Is VR/OS worth the extra fistfull of dollars?

Peter69

Peter69

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Peter
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As I've mentioned before, I'm after a 70-200 f2.8 lens for very difficult light conditions. These are shooting fast moving (70mph) objects (waterskiers) in poor light. I managed a correctly exposed image with the following settings ISO800, f5.8, 1/15" @ 226mm(35eq). This was exposed correctly but at 1/15s its way too blurry.

As I'm new to this I have some fundamental questions.
1. what is this rule of them that says minimum shutter speed is 1/focal length?
2. Sigma and Nikon say different things but basically the different stabilisations are said to let you shot at 2,3 & 5 stops slower. Is this actually true given question 1 where I could shoot at 1/50, 1/25 and even 1/6!!!?
3. Having said that, prices are substantially higher for a stabalised lenses.
 
Vr is useless for moving subjects. You would have been better to up the ISO, open the aperture to 2.8 and you'd have gotten a much faster shutter speed t cope with action.
 
There are a few things to consider...

IS/VR/OS is pretty much useless for action unless you're taking panning shots (which is certainly worth bearing in mind for water-skiing).

Secondly lenses with stabilisation tend to be the more up-to-date versions with better optics than those without.

If a lens has stabilisation, you can turn it off. If it doesn't, you can't turn it on.


Basically, if you can afford the better lens then it's worth getting. If not, don't worry about it.
 
thanks for that guys. It looks like non-vr is for me. I already have a 55-200 VR lens ( the kit lens) so unless there is a dire need for a VR 2.8 then I won't bother.

Any enlightenment on the focal lenght / shutter speed or the VR's ability as slow as 1/6?
 
The best I've been able to handhold was 1/15th with the awesome Tamron VR system, I would say as others have, shoot wide open and push the iso
 
for information, the available light lasat time was about 160lux or EV6
 
Hi all
To a certain extent it depends on your fitness I'm very shaky and depend on VR for any hand held shots my son doe's not need it. :shake:
Bob
 
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