❚❚Vibration Reduction (VR)

The lenses described in this section support vibration reduction (VR), which reduces blur caused by camera shake even when the camera is panned, allowing shutter speeds for DX format cameras to be slowed by approximately 4.0 stops at maximum zoom position (according to Camera and Imaging Products Association [CIPA] standards; effects vary with the photographer and shooting conditions). This increases the range of shutter speeds available and permits hand-held, tripod-free photography in a wide range of situations.

To use vibration reduction, slide the vibration reduction switch to ON. Vibration reduction is activated when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, reducing the effects of camera

shake on the image in the viewfinder and simplifying the process of framing the subject and focusing in both autofocus

and manual focus modes. When the camera is panned, vibration reduction applies only to motion that is not part of

the pan (if the camera is panned

horizontally, for example, vibration reduction will be applied only to vertical shake), making it much easier to pan the camera smoothly in a wide arc.

Turn vibration reduction off when the camera is securely mounted on a tripod, but leave it on if the tripod head is not secured or when using a monopod.

380Technical Notes