Are VR lenses worth it?

[Tracey Lee]

I have an old zoom lens that works okay but I played around with a 18-200 VR lens today and it's pretty amazing how easy handheld work becomes. So do you think it's worth the $800 or would you save your money and just use tripods or steadycams?

[bang]

i consider myself as a newbie in dslr world, i just got my d5000 with a 18-105 VR.
before buying it, i had a F3 with a prime 35mm.
so i can only give u my newbie view on this, but i really find the VR amazing. i can take pics that are completely handled at night, without a tripod at 1/4s and get almost no blurs due by shaky hands, this is amazing. and it really help a lot for movie mode.
i think i need a stabilizer to use my prime lens otherwise its almost impossible to get decent movie shots.
now the problem comes when look at apertures, 3.5 may be not enough for your needs
but the vr wont compensate like a glidecam and if i had the money i would just get a glidecam with a few prime lenses.

[DanLiffick]

I have the 18-105 VR and rarely use it. I use my d90 mainly for video, so its old primes and a tripod for me. I would spend the money elsewhere if you already have the zoom.

[WaveRiderXIX]

Only worth it if you know how to use it.

People get the impression... "oooO! VR!!! Less blurry shots!"

VR is pretty much optimized for shots like... you zooming into a bug or flower that is NOT moving.
Now... lets put it in low light.

But you're already at 2.8 and you don't want to shoot more than 1600 ISO...
so... you lower the shutter speed to like... 1/15... handheld. And you don't have a steady hand below 1/80... The VR will help you get a more clear shot and minimize chance for a blurry shot.

Now, lets say you are in the amazon rainforest and you are zoomed into a bird eating. VR on...
if the bird is moving it's head fast fast and your shutter is slower than 1/80... his head is still going to blurry.

VR helpful for:
Shooting under 1/80 or 1/125 shutter.
Long exposures with no tripod around.

If you are shooting fast cars or any objects moving which require you to do fast panning and zoom, VR may actually work against you.

[Zim]

When the VR is working against you, you can shut it off.
I have the Nikon 70-200VR 2.8 Without the VR I'm sure there are plenty of shots I never would have got without it.