Do you hear VR motor?

hark

hark

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I have a few lenses with VR (or OS in the case of Sigma). When you engage the VR and press the shutter release halfway to focus, do you hear the VR motor running constantly? Most of my lenses will make a noise as the VR (or OS) engages and when it releases, but I've never heard it between the time it engages and releases; however, if I hold the camera/lens next to my ear, I can hear it. I tried out a Nikon lens, and could hear the VR constantly running without having it close to my ear. On this particular lens, it was loud enough to be noticeable although not overly loud. The lens was a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 vrii. Just wondering if that is the norm for this particular lens. Thanks for any help! :)
 
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Englischdude

Senior Member
With the nikon vr i have the sound is really very subtle, however the sigma 105mm i sent back primarily because of the awful grinding noise as the os engaged.
 
hark

hark

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Englischdude said:
With the nikon vr i have the sound is really very subtle, however the sigma 105mm i sent back primarily because of the awful grinding noise as the os engaged.
Click to expand...

Thanks! This isn't what I'd call a grinding noise...it's more like a very noticeable hum. Hmmm....:confused:
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I have a Sigma 50-150mm DC APO HSM and I can hear the OS/VR engage with a "click" when it's turned on. While the OS in this lens seems to work really, really well, it is a tad annoying with the very audible "clickiness".

When mounting a Nikon lens with VR enabled (18-140mm), and with the camera body pressed to my ear, I can definitely hear a hum that stops as soon as I switch off the VR. I don't hear the VR motor any other way.

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Dave_W

The Dude
I'm thinking that "grinding" noise you're hearing is the autofocus and not the VR, especially if you have it set on AF-C because it's constantly sampling the image and adjusting for any perceived movement. Unlike AF-C, the VR sounds more like a hum followed by a click rather than a grinding noise. I suspect if you put the camera on AF-S you'll find the grinding noise is reduced and/or eliminated altogether.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
hark said:
I have a few lenses with VR (or OS in the case of Sigma). When you engage the VR and press the shutter release halfway to focus, do you hear the VR motor running constantly? Most of my lenses will make a noise as the VR (or OS) engages and when it releases, but I've never heard it between the time it engages and releases; however, if I hold the camera/lens next to my ear, I can hear it. I tried out a Nikon lens, and could hear the VR constantly running without having it close to my ear. On this particular lens, it was loud enough to be noticeable although not overly loud. The lens was a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 vrii. Just wondering if that is the norm for this particular lens. Thanks for any help! :)
Click to expand...

That's about right. You should barely hear it and usually the SWM is also pretty quiet too. I normally turn off VR since they use more battery power if you are going to be shooting the whole day but that is just more of a personal preference. At least it is not too annoying compared to the AF of most 3rd party lenses that I have tried. Very annoying and slow.
 
J

JH Foto

Senior Member
My Tamron 70-300 makes a vr noise but its nothing to worry about, I can hear it because the camera is in front of my face. No worries...
 
hark

hark

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I decided to compare 2 identical lenses just to find out if it is normal for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 vrii to have an audible VR motor, and its loudness was the same on both models. The camera store employee said the mechanism inside this lens is larger than the mechanisms inside my other Nikon lenses which probably attributes to the sound. It's not overly loud, but I never heard the continuous hum during the entire time the VR was engaged on my other lenses (only the usual sound when it engages and disengages). Thanks for the replies! ;)
 
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