Why no VR on 50mm ?

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Was looking at 50mm f1.4 and notice there’s no VR offered by Nikon. Why is that so ?
Obviously only Nikon knows for certain, but very few Nikon primes anywhere near that focal length come with VR. There's an 85mm and the 105mm, but that's it.

I have always assumed VR must add to the overall cost, weight and complexity of a lens which may be enough to preclude it's inclusion.

Depending on how important VR is to you, there's always the "slightly" heavier, "slightly" more expensive Sigma Art series 50mm to consider. :)


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Groundhog34

Senior Member
When one does not know the answer to a question the answer i always money. It would increase the cost and size and is probably not necessary for a lens that is easy to hold steady.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Interesting, I don't think I would even have had that as a consideration for a 50mm lens. I guess it would be handy if hand-holding in very low light. Anyway, it is cost for sure.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Probably because of the size increase that VR would need to function properly. Prime lenses are Fast, Small and Light and, for some, not expensive. I think VR in a nifty 50 would not meet all these criterions.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
There's probably at least 4 or 5 reasons why Nikon doesn't put VR on their smaller primes... The cost benefit just isn't there... VR helps in low-light, but most of the smaller focal length primes are already either f1.8 or f1.4... hand held motion is also less pronounced at the under 100mm range than at the 200mm Plus range... adding VR adds lens design complexity which seems to translate to "less sharp"
 
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