Do you use lens VR?

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

From the old school never; I use doorways, trees, anything stationary, tripods, monopods even a 1/4 x 20 bolt and washer welded to the slot of the bolt tied with a string and looped to the toe of my shoe (Boy Scout way).
Pay attention to shutter speed ( 1/focal length) is usually the slowest that you can hand hold; and this is coming from 35mm and 120/220 roll film user.
I really feel VR gives a person a false sense of security. When I shoot fireworks, its tripod and 2s delay of the shutter (to minimize camera shake) and timing of the fire works.

Here is one no VR I think taken in 2009 , sorry not a Nikon dig owner at that time.
Ciao,
Lou Cioccio.
It was kit lens??
Date Time Original: 2009:07:04 21:42:12
Digital Zoom Ratio: 1
Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 2.5
FNumber: 14
Focal Length: 40
Gain Control: None
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Lens Model: 40.0-150.0 mm f/3.5-4.5
View attachment 29340

I was depending on VR to much in the beginning with My D3100 and soon learned my lesson. I have pretty much gone back to my old school ways ( 1/focal length) and still have VR on for handheld. My results have gotten MUCH better. I may fudge by 1 stop but no more than that.

 

[crashton]

From the old school never; I use doorways, trees, anything stationary, tripods, monopods even a 1/4 x 20 bolt and washer welded to the slot of the bolt tied with a string and looped to the toe of my shoe (Boy Scout way).
Pay attention to shutter speed ( 1/focal length) is usually the slowest that you can hand hold; and this is coming from 35mm and 120/220 roll film user.
I really feel VR gives a person a false sense of security. When I shoot fireworks, its tripod and 2s delay of the shutter (to minimize camera shake) and timing of the fire works.

I agree with you mostly & have been around when using good technique was the only way. It still is, but I find the VR very helpful to me these days. I can take shots at much lower speeds than I could without it. So for me it is a good thing & the VR is switched on except when it's on my tripod.

 

[stmv]

I use the VR when hand holding my 80-400,, it just a huge lens, that I figure anything to stop the sway is worth it,

I keep it on when handholding my 18x200 or 18x55, and definitely on the 55-300,,

but most of my lens are non VR, and many are full manual, so I echo the sentiment of
developing strong technique, I have taken plenty of photos at 1/15th hand held and still sharp. Remember to pause for a bit,, too often, we snap and whip the camera away, and well, you risk moving the camera too soon.