VR Technology
VR Technology is the term used to describe Nikon’s anti-shake capabilities build into an increasing number of lenses. Normally marked in red on the outside of the lens as ‘VR’, but also now in gold for example on the new AF-S Nikkor VR 70/200mm F/2.8G ED VR II. The system works by using sensors in the lens to detect any movement (directions called Yaw and Pitching) when we depress our cameras shutter release button half way down. This is counteracted by moving a small group of elements inside the lens in the opposite direction to counteract this via two ‘Voice Coil’ motors that drive the elements in the appropriate direction. Sounds simple for all the technical terms, but it is an amazing piece of technology in practice, that can make a real difference under some conditions. So I for one am a but of a fan as many know.
The first lens to feature this capability was the AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm F4.5-5.6D ED at the start of this millennium and is the still available today. The benefits under Nikon’s test conditions were in equivalent terms sufficient to enable a sharp hand held shot at up to 3 stop longer in shutterspeed terms than without this feature. So for example ,a picture normally taken at a 1/125th sec shutterspeed could now be shot at 1/15th sec. Todays latest lenses often feature the second generation of this concept called VR II. This under test can provide up to 4 stops of correction.
It is also worth acknowledging that Nikon have conceived this capability for the real world so there are on some lenses subtle ways we can guide the process for differing kinds of photography. So if your lenses feature an ‘Active’ setting, this is used when for example you are photographing from a moving platform such as a car. For more common use the ‘Normal’ setting is best.
Q). How does ‘panning’ a subject effect VR performance?
A). The good news is that part of the sensing process is to determine when panning is being intentionally used by a photographer. So when wide horizontal movement is detected, this is not corrected and we can achieve the blurred background the technique is capable of with a sharp image of our main subject in front of it.
One of the key things Nikon had to consider was exactly were this technology should be placed. Some companies put it into the camera body and move the image sensor in the camera. Nikon and our friends using the Canon system through their ‘IS’ (Image Stabalisation) technology, decided to put it into the lens. This may seem strange on face value as any in body system means that every lens attached can be adjusted. The ‘big two’ decided though that an in the lens design allows for more precise adjustments based on each lenses individual characteristics. In addition the alternative route does not show the anti shake benefit in the cameras viewfinder when it activates. Time will ultimately tell which route if any was superior.
As with any bit of technology there are pro’s and cons and for some the time taken for the benefit of VR to kick in may mean that with rapid changing situations it is better instead to work with the VR feature switched off. But thats good design because we can do the right thing for the situation we face. If this is something you encounter you could shoot with a wider aperture and or higher ISO number. That would then allow a faster shutterspeed to be used with reduced risk of camera shake. The thing to remember however is that VR or similar technologies only reduce our camera shake issues, but a moving subject will still be a blur unless the right shutterspeed and or panning are employed. The good news is that with battery performance having improved so much in the last few years VR can be a feature used a lot.
Main Image Info: I shot this with the AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6D ED lens, Nikons first lens to feature VR technology around the start of the century. It may not be a fast AF lens for action, but it is a good optical performer and still in the current line up. © John Clements
