Understanding The Vc Button On Your Camera Lens

The VC button on a camera lens stands for Vibration Compensation. This feature helps to stabilise the image by minimising the movement caused by handheld shooting in low light or with a telephoto lens. VC technology uses a three-coil system to electromagnetically drive the lens element that compensates for vibration, allowing for smoother shots.

VC stands for Vibration Compensation

VC is particularly useful when using a tripod, as it can compensate for any accidental movement of the lens. It is also beneficial when shooting wildlife, as it allows for faster subject acquisition and composition while also offering the most amount of correction. Additionally, VC can be used when panning to capture sharper images, although some sources suggest turning it off in this situation to avoid introducing errors or impairing the focus.

Tamron lenses with VC include the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD and the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD.

VC reduces camera shake

VC, or Vibration Compensation, is a feature on some camera lenses that helps to stabilise the image by minimising the effects of camera shake. This is especially useful when shooting handheld in low light or with a telephoto lens.

VC technology uses a three-coil system to electromagnetically drive the lens element that compensates for vibration, gliding smoothly on three balls with minimal friction. This simple mechanical structure is one of the secrets to Tamron's compact lenses.

VC is particularly effective when shooting in low-light conditions, such as indoors or at night. It helps to stabilise the viewfinder image, resulting in sharper and more stable photos and videos.

It's important to note that when shooting fast-moving subjects, such as racing cars, it is recommended to turn off the VC function to avoid potential image blur.

VC is Tamron's in-lens image stabilisation technology

VC stands for Vibration Compensation and is Tamron's in-lens image stabilisation technology. It works by stabilising the image and minimising the movement caused by handheld camera use in low light or with a telephoto lens. Inside the lens barrel stands a lens element on a mechanism with three motors that counteract horizontal, vertical, and diagonal movements caused by the user. This helps to reduce camera shake and allows for slower shutter speeds. VC is particularly useful when shooting handheld in low-light conditions or at night.

Tamron's unique VC mechanism uses a proprietary actuator and algorithms to deliver an extremely stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking. It minimises the effect of camera shake, reducing the degradation of picture quality. The mechanism uses a three-coil system to electromagnetically drive the lens element, which glides smoothly on three balls with little friction. This simple mechanical structure is one of the secrets to Tamron's compact lenses.

The latest Tamron lenses also apply AI technologies, allowing the lenses to choose the compensation characteristic for videography. The Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) in some Tamron lenses provides precise autofocus performance and consistent powerful VC image stabilisation. It incorporates two different microchips, allowing digital signals from the VC image stabilisation and autofocus to be processed separately at maximum speed. This enables commands from the camera and AF motor to be interpreted and implemented precisely and quickly.

VC is not necessary when panning

VC, or Vibration Compensation, is a feature on some camera lenses that helps to stabilise the image by minimising the effects of camera shake. This is particularly useful when shooting handheld in low light or with a telephoto lens. VC allows you to use slower shutter speeds and achieve sharper images by reducing the impact of camera shake.

However, VC is not necessary when panning. Panning is a photography technique where you move the camera to follow a moving subject, creating a sense of motion blur in the background while keeping the subject sharp. When panning, you are already intentionally introducing motion to your image, so there is no need to compensate for camera shake. In fact, using VC during panning can interfere with your ability to smoothly track the subject and may result in less than ideal images.

When panning, it is important to use a slow shutter speed to capture the desired amount of motion blur in the background. A good starting point is 1/30th of a second, but you may need to adjust this depending on the speed of your subject and the effect you want to achieve. Keep in mind that you will need to pan smoothly at a constant speed to get the best results.

Additionally, it is crucial to use a tripod or monopod to stabilise your camera and ensure that only the necessary motion is captured. This will help you achieve a sharp subject and a motion-blurred background. Remember to also use a narrow aperture to ensure that your entire scene is in focus.

Finally, when panning, it is a good idea to shoot in burst mode to increase your chances of capturing the perfect moment. This technique will allow you to take multiple shots in quick succession, giving you more options to choose from.

VC is most useful when shooting handheld

VC stands for Vibration Compensation, which is Tamron's in-lens image stabilisation technology. VC is most useful when shooting handheld as it minimises the effect of camera shake, which can be particularly noticeable in low light or when using a telephoto lens.

VC works by stabilising the image. Inside the lens barrel stands a lens element on a mechanism with three motors that counteract horizontal, vertical, and diagonal movements that can be caused by the user. This results in a stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking.

VC is particularly useful when shooting handheld in low-light conditions, such as indoors or at night. It also allows you to use slower shutter speeds.

When shooting on a tripod, it is recommended to turn VC off.

Frequently asked questions