70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I have a Nikon D90 camera. Note that this is a DX camera and, therefore, I am only using the middle part of the image focused by this lens. Since that portion is typically the best part of the image, those of you using cameras with full-framed sensors (such as the D3 line or the D700) should look elsewhere for advise. I have had this lens a little more than a week and have been very impressed with auto-focus speed (assuming enough light, but see below), sharpness, and basic lack of notable aberrations. I am using Photo Shop CS5 for processing and both the raw-image and main dialogs provide (from Adobe) distortion correction profiles for this lens. A plus. I am using a 16-bit per color channel process and typically making 13" x 19" prints, occasionally with some cropping. This is enough magnification to see most sorts of lens flaws. Given this setup and my DX camera, I'm rating this lens five-star. Whenever I get a new lens, I practice using it around the house and neighborhood for several days to become acquainted with its quirks. I did so with this lens and found two quirks that are noteworthy. First, this is a BIG lens, particularly where extended to a full 300mm and the lens shade is snapped on. In fact the weight makes it difficult to hold steady and the focal length amplifies user shake. I had to practice my technique so that VR and me together could take super pictures. If you have enough light to shoot at 1/100 sec or faster, this problem will seem to go away. However, if your technique isn't good, you will end up with a sharp picture offset somewhat from what you thought you were shooting. In other words, you need good technique (or a tripod or a monopod) to supplement VR at all shutter speeds. Another issue caused by length and weight is that it is much harder to steady the camera when used in portrait orientation than in landscape. This is because the camera grip on Nikon cameras is put on the right and that means it is on the bottom (or top) in portrait mode. Since your wrist is twisted, it is harder to steady. Second, auto-focus wont zip from 70mm to 300mm or vice versa in most instances. My advice is to use the manual focus ring to get close to focus when you start way out of focus. Make it a habit to do so. Otherwise, you will miss some pictures while the lens stays confused. Depth of field is negligible when you use a long telephoto and 300mm qualifies to that description. So the lens needs some help. It's not the lens' fault, it's just physics. I bought this lens to replace my Nikon 55-200mm VR. That lens is great and costs less that half as much as the lens I'm reviewing. I believe the new lens is worth the extra money but the 55-200mm is certainly a good alternative if budget is an issue. The extra 100mm on the long end is worth it and the lens is sharper, to my eyes, at equivalent focal lengths. Of course you are considering buying this lens because of the extra 100mm or because you have a non-DX camera and have no other Nikon choices in this price range. The build quality is also better; since I don't plan to bounce either lens on the floor, that is a minor consideration.

I purchased this lens over a year ago and to date, it is still one of my favorite lenses to use. If you reading this review, you probably have read all of the other reviews and heard about its minor quirks (slow AF speed and softness at 300mm). However, if you know its limits, you can work around most of these issues. I mainly use this lens for daytime bird photography on my D90 with the occasional sports/triathlon picture taking. This lens has a maximum aperture of f/4.5 at 70mm which increases to f/5.6 when zoomed to 300mm. Because it is a relatively "slow" lens, I wouldn't recommend taking low-light pics with it. Unless if you are into abstract photography or something and dig blurry or light streaked pictures. Build Quality: The lens feels really good. A little too plasticy but still pretty good. It has a pretty nice heft to it too. It is mostly made out of plastic with the exception of the metal top bit of the lens just after the zoom ring. The lens mount is also metal which is lovely. The zoom ring feels fine and decently smooth. The focus ring is a little stickier and offers a bit more friction but it is still easy to operate. I have had no issues with zoom creep when the lens is pointing downwards. This lens also features a rubber gasket around the mount of the lens. This further protects your camera and the lens from dust and debris. The petal-type lens hood that the lens comes with is fairly large and does its job well. The lens also smells nice too. A bit of rubbery smell mixed with with a hint of new electronics smell. The anti-glare coating also casts a pretty cool mix of colors when you look into the glass. It's a sort of greenish, redish, yellow. Image Quality: This is where some of the minor flaws of the lens comes in. The pictures from this lens are tack sharp in the 70-200mm range even at the maximum aperture. From 200-300mm, the images soften considerably at max aperture. It isn't really a big deal and not noticeable unless if you aggressively crop your images. At 300mm, if you stop up (or is it down?) the aperture to f8 or f11, the images do get sharper but aren't as sharp as in the 70-200mm range. Comparing it to the Nikon 300mm f4 which I recently acquired, the 70-300mm definitely isn't as sharp as the 300mm/f4 even when stopped down. The 300mm f4 is just a beast of a lens. Autofocus Speed: Decently fast at 70mm, slows a little at 150mm, slows down a little more at 210mm, slows down considerably at 300mm. Hunts a lot at 300mm, especially when focusing in the dimly lit environments. This lens has a manual AF over-ride which enables you to grab the focus ring at any time. I use this feature a lot to conk the lens back on track if it starts to focus hunt in the wrong direction. Not a major issue, but I can definitely see it becoming a little annoying if you are trying to focus in on something fast moving. AF is quiet which is nice. The 70-300mm lens also features Nikon's Vibration Reduction tech which helps you avoid shaky pictures from shaky hands when you are using slower shutter speeds. It really works well and its a wonderful addition to this lens. Overall, a good but not perfect lens. It is definitely a step-up from its little brother, the 55-200mm in terms of IQ and AF speed.

This purchase was for my daughter who wanted to up date from a pocket size camera to a DSLR to record the progress and changes in our new Grand-Daughter, I bought her a D3200 , for her birthday, I am a very keen amateur photographer myself and have just upgraded my seven year old D700 to a D810 and already have one of these lenses, my daughter thought she would like one, so I lent her mine to try, after a very short time she said she would like to have one of her own, hence this purchase, as a new one would cost more than the camera, and she was paying this time I suggested a good used one. My one was new when I bought it and still looks like new today after seven or so years of careful use. The only piece of equipment I have purchased used was a Nikon SB 900 flash gun, which was all complete in its original box and in like new condition. I suggested we look carefully, and for one complete with all parts both lens caps, lens hood, and pouch type case all in its original box, I feel that someone that has kept the box has more likely treated the lens carefully. The lens arrived and I tried it on my D810 it looked as good as my own one and performed perfectly, my daughter is very happy with this purchase. Now I must review this lens, before I started I decided to look at the existing reviews already written. I found it unbelievable of some reviews, particularly the person who had returned the lens claiming the rear lens cap was stuck, I presume it was fitted with a pattern cap rather than an original Nikon one, as my one is marked with an arrow and the word " open " in the clockwise direction, YES IT IS LEFT HAND Thread Bayonet. There is many more I could comment on but it would make this too long. The 70-300 is a superb lens I have had a lot of use from mine, the quality of prints from it are excellent and I frequently print at A3, I am an aircraft enthusiast and have taken some superb shots at air shows, of Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs, I must admit photographing, "The Red Arrows" is a little more challenging, but I have worked out a focusing technique which gives me around 90% success. The auto focus locks quickly and quietly but I do not use auto for" The Reds", I will comment on another review, which annoyed me slightly, this person said that taking pictures of small birds in flight or birds perching a good distance away the lens was useless this is not the fault of the lens, he should have gone for at least a 500mm or got closer. I cannot fault this lens if it is used sensibly. I will just say if you are a Nikon user, I would not use any other than Nikon lenses for picture and build quality, you would not buy a Rolls Royce and put a Ford engine in it.

Bien reçu, j'ai pu le tester et il fonctionne parfaitement,les photos sont parfaites. Juste une petite bosse sur le filtre de protection que je vais remplacer.

ズームも滑らかでよいぞぉ 光学性能的にはDXの70-300と大差ないかな

Does what it is supposed to do. Brilliant lens for the price. Super fast focus, top notch VR, lovely bokeh and sharp. Great for wild life, birds, close up (I use it with AF-capable extension tubes) and portraits. I use it with my D90 and couldn't be any happier. Those who complain apparently have no idea what they bought. This is not a fixed-aperture telephoto and is not compatible with teleconvertors. Such lens will cost me a bomb. The price/value proposition of this lens is absolutely great.

Das Kit-Objektiv 18-55 zu meiner Nikon D3000 erfüllt gegenüber anderen Meinungen seine Bestimmung. Manchmal muss es aber doch etwas mehr Zoom sein. Das Nikkor 18-105 AF-S VR erfüllt auch in hervorragender Weise seine Bestimmung. Manchmal muss es aber doch etwas mehr Zoom sein. Also musste 70 - 300mm Objektiv her. Nach wochenlangen Recherchen und Vergleichen grenzte ich die engere Wahl auf drei Objektive ein welche in meinem finanziellen Spielraum lagen. 1. Nikkor AF-S 70-300G 1:4,5-5,6 ED VRII Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4,5-5,6G VR Objektiv (bildstab.) inkl. HB-36 2. Sigma 70-300mm 4-5,6 DG Makro 1:2 Sigma 70-300mm 4-5,6 DG Mc APO (Motor) Objektiv für Nikon 3. Tamron 70-300mm 4-5,6 Di LD Macro 1:2 Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5,6 Di LD Macro 1:2 für Nikon Das Tamron wurde nach kurzer Zeit verworfen. Zuviel Negatives in Berichten und Test's. Und kein VR! Das Sigma sollte es sein. Etwas teurer als das Tamron aber mit besseren Kritiken Und kein VR! Ein günstiger Preis auf einer Seite. Aber doch nur wieder ein Kompromiss auf der anderen Seite. Der Bauch sagte ja, der Verstand jedoch nein und nein. Nach zwei Tagen stand die Kaufentscheidung. Weder das Tamron noch das Sigma. Kein Kompromiss mehr... Das Nikkor AF-S 70-300G 1:4,5-5,6 ED VRII sollte es sein. Bange drei Tage ob meine Erwartungen erfüllt werden. Dann der Tag der Erlösung. Tief Luft holen und das gutverpackte Paket öffnen. Innliegend die Original Nikkor Verpackung mit der Optik. Zum Glück alles I.O. Papiere vollständig. Objektiv äusserlich unbeschädigt. Dann der grosse Moment. Objektiv an die Kamera und raus auf den Balkone. Was für ein "Ofenrohr"! Mit 744g auch nicht gerade ein Leichtgewicht. Es liegt aber wunderbar in der Hand. Der Anschluss ist aus Metall gefertigt. Trotz Plastik-Body sehr gute Verarbeitung. Von der Wertigkeit sehr ansprechend. Zoom- und Fokusring ohne Spiel. Alles "sitzt". Anschliessend Auswertung der Bilder. Der Fokus sitzt perfekt und schnell. Der VRII arbeitet grossartig. Ich habe nicht die ruhigsten Hände... Bildqualität auch sehr gut. Besser als das Nikkor AF-S 18-105 1:4,5-5,6 VR ED. Ergebnisse der Testfotos mit diversen Vorlagen bescheinigen der Optik: "Alle Werte im Limit" Mein vorhandes 18-105mm liegt ebenfalls innerhalb der technischen Parameter. Beide Optiken habe ich bei Amazon gekauft. Beide Optiken sind sehr gut justiert. Allen die keine über tausend Euro für ein Tele ausgeben wollen oder können kann ich dieses Objektiv ruhigen Gewissens empfehlen. Leute, lieber etwas länger sparen als sich mit Kompromiss - Optiken herumärgern. Konnte mich lange nicht mit dem Preis anfreunden. Aber es hat sich gelohnt. Dieses Teil landet nicht in einem Auktionshaus wie so viele Tam... und Sigm... Von mir volle Punktezahl und klare Kaufempfehlung. Von Preis - Leistung gibt's nichts Besseres.