{"id":1828,"date":"2014-04-25T11:44:47","date_gmt":"2014-04-25T17:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pixelarge.com\/?p=1828"},"modified":"2020-05-14T13:43:56","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T08:13:56","slug":"nikon-nikkor-af-s-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6g-ed-vr-lens-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pixelarge.com\/nikon-nikkor-af-s-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6g-ed-vr-lens-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f\/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR Lens – Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prologue<\/a> | Specifications<\/a> | Performance<\/a> | Recommendation<\/a> | Ratings<\/a><\/h2>\n

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Price –<\/h2>\n

around $580<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy New : <\/strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0, <\/strong>Adorama<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0, <\/strong>Flipkart<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Buy Used : <\/strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0,\u00a0<\/strong>Amazon(Refurbished)<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0, <\/strong>Adorama<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

These are the links from affiliate partners & e-marketers I trust –\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0,\u00a0Flipkart<\/a>\u00a0(India)\u00a0and\u00a0Adorama<\/a>. I have\u00a0carefully handpicked them after extensive research\u00a0to get you the best possible deal\u00a0<\/strong>(lowest price and shipping). Using these links will save you a lot of hassle in search of a reliable source and price comparisons.<\/p>\n



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Prologue \u2013<\/h2>\n

It is a mid range consumer zoom lens<\/strong> which comes loaded with the new age tech- two ED glasses, internal focusing (IF) and Vibration Reduction (VR) II<\/strong>. If you don’t know what all these terms stand for, let me assure that this is all the optical technology you might ever need to make a decent photograph.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This lens is available since 2006 as a worthy successor of the non VR ED version<\/a>. I would recommend you to consider this VR version over its predecessor<\/strong> for the sheer benefit of vibration reduction that I feel is a must for telephoto zoom lenses.<\/p>\n

It is attractively priced and delightfully useful<\/strong> on both FX and DX format cameras.<\/p>\n

This Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm VR<\/a>\u00a0 falls in a very useful range for short-telephoto shoots for example candids, portraits or in a zoo. In my opinion it is satisfactory for wildlife and bird photography<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n

I personally find this lens amazing specifically at 135mm<\/strong>. From 200mm till 300mm, I realized considerable drop in performance but that is perfectly normal in telephoto zoom lenses. The second generation VR is highly effective<\/strong> even on a moving vehicle (on a desert safari I managed to get some good shots even on a moving jeep).<\/p>\n

There are few competitors in market from sigma and tamron as well for this focal range but Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f\/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR Lens\u00a0beats everyone with its optics and handling<\/strong> so I don’t find them worthy enough to mention around this price bracket.<\/p>\n



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Specifications –<\/h2>\n

Focal Length<\/h3>\n

The focal length of this lens is 70-300mm<\/strong>. When used on an APS-C sensor camera (cropped sensor DX camera) it gives the effective focal length of 105-450mm equivalent to a 35mm film camera or FX format camera.<\/p>\n

I believe this is an ample focal range for sports and wildlife photography<\/strong> including portraits and it should suffice all telephoto needs of a DX camera user.<\/p>\n

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Aperture<\/h3>\n

The maximum aperture is f\/4.5 at 70 mm and f\/5.6 at 200mm<\/strong>. \u00a0One might hope for a slightly large aperture considering the price of this lens but I think f\/4.5 is not bad either for most people.<\/p>\n

This is smaller than the non-VR lens which stands a decent f\/4 at 70mm.<\/p>\n

Diaphragm<\/h3>\n

There are nine rounded diaphragm blades which close down to f\/32-40 (at 70-200mm)<\/strong>. \u00a0The bokeh (isolation of subject from the background) is moderate and acceptable, which is exactly what I expect for a telephoto in this price range. The more expensive ones with f\/2.8 give beautiful bokeh, obviously at a higher price.<\/p>\n

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Barrel and Rings<\/h3>\n

The barrel and internal tubes are made of plastic.<\/strong> To me it’s good quality plastic.<\/p>\n

There is no aperture ring<\/strong>, this being a G lens<\/strong>. So you cannot use this lens on older film cameras.<\/p>\n

The focus ring is small yet effective with as smooth movements as all plastics can give<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The zoom ring is quiet broad<\/strong> and its position in front is different than what the earlier versions of this lens had. There are markings for a few focal lengths on the ring. To prevent Zoom creep, Nikon has made the ring a bit on the tighter side so I particularly did not found it smooth in operation<\/strong>. You just need to manage with it for some time and after regular use it will become softer. Till now I haven\u2019t encountered any Zoom creep.<\/p>\n

There is infrared focus marking for 70 mm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Apart from the usual M\/A \u2013M switch<\/strong> ( for manual override cum auto and pure manual focus), there are VR(vibration reduction) on-off switch and VR specific Normal- Active switch<\/strong> for added control over the VR operation. That\u2019s how improvement in technology makes our life full of smart choices and makes it confusing at the same time.<\/p>\n

The internal focusing mechanism is highly appreciated by me. It keeps the length of lens constant while focusing; as it keeps the lenses free from dust. Sadly this is not what we are getting with this lens, It acts as a pump and sucks air in and out while zooming as the inner tube retracts<\/strong> and goes out so make sure to carry cleaning equipment<\/strong> in your bag all the time.<\/p>\n

Mount<\/h3>\n

\"Nikon-Nikkor-AF-S-70-300mm-f4.5-5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f\/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR Lens sits on a metal mount<\/strong>. We love that, don\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

Filter Thread<\/h3>\n

The plastic filter thread<\/strong> is the usual 67mm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Hood<\/h3>\n

The petal shaped HB-36 snap-on hood<\/strong> comes with the lens. It can be reverse mounted<\/strong> for storage.<\/p>\n

Lens Construction<\/h3>\n

17 elements in 12 groups with two ED glass elements<\/strong> (to reduce chromatic aberrations). So overall this lens houses a complex design but that’s exactly makes it optically superior.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon<\/a><\/p>\n

Size and Weight<\/h3>\n

Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f\/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR Lens<\/strong> stretches 144 m in length and 80 m in diameter<\/strong>. It surely is a hefty lens.<\/p>\n

The weight of this lens is 745 grams<\/strong>, no wonder it makes my neck ache while slinging around.<\/p>\n



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Performance –<\/h2>\n

Focus<\/h3>\n

The close focus is stated at 1.5m or 4.9 inches<\/strong>. It is not a macro lens<\/strong> so I already didn’t expect much here.<\/p>\n

I found the resultant Auto Focus accurate and fast for most shots<\/strong> and the SWM (Silent wave motor)<\/strong> works very quietly as expected.<\/p>\n

But there have been times when it decides to go for Focus Hunting in low light or when subject is distant<\/strong>, and to bring it back I have to manually bring my subject in near focus, after which the lens picks up. What a drag! Still, I would say it is fastest in the 70-300mm family of Nikkor<\/strong>. Nikon could have given the focus limiter which would have saved us a lot of trouble. The 70-200mm VR has one and comes at a whooping price.<\/p>\n

Sharpness<\/h3>\n

This lens is sharp throughout upto 200mm<\/strong>, beyond that you will see sharpness falling dramatically at corners particularly wide open. Stopping down to f\/8 helps getting the peak performance between 200-300mm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

On a DX and FX cameras alike, it got me super sharp snaps in 70-200mm range<\/strong>. Typically for all telephoto zooms, the long end of the range is not so good; this lens is no exception to that and has marginal performance around 300mm.<\/p>\n

VR makes pictures handheld so much easier to shoot. I am pleased with the image stabilization<\/strong> which works efficiently even around 300mm.<\/p>\n

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Distortion<\/h3>\n

There is a nicely controlled barrel distortion at 70 mm and slight pincushion distortion at 300 mm<\/strong>. In regular and normal use this is not a problem and didn\u2019t bother me at all. For what little distortion this lens offers, is easily correctable in post production<\/strong>. Although I like getting it all done in the camera itself and I don’t see much benefit in increasing the steps in processing.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon<\/p>\n

#Straight grid as seen by camera<\/em><\/p>\n

Chromatic Aberration<\/h3>\n

There are two ED glass elements to prevent chromatic aberrations<\/strong>, still there is significant yellow-blue aberration at sharp contrast transitions around 300mm<\/strong>. I would not make a big deal of that.<\/p>\n

Pictures I shot were almost free of any aberration in color. Besides all this, such lateral chromatic aberrations can be corrected to near perfection in post processing if need arises<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Flares and Ghosting<\/h3>\n

The lens has very well controlled flares and ghosting<\/strong>. I didn\u2019t encounter any significant flares or ghosts while shooting in various different scenarios. I attribute this to the Nano crystal coating<\/strong>. Good job! Nikon.<\/p>\n

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