To VR or not to VR on a Tripod

[Tony Bevington]

Hi guys and gals, well, I,ve had the Nikon D7000 about a month give or take, and the weather has been truely appaling in Yorkshire, so the chances of getting out and about are limited. My standard lens is a 18 - 200 DX - VR Nikkor lens...and it worked just fine with the previous baby my D80. Question: Do you turn the VR on or Off when shooting on a tripod. ? All comments are welcome.

 

[Hamish Gill]

If you are using a tripod your best switching it off!
does the d7000 have m-up?
mirror up and some sort of remote with the camera on a tripod will reap best results!

 

[Pete Askew]

Or use the self timer. I guess that works in the same way on the D7000 as other cameras in that once you press the shutter release the first thing that happens is the mirror flips up then the timer counts down and then the shutter is released. The lag gives time for any vibration from the mirror moving to die down.

 

[Dave Green]

I turn VR off on a tripod unless it's a long lens (300mm) and I can actually see camera shake going on.

 

[Craig Sperring]

I normally turn off the VR when using a tripod and make sure the mirror lock up is activated.
Craig

 

[Paul Lange]

The general rule is to turn VR off. The wisdom as far as I can decipher is that the VR will try to negate the already dampened vibrations from the camera shutter mechanism and in doing so can introduce further unwanted vibrations. Seems plausible but I haven't checked it out for myself. However, it does seem to be a general consensus.

The D7000 has mirror up. I have mine set up so that the first press of my remote flips up the mirror and the second takes the photo. You have some weirdness in the clouds that have turned into block of flat grey. I cant tell if this is camera or PP related though. May be due to camera shake.

 

[Larry Bolch]

If you are using a tripod your best switching it off!
does the d7000 have m-up?
mirror up and some sort of remote with the camera on a tripod will reap best results!

Custom Setting d11—Exposure delay mode. If it works the same as on the D700, when you trip the shutter, the mirror immediately goes up, the camera pauses a second or two for vibration to cease, then makes the exposure.

 

[Andy Boardman]

Deffo turn VR off, if you need it on a tripod shot it means your tripod is rubbish & not up to the job, you need a Gitzo LOL On a more serious note the way VR works in lenses is it goes in the opposite direction to the shake, they are also very very fragile, being held in place by 4 small plastic pegs, we have a Canon one in our workshop that had gone by just putting the lens down a bit to heavy, our engineer loves them as they snap so easy & cost a fortune to replace so always treat you VR lens with kids gloves to avoid having to empty your wallets.
We have had loads of trouble with VR lenses & a Canon 100-400 was giving double images when used at slower speeds due to the VR still operating when exposing, the cure, turn it off & remove filter, images were then sharper & double image free, to much reliance on modern technology we do not really need, I try to avoid VR lenses like the plague if I can myself, I have one as a kit lens but it is turned off all the time.
Just my little contribution & own opinion.
Andy

 

[Tony Bevington]

Thanks so much Gentlemen, next time it stops raining and I manage to get out, I,ll turn the VR OFF..

Odd, how the small details can have such a huge impact on the outcome....

The next round is on me..!!

Cheers
Tony.

 

[Darren Bradnock]

I've had issue using IS on a tripod. As far as mirror lock up goes, i just use live view. Live view locks the mirror up anyway.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

What are these mirrors you are referring to? I don't seem to have one...

 

[Larry Bolch]

Mirrors were actually quite common in the early days. I still have a camera with one, but don't use it much.