VR and battery power?

[VetteD50]

When my 18-200 arrived...I was anxious to try it out. I knew I only had enough battery left for a few shots. I would have to say I was not so impressed.

Shortly after, I went out with a freshly charged battery. I then noticed that the lens would "jump" a bit (looking through the viewfinder) when pushing the shutter button halfway. (I have a set of Canon image stabilizing binoculars that does this same thing) I didn't remember it doing that the night before.

Now I go home, and the clarity of these new pics is amazing! I have done mostly cold weather shooting since getting my D50, and shivering is a definate enemy to good picture taking.

So this find has led me to ask if... battery power will have an effect as to how well VR would work?

[erichlund]

So this find has led me to ask if... battery power will have an effect as to how well VR would work?
Well, the lens has to get power from somewhere for VR to work. It must drive a motor to adjust the lens element that keeps it all in focus. VR will have a minor impact on the number of shots per charge, more impact if you go to full active VR. I suspect that the protection circuitry in the camera doesn't account for VR, so there could possibly be an affect on VR from a very weak battery.

One thing to know about Lithium batteries. You never want to take a Lithium battery down to absolutely dead flat. I believe the Nikon cameras will stop working before you get to this point, and I think the batteries themselves may have some protection circuitry, but it's something to keep in the back of your head. If you let it go dead flat, you may not get it back. There is a possibility that you could take the battery to a place like Batteries+ and they could successfully recondition the battery to get it working again, but that may cost as much as buying a new battery.

My bottom line with camera batteries. Keep a backup (Yes D200 batteries are now generally available, I have a fully charged backup). When you get low, switch batteries.

[K1W1]

I wonder if that's why the mA rating has increased from 1400 to 1500?
Increase the rating of the battery at the same time as the load increases and end up with the same number of shots per charge. It's probably one of those little things that a company like Nikon would do that many of the more consumer product oriented companies wouldn't.