[bwDraco]

How effective do you think the SR system is? How many stops slower than normal can you get with SR on without a blurred image?

--DragonLord

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Last edited by bwDraco; 11-30-2010 at 11:09 AM. Reason: Minor title edit

[dragonfly]

I can't quantify it but I guarantee that it works when used properly.

[RBellavance]

I can't quantify it but I guarantee that it works when used properly.

Likewise. I have never taken the time to quantify its effect, but I know it works well enough for me to basically not worry about my shutter speed except for subject motion, and get bitten by motion blur when I use a friend's Nikon gear with a non-VR lens

[KxBlaze]

I also have not done a controlled test but I can tell you that I have shot hand-held at 1/10 while holding my breath and got some clear images.

[Lowell Goudge]

I think the question has a lot to do with the user's technique also,

It would be interesting to know how many people think 1/focal length/1.5 is acceptable without shake reduction to hand hold a shot. Chances are, the same ones who say yes will also say higher stops gained here .

I took this shot in the linked post at 1/40 using a 510mm lens (1.7x AF TC on K300F4)

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/1056405-post7.html

This is extreme, 1/19 over the rule of thumb for non shake reduction and hand held and more than 4 stops. I will admit, this is very steady, but SR does deliver along with good technique. My typical experience is 2-3 stops is extremely reliable, 3-4 is typically possible, but 4 or more is possible.

I would also be willing to bet I can hand hold slower than the 1/FL/1.5 also

[Ubuntu_user]

I've hand held down to 1/6 and still gotten sharp images... Of course, that was @ 16mm!

[GhoSStrider]

A lot depends on which camera, which lens and how close I'm focusing, but I can reliably say that SR has increased my handholdability in the 2-3 stops range. I'll admit to being a touch better with the latest Canon IS systems (I'm 3-4 stops better with them), but Canon IS doesn't work with my old, manual focus glass. I'll take the slight penalty in handholdability for the bonus of shake reduction on ALL of my gear any day of the week! Thanks, Pentax!

[falconeye]

Technical questions aren't answered by democracy but by measurement ...

[Lowell Goudge]

Technical questions aren't answered by democracy but by measurement ...

True but since people ormmoremaccurately their hand holding technique differ I would expect these results to reflect the average

[falconeye]

True but since people ormmoremaccurately their hand holding technique differ I would expect these results to reflect the average

Ok, there are nice social experiments that if nobody knows the result of a problem, their average answer can still be a good approximation.

And there are nice social experiments where the average answer is completely off.

Which brings us back to the starting position

[Rondec]

I find that SR works very well for my type of shooting (I seldom shoot longer than 135mm). A lot depends as well, on how much blur you will tolerate in your photos. I delete photos all the time that I would have kept when I was shooting film. As Lowell says, a lot depends on your technique. I have gotten sharp photos shooting at 300mm and 1/20 second, but I would prefer to shoot with faster shutter speeds than that.

Macro shots, of course, it is basically useless. I don't usually turn it off, but I don't find it helps at all.

As far as the poll goes, I think it is fine to see what results the "average user" gets. My impression is that people with shakier hands/worse technique get more benefit from shake reduction, but I guess I don't know. I think I'll go out and buy a new tripod now.

[mrmatt]

I think I found the nikon vr system a touch better but it's hard to say. I can say that those lenses are a good 100g heavier though

[Rondec]

Here is an example shot with the DA 70 at 1/8 second. I was just playing around to see what looked acceptable and what didn't. First is the photo (focus on the diet Crush bottle) and second 100 percent crop.





To me, this would be acceptable for printing to a decent size (although I wouldn't print a photo like this). I would say SR gives me three stops benefit in general, four if I'm lucky.

[GlennG]

I voted toward the lower end, 1-2. I don't think I can tell that much of a difference, though I've never tried to quantify the SR effect. Though the SR is there in the camera, the "benefit" any one person gets is also partially due to how steady that person is naturally. I believe that I'm marginally a little steadier than average, so the benefit I receive may not be as much as some others will see. But again, no measurements, just crude perceptions.

Thanks.

Glenn

[Kerrowdown]

I work in low light situations nearly all the time and to be honest anything that gives me an edge I'm delighted to have, no matter how many stops it may or may not give.