sameerrao
05-27-2006, 03:50 AM
This is not meant to be a scientific test but more a verification if the VR (Vibration Reduction) offered by the Nikon lens actually works. For good measure I compared it to the Sigma Lens.
For each test I followed the following sequence:
1. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR Off
2. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR On in the Norm mode (two stabilizers working - basically will counteract up and down movement in the portait mode. This mode supports panning - moving target)
3. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR On in the Active mode (all four stabilizers working - this mode is typically meant when the camera is in severe motion while the subject is not)
4. Sigma 70-200 (doesn't have VR)
Test 1: Ability to see the display on my DVD Recorder situated about 10 feet away at 1:00 at night - illumination from the overhead lamp is dimmed.
In all cases, the EXIF settings were: 200mm, F2.8, 1/2 sec, Program mode (auto)
1a. Picture taken when I am standing in front of the DVR with elbows tucked into my body for stability
Note: All photos are as per the 1-4 sequence detailed above
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9343/1dsc38924nw.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38924nw.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5660/2dsc38966tr.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38966tr.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3723/3dsc39184xx.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39184xx.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2150/4dsc39132ys.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39132ys.jpg)
The best picture was taken with the Nikon with VR on in the Normal mode. it was miles ahead of the rest. The next best was the Nikon with VR off closely followed by the Sigma and finally the Nikon with VR in the Active mode. The Active mode was causing a lot of shake here. Surprising to see the Sigma beat it.
1b. Picture taken when I am sitting in front of the DVR with elbows hanging free - i.e. the camera is not supported against my body
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6497/1dsc38932lf.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38932lf.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7212/2dsc38984rk.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38984rk.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7296/3dsc39193fq.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39193fq.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4759/4dsc39142hv.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39142hv.jpg)
Well none of the four resulted in a sharp image. So it is clear that even with VR - hand holding technique is important. I rate the Nikon with Active VR the best followed by the Nikon with VR off and Sigma and Nikon Norm VR equal last. The Active VR seems to help the most as it is meant to be used in situations where you are in a moving car taking a picture of a stationary object. The Sigma does OK primarily because it is light weight
1c. Picture taken when I am sitting in front of the DVR with elbows tucked into my body and I am against the wall for more support
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7013/1dsc38955ci.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38955ci.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9959/2dsc38993dx.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38993dx.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5328/3dsc39204be.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39204be.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3002/4dsc39155pg.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39155pg.jpg)
Like in Test 1a, the best picture was taken with the Nikon with VR on in the Normal mode. It was miles ahead of the rest. The next best was the Sigma followed by the Nikon with Active VR and finally the Nikon with VR off. The light weight of the Sigma was paying off here. Since my body was pretty stable in this shot, it is perhaps a reasonable close approximation of what might happen when a tripod is used - though the manual recommends that VR is switched off when a tripod is mounted.
Test 2:
This was a tough test - I was about 30 feet away and 20 feet up from the magazine. This test was conducted at night with an overhead lap lighting up the passage between me and the magazine but no direct light on the magazine itself. I was standing up while taking the picture with my elbows tucked into my body for support.
In all cases, the EXIF settings were: 200mm, F2.8, 1/8 sec, Program mode (auto)
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4299/1dsc39098ud.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc39098ud.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3791/2dsc39101co.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc39101co.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/1480/3dsc39119mh.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39119mh.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7584/4dsc39128mb.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39128mb.jpg)
Well none of the images came out sharp as can be expected under such tough shooting circumstances. The Nikon VR Active and Norm modes are perhaps the equal best. The Nikon with VR off was better than the Sigma despite the extra weight.
So overall it looks like that the VR is pretty effective but isn't a magic potion as such - ie. makes bad pictures a distant memory - not!! What it does do is help in bad shooting circumstances and reduces the number of poor pictures over a photo shoot. Good buy! I am happy and can sleep easy tonight.
For each test I followed the following sequence:
1. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR Off
2. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR On in the Norm mode (two stabilizers working - basically will counteract up and down movement in the portait mode. This mode supports panning - moving target)
3. Nikon 70-200 VR with VR On in the Active mode (all four stabilizers working - this mode is typically meant when the camera is in severe motion while the subject is not)
4. Sigma 70-200 (doesn't have VR)
Test 1: Ability to see the display on my DVD Recorder situated about 10 feet away at 1:00 at night - illumination from the overhead lamp is dimmed.
In all cases, the EXIF settings were: 200mm, F2.8, 1/2 sec, Program mode (auto)
1a. Picture taken when I am standing in front of the DVR with elbows tucked into my body for stability
Note: All photos are as per the 1-4 sequence detailed above
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9343/1dsc38924nw.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38924nw.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5660/2dsc38966tr.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38966tr.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3723/3dsc39184xx.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39184xx.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2150/4dsc39132ys.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39132ys.jpg)
The best picture was taken with the Nikon with VR on in the Normal mode. it was miles ahead of the rest. The next best was the Nikon with VR off closely followed by the Sigma and finally the Nikon with VR in the Active mode. The Active mode was causing a lot of shake here. Surprising to see the Sigma beat it.
1b. Picture taken when I am sitting in front of the DVR with elbows hanging free - i.e. the camera is not supported against my body
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6497/1dsc38932lf.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38932lf.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7212/2dsc38984rk.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38984rk.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7296/3dsc39193fq.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39193fq.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4759/4dsc39142hv.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39142hv.jpg)
Well none of the four resulted in a sharp image. So it is clear that even with VR - hand holding technique is important. I rate the Nikon with Active VR the best followed by the Nikon with VR off and Sigma and Nikon Norm VR equal last. The Active VR seems to help the most as it is meant to be used in situations where you are in a moving car taking a picture of a stationary object. The Sigma does OK primarily because it is light weight
1c. Picture taken when I am sitting in front of the DVR with elbows tucked into my body and I am against the wall for more support
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7013/1dsc38955ci.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc38955ci.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9959/2dsc38993dx.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc38993dx.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5328/3dsc39204be.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39204be.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3002/4dsc39155pg.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39155pg.jpg)
Like in Test 1a, the best picture was taken with the Nikon with VR on in the Normal mode. It was miles ahead of the rest. The next best was the Sigma followed by the Nikon with Active VR and finally the Nikon with VR off. The light weight of the Sigma was paying off here. Since my body was pretty stable in this shot, it is perhaps a reasonable close approximation of what might happen when a tripod is used - though the manual recommends that VR is switched off when a tripod is mounted.
Test 2:
This was a tough test - I was about 30 feet away and 20 feet up from the magazine. This test was conducted at night with an overhead lap lighting up the passage between me and the magazine but no direct light on the magazine itself. I was standing up while taking the picture with my elbows tucked into my body for support.
In all cases, the EXIF settings were: 200mm, F2.8, 1/8 sec, Program mode (auto)
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4299/1dsc39098ud.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1dsc39098ud.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3791/2dsc39101co.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2dsc39101co.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/1480/3dsc39119mh.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dsc39119mh.jpg)http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7584/4dsc39128mb.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4dsc39128mb.jpg)
Well none of the images came out sharp as can be expected under such tough shooting circumstances. The Nikon VR Active and Norm modes are perhaps the equal best. The Nikon with VR off was better than the Sigma despite the extra weight.
So overall it looks like that the VR is pretty effective but isn't a magic potion as such - ie. makes bad pictures a distant memory - not!! What it does do is help in bad shooting circumstances and reduces the number of poor pictures over a photo shoot. Good buy! I am happy and can sleep easy tonight.