Is VR needed for taking video on D600?

[enenyi]

Gonna purchase a D600 soon, next month. Thinking of buying a 24-85mm kit lens to go with it. Problem is, the 24-85 f3.5-4.5 G VR version or non-VR version? Coz pple selling second-hand non-VR version at $250-$300, VR version at least need $450-$500 second-hand.

My main concern is VR for video on D600, 1080p. With the D600's 39 autofocus point system and AF-continuous mode tracking and stuff, is using VR for video a redundancy? And how does the VR1 system work? Will the VR impede camera panning movement in video mode?

Appealing to those who do videography on Nikon DSLRs for an answer. Thanks a lot!

 

[daredevil123]

Short answer - No.

Long answer - it really depends on your technique and how experienced you are with video as well as using the right supports.

 

[Rashkae]

With the D600's 39 autofocus point system and AF-continuous mode tracking and stuff, is using VR for video a redundancy? And how does the VR1 system work? Will the VR impede camera panning movement in video mode?

What link do you see between the AF points (which are not available in video) and VR? 2 very different things.

 

[kandinsky]

My main concern is VR for video on D600, 1080p. With the D600's 39 autofocus point system and AF-continuous mode tracking and stuff, is using VR for video a redundancy? And how does the VR1 system work? Will the VR impede camera panning movement in video mode?

To answer the question in the thread title: No. It's not 'needed' as you can do perfectly fine without it. It helps in some situations, but you won't want to get over-dependent on it as it doesn't replace proper supports. I used to shoot with a D7000 with non-VR lenses. Based on current usage of a GH3 with OIS, my impression is that VR can be handy (to some extent) in reducing the jitter from hand-held shots when you wanna grab some footage without any support/rig. Especially if you've been shooting for a couple of hours. You probably wouldn't want to do that without VR, unless you're prepared to spend some time stabilising footage in post.

Look around on youtube for examples. Here's one: Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) in Video Test - YouTube.

Nikon has this to say about panning when using VR in Normal mode:

To counter this, Nikon's VR (Vibration Reduction) detects camera movement for panning, automatically suppresses the blur-correction function, and reduces blur in the vertical direction rather than the camera's direction of movement. With this function, the panning effect is maximized. Panning Detection is effective regardless of the camera's orientation or direction of motion.

They seem to be talking about stills, so I'm not sure of the actual effect it'll have on video.

Tips & techniques | Experience the power of VR! | Empower Your Hand-held Shooting | Nikon

Note that the 24-85 doesn't have the Active mode.

 

[enenyi]

I'm interested in the long answer. Any techniques to share? Coz I intend to shoot videos handheld (live view, camera close to chest, elbows tucked in) - not gonna buy video-stabilizing equipment or steadycam tools.

Short answer - No.

Long answer - it really depends on your technique and how experienced you are with video as well as using the right supports.

 

[enenyi]

Thanks for the info. The 24-85 is using VR1 (3stops compensation). It seems like the VR system is the same I'm currently using in my 18-105mm kit lens (or has it improved?). So essentially if VR is not needed for video, then I'm like paying $250 more for VR for this lens! So just wanna check, since I dun have the Normal/Active mode for this lens, is the VR worth the extra bucks that I need to pay? Is this VR1 a very watered-down version of the VR2 (that has normal/active modes), or performs just about the same? Coz I have been using my 18-105mm with VR always on, yet I still face camera shake and defocusing issues when I wanna grab shots when doing street photography (dunno whether is my equipment lousy or just VR redundant for my type of usage).

To answer the question in the thread title: No. It's not 'needed' as you can do perfectly fine without it. It helps in some situations, but you won't want to get over-dependent on it as it doesn't replace proper supports. I used to shoot with a D7000 with non-VR lenses. Based on current usage of a GH3 with OIS, my impression is that VR can be handy (to some extent) in reducing the jitter from hand-held shots when you wanna grab some footage without any support/rig. Especially if you've been shooting for a couple of hours. You probably wouldn't want to do that without VR, unless you're prepared to spend some time stabilising footage in post.

Look around on youtube for examples. Here's one: Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) in Video Test - YouTube.

Nikon has this to say about panning when using VR in Normal mode:



They seem to be talking about stills, so I'm not sure of the actual effect it'll have on video.

Tips & techniques | Experience the power of VR! | Empower Your Hand-held Shooting | Nikon

Note that the 24-85 doesn't have the Active mode.

 

[daredevil123]

I'm interested in the long answer. Any techniques to share? Coz I intend to shoot videos handheld (live view, camera close to chest, elbows tucked in) - not gonna buy video-stabilizing equipment or steadycam tools.

The important thing is to have the right supports. You do not necessarily need a steady cam. But add-ons like a rig can do wonders for stability. They are not that expensive nowadays with so many options on the market. Other things you can consider is to just use a monopod with your camera.

As for techniques, it is hard to explain to you here with words. But there are many techniques involved in stabilizing your hand holding in different kind of stances as well as movements.

In the end, VR can only do so much.

Monopod...
[video=youtube;cbYVBvcStAw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbYVBvcStAw[/video]

 

[kandinsky]

I'm interested in the long answer. Any techniques to share? Coz I intend to shoot videos handheld (live view, camera close to chest, elbows tucked in) - not gonna buy video-stabilizing equipment or steadycam tools.

What kind of videos are you planning to shoot?

Consider adding a LCD loupe. Will give you an extra point of contact when you need it.

Good luck with that approach Should be fine as long as you:

1) Plan to do only very short sporadic shoots
2) Have very strong core muscles & rock solid arms
3) Have fine muscle control that allows you to lock specific muscle groups on demand
3) Aren't susceptible to fatigue and lactic acid build up

Tried it, wasn't a sustainable approach for me. I didn't have any VR lenses, don't really know how much it would have helped. Spent a lot of time correcting in post. Got a monopod+rig for the next gig :bsmilie:

Coz I have been using my 18-105mm with VR always on, yet I still face camera shake and defocusing issues when I wanna grab shots when doing street photography (dunno whether is my equipment lousy or just VR redundant for my type of usage).

You're talking about stills? Either you're pushing it beyond its limitations, or technique issues. VR never promised to eliminate shake completely; it can't defy the law of physics

 

[daredevil123]

Coz I have been using my 18-105mm with VR always on, yet I still face camera shake and defocusing issues when I wanna grab shots when doing street photography (dunno whether is my equipment lousy or just VR redundant for my type of usage).

agree with kandinsky. VR does not remove a lot of camera shake. If you want stable shots, you need to add stability by using supports. Unless, of course, you are going for that shaky kind of camera style like NYPD Blue.

As for focusing and defocusing, most serious videographers use manual focus. Because they use focus to do transitions, as well as shift focus to highlight different points of interest in their scene.

 

[enenyi]

Hi guys, thanks for all the feedback given on this thread. I did my research over the few weeks, and came to one conclusion: I'm gonna buy the 24-85mm VR version. Not just for the VR alone, but considering that it is the best performing lens out of the 24-85mm range, beating the non-VR version and even marginally beating the D version. Here's the link to the 'proof' of my conclusion: Nikon 24-85mm VR Review - Page 5 of 8

And as for VR for video, I found a video on youtube that states the opposite of what you guys have been saying in this thread. Here it goes:

[video=youtube;5O03WO3TUck]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O03WO3TUck[/video]

Of course it may be the presenter's personal take on VR. But at least it sheds some light over what VR can do and what it cannot do. Just wanna share what I researched on here so that fellow CSers can also benefit from the information provided. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[MacroMarlin]

..... Coz I have been using my 18-105mm with VR always on, yet I still face camera shake and defocusing issues when I wanna grab shots when doing street photography (dunno whether is my equipment lousy or just VR redundant for my type of usage).

Perhaps you try to relook carefully on how you press the shutter, seen a number of people snapping the shutter of DSLR instead of smooth depression of the shutter button, to most, this is a subconscious act. Use a video recording to check yourself or another person to observe. 18-105 VR is not that bad, ever did 1/8-1/15 sec exposure @ 105 mm before with good success rate.

 

[kandinsky]

And as for VR for video, I found a video on youtube that states the opposite of what you guys have been saying in this thread.

Cool, would be good if could you point out what you feel was 'opposite'?
I briefly browsed through the video, everything sounds in line with what has been mentioned in this thread.

 

[enenyi]

Cool, would be good if could you point out what you feel was 'opposite'?
I briefly browsed through the video, everything sounds in line with what has been mentioned in this thread.

Apparently, it seemed to me that u guys are telling me that VR is really needed for video coz it doesnt help much. Rather, the technique of holding the DSLR is more important to prevent camera shake. However, what I seemed to get from the video is that VR is important for video for panning, to ensure that u get a smooth panning transition. Which is what i wanted to know in the first place. Maybe my bringing in of AF and stuff like that threw u guys off course, my bad. But just a verification, will VR turned on allow for better panning during video recording or will it hinder the smoothness instead by producing start-stop motions due to its sampling?