no need for VR. I don't know the physics involved and I don't know why, but I have read that if VR is enabled while mounted on a tripod, the VR will introduce vibrations.

VR enabled while on a tripod will not cause any damage (warning: my opinion), but may (see above) ruin your picture.

...Bob

 

[Leykid1634]

I did answer to a post two weeks ago.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=31318315

Hope this helps.

 

[martinch]

I've seen several time it's recommended to shut of the VR feature of
a lens when your using a tripod.

To save myself a lot of searching to find out why, I thought I would
post this question here.

Manual says to for most of them (i.e. anything other than the exotic teles 200/2, 300/2.8, 200-400/4, etc).

Also, will a lens get damaged if you forget to turn VR off when using
a tripod.

Nope.

--
My gallery of so-so nature photos:
http://martinch.zenfolio.com/