I've got the Nikkor 24-120 VR lens for my Nikon (obviously, huh?). Love it! The big deal is actually a little more subtle - camera tests (for "with or without tripod" - not VR, IS, AS technology) showed that a product shot (with studio strobes, Hasselblad set to 1/500th sec shutter speed) handheld STILL had a little camera shake. Put it on a tripod, and it was as sharp as the proverbial tack. The VR/IS lenses compensate for a little camera shake that is natural to general handheld shooting, and can even get great results down to 1/15th or 1/8th sec shutter speeds. Posted situation above: If you're shooting a band on an interior stage, the "stage" will be sharp, but the band will be out of focus because THEY are moving - get it? Final note/caution: I used to work for a camera store and was in charge of handling repairs. It was pretty consistent that the more "in camera" specialties, the quicker they were to be the first things to break down. Example - little point&shoot cameras that have the built-in electronically controlled lens caps that slide in and out of the camera body (turn it on, it opens, turn off, it closes)? Broke all the time. So, generally, while I love Konica/Minolta (got 2 of their scanners - things of beauty!) I'd be weary of a camera that had the AS system built in. Sounds like you have to buy all new lenses as well.