At what focal length do you think VR becomes necessary?

[Stradawhovious]

Like indoor chess-boxing or something (yes, that's a sport)?

I'm sorry I looked this up.

Crazy hybrids.

 

[scorpion_tyr]

I personally wouldn't waste my time with it. I have it on two lenses and I've never needed to turn it on. I can see where it would be nice on say 200mm or more, but anything less than that it shouldn't be needed and any action shots should have such a fast shutter speed that it doesn't matter.

 

[IgsEMT]

VR allows shooting at shutter speeds slower than without, at any focal length although probably less necessary at focal lengths below 50mm. I wish my 24-70 had it

Ditto on 24~70. I wish the same

 

[KenC]

It depends on what you're doing. If you work close to the minimum focusing distance with a wide-angle lens and can't easily set up a tripod, e.g., on city streets, it can be very useful. The IS on my Canon G11 has saved me in many close-up low-light shots at the wide end of the zoom range.