The short answer is yes, Nikon VR lenses are worth the extra money. The long answer is, it depends. In some cases, Nikon’s VR can make all the difference in whether or not you get the shot. This is especially true when handholding telephoto lenses when the extended focal length makes it difficult to keep the lens steady enough to get a sharp image without a tripod. And, if you’re shooting in low light and can’t achieve a good exposure with a handholdable shutter speed, VR can compensate for camera shake resulting from a slow shutter speed.