Nikon Vibration Reduction Explained: Normal vs Sport

Vibration Reduction (VR), which compensates for camera shake when shooting handheld, is a great feature that means we reach for a tripod far less often than we used to. It is not to say that tripods have become obsolete, but with good camera-holding technique, we’re now able to achieve shutter speeds of around one second handheld—something that was previously unthinkable. VR can also help freeze the image in the viewfinder, even when our hands are shaking and our bodies are swaying in the wind. And when it comes to video recording, even with a long telephoto lens, it’s possible to capture relatively steady footage without tripod. Nikon, however, offers two VR modes – Sport and Normal. Which one should you choose in a given situation, and when is it better to turn VR off altogether? You will find the answers in this article.