vibration reduction or fast glass?

[chris@seary.com]

What do you think?

My 18-55 has VR. VR gives me a (consistent) two stop advantage. So the max aperture at 55mm (5.6) is effectively 2.8

My 50mm has a 1.8 max aperture, so that's another stop and a half over the zoom. And it stops subject movement, rather than just camera shake.

Since I got my D90 and can now have AF with all my lovely primes again, I just don't use zooms. However, it's winter and low light, so I'll probably back to using zooms in the summer.

So which is best? VR or fast glass?

[greypoint]

Fast glass because living things tend to move even when they look still so shutter speed can be important. Having said that, I like my 70-300mm VR because it's a helluva lot lighter than carting some 300mm f2.8 about!

[Graham]

    For me and the things I do It's 2.8 or faster, for the same reason as Sue. Particularly at the tele' end where all movment is magnified.
    Of course you can somtimes have both.
                          Graham.

[picsfor]

For me it's horses for courses.
I opted for the Canon 70-200 f4 with IS because it is sooo much smaller and lighter to carry around than the 2.8 version. But then it is a multi purpose lens as most zooms are.
I think with primes - you are using them for a specific task, to get a specific type if shot so IS/VR is not so important.

[Oldboy]

Nikon primes like the 400mm F2.8, 500mm F4 and 600mm F4 all have VR, so I guess it can be useful to have. My 400mm F2.8 AIS doesn't have VR and I miss it at times, because even on a tripod you can get slight movement which VR can correct. 

[anglefire]

Depends what you need. VR is only good for static subjects or, it you have the option, panning.

And although an f5.6 with VR might be considered a f2.8 - its not, it doesn't have the ability to blur the background in the same way a f2.8 does.

If your subject is moving, then the only way is to have fast glass - or high ISO. Or both.