Amatuer buying a Nikon D40 w/ 18-55 & 70-300 lenses - VR or Not VR lens? Any suggestions and why?

Question

I am an amatuer photographer and know I want to get a Nikon D40 but have been getting mixed answers as to whether or not I need to get a VR lens - some say I need it on the shorter lens and others say I need it on the longer lens. I am getting really confused and need some help from someone who really knows what they are talking about.

Answer 1

VR definitely.

There were times when I wanted to take the shot, but because the shutter speed was too slow, I either did, and the shot came out blurry or didn't.

The VR/IS would've helped. Having the extra stops to be able to handhold the lense would've been great. Especially when I didn't have my tripod or any type of support.

I only use it when I need it.

Answer 2

It's always nice to have VR (vibration reduction / image stabilization), but don't depend on it to save all your camera shake problems. Remember to shoot 1 over the focal length of the lens to prevent noticable camera shake... for example, if you have a 50mm lens then shoot no slower than 1/50 (unless you are using a tripod).

Answer 3

If you can learn how to steady your camera using the techniques of most of the old photographers here use, you can use the money saved to buy a second or third lens .. ;>)

The lenses you are looking at now are good ones ... if you can afford the 70-300 VR, your sports and action shots may be a little less blurry.

Answer 4

From another amateur photographer with a D40, I'd say definitely get the VR. I don't have the VR and have missed some good shot opportunities because of it. I have since learned some techniques to help reduce blurriness but recently tried some VR lenses and can see a BIG difference. It's worth the extra $.

But like the others have mentioned, you can learn techniques to reduce blurriness if you have the time and patience to learn them. But if I could go back, I'd have bought the DR lens.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your photography! :)

Answer 5

VR Means Vibration Reduction

And, like Princess said, that's always nice to have on a lens, it stabilizes the image, and makes the pictures look less blurry, and more in focus, and detail.

When you use a lens like the 18-55mm lens, VR isn't truely necessary unless you do alot of low-light photography, which isn't really likely, because if you were, you would've used a different lens all together ( the 50mm f/1.8 Lens ) But, since you only need VR if you use a shutter speed under 1/18, which you wouldn't get unless you were inside, so if you're just every day, you don't need to use any VR with this lens.

However, it's a different story with the 70-300mm lens, you'll need to use VR with a shutter speed of 1/70, which is much higher than on the 18-55mm lens. Since this lens has a longer focal lenght, VR becomes more necessary. So, VR is very important on the 70-300mm lens, much more so then on the 18-55mm lens.

If you're to buy a VR lens, you should get  the 70-300mm lens, but in my opinion, it's not that neccesary on the 18-55mm lens in my opinion. VR is very expensive, but worth it in my opinion

Answer 6

VR is a great feature, as I utilize it daily on my 18-200mm VR lens.  If the 70-300mm VR is too expensive for you, consider the 55-200mm VR, as you can get that for under $250.

On the 18-55mm kit lens, VR is nice but not a necessary.  If you learn to hold an slr correctly, you can become very steady.  I've seen way too many "photographers" holding a dslr or slr by the body only (the same way they hold a compact camera).  The problem is, they are not supporting the lens that's extending forward of the body and allowing the camera to sway vertically, causing motion blur.

When I shoot outdoor sports, I use a monopod on my non-VR Nikon telephoto zoom.  Indoors, I just use good camera holding techniques and have no problem.

But, I love my 18-200mm VR and took it as my only optic on a trip across China last summer.  The VR feature allowed me to capture fleeting images and amazing photos from rocking boats and bouncing tourbuses.

By the way, the 55-200mm VR complements your 18-55mm perfectly, leaving no focal length gap (like the 70-300mm would).