D7000 + Vibration Reduction - useful?

M

Mirezzi

Well-known member
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. A few searches revealed nada.

Folks were using the D90 with VR lenses but the verdict was inconsistent. Some say it eliminated camera shake, others said it ADDED camera shake.

Anybody have any luck/experience using Nikon VR or other image stabilization lenses with the D7000? Results?
 
It helps, but it's not perfect. VR wasn't designed with video recording in mind, but it's better than nothing.
 
I've had some good results using a Nikkor 105mm ƒ/2.8 VR. Not enough experience yet to be definitive, but for a fairly long lens it's remarkably usable handheld with VR on. My Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/2.8 (stabilised) only just arrived, I've yet to see how that copes with handheld shooting.

With a non-stabilised 50mm, I found myself using a monopod rather extensively - with no rig I find pulling focus without shaking the camera extremely difficult.
 
I also have a 105mm G VR...VR effectivly kills minor camera shake and with a steady hand, almost eliminates it - in nikons case, I get really "floaty" footage with the 105G versus the harsh shake of the non VR 85mm. Like others mentioned, its difficult to maintain a steady image without some type of VR, especially in the 50mm + range.. Although a bit shaky, using a 35mm on my 7000 is perfectly fine, even when messing with focus.
 
Efexone said:
I also have a 105mm G VR...VR effectivly kills minor camera shake and with a steady hand, almost eliminates it - in nikons case, I get really "floaty" footage with the 105G versus the harsh shake of the non VR 85mm. Like others mentioned, its difficult to maintain a steady image without some type of VR, especially in the 50mm + range.. Although a bit shaky, using a 35mm on my 7000 is perfectly fine, even when messing with focus.
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That is wonderful news, thanks!
 
I have the 70-200 VR (and a couple of others) and i find that the "active" setting (as opposed to "normal") is best for video. It prevents the VR from "hanging up" in one place and then having to make a quick correction because it runs out of correction travel, if that makes sense.

in other words, though it corrects less, it's visually smoother in "active."
 
matthew77 said:
I have the 70-200 VR (and a couple of others) and i find that the "active" setting (as opposed to "normal") is best for video. It prevents the VR from "hanging up" in one place and then having to make a quick correction because it runs out of correction travel, if that makes sense.

in other words, though it corrects less, it's visually smoother in "active."
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I hate to sound like an idiot, but where do you control active/normal mode?
 
matthew77 said:
There's a switch on the lens. Not all VR lenses have it.
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Oh okay, I have the 18-105mm kit lens and there is no switch. Thanks though.

As an aside, is it true that there is no way of enabling exposure indicator in Live View? Ugh. That would REALLY improve this camera. As things go, I've been underxposing about a full stop because I don't trust the exposure indicator, but it would be nice to have it when you can't see the LCD.
 
yep, on the 105G is just on or off and hangs a bit when it reaches its travel limit. the active switch is only found on the pro tele-zooms and super telephoto nikkors. I'm not 100% sure, but I dont think the pro wide zooms have it. mono-pod or shoulder rig is highly recommended no matter what the lens.
 
Mirezzi said:
As an aside, is it true that there is no way of enabling exposure indicator in Live View? Ugh. That would REALLY improve this camera. As things go, I've been underxposing about a full stop because I don't trust the exposure indicator, but it would be nice to have it when you can't see the LCD.
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its nikon's big FAIL...no exposure monitoring during video. I dont shy away from throwing the camera into auto to see what it thinks the exposure should be. A loupe helps a lot, as well as calibrating your eye to the 7000's LCD, so you know what good exposure looks like - what blown highlights look like.
 
Efexone said:
its nikon's big FAIL...no exposure monitoring during video. I dont shy away from throwing the camera into auto to see what it thinks the exposure should be. A loupe helps a lot, as well as calibrating your eye to the 7000's LCD, so you know what good exposure looks like - what blown highlights look like.
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That's exactly what I've been doing and you're right, that's absolutely ridiculous and I hope Nikon addresses it in a firmware update but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Anybody written Nikon about this? :P
 
Mirezzi said:
That's exactly what I've been doing and you're right, that's absolutely ridiculous and I hope Nikon addresses it in a firmware update but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Anybody written Nikon about this? :P
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Honestly, although its a flaw in the video implementation of the camera, I don't think its a mistake on their part that its not an included feature. I bought the D7000 as a stills camera primarily, and as a holdover video camera until something more professional is available.
 
Efexone said:
Honestly, although its a flaw in the video implementation of the camera, I don't think its a mistake on their part that its not an included feature. I bought the D7000 as a stills camera primarily, and as a holdover video camera until something more professorial is available.
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You think it was an intended omission in features, or, some sort of hardware limitation? I don't see how they could argue for eliminating such a useful feature...unless it's technically not possible, which seems unlikely.

I love the camera either way. I haven't even changed my Picture Settings (stuck on default / Standard) and I'm very happy with the still AND moving images.
 
Mirezzi said:
You think it was an intended omission in features, or, some sort of hardware limitation? I don't see how they could argue for eliminating such a useful feature...unless it's technically not possible, which seems unlikely.

I love the camera either way. I haven't even changed my Picture Settings (stuck on default / Standard) and I'm very happy with the still AND moving images.
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We are talking about a company that primarily focuses on still cameras, optics, and high end industrial machinery(steppers/scanners), although they ironically launched the DSLR revolution when they put out the D90. I wouldn't dwell to much on why they omitted a feature that is indeed as important in video as it is in photo. It's most likely a matter of marketing, as they might want to save a more advanced/useful video toolset for higher priced future products... or they just forgot.
 
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