Nikon 70-300 f/4.5G Lens

[w.c._kerr__jr]

Last year, i brought D40, which came with the 18-55 lens, so i also picked-up

the Nikkor 55-200 lens and I really enjoy taking picture with it. To date, i

take shot of my kids soccer games, motorcycle racing, and i guess pick in

general when i see something that really catches my eye.

 

Recently i have been contemplating pick-up the 70-300 lens:

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8310829&type=product&id=1173578368318

 

but i am not sure if it really worth the extra out lay of cash. So my

question is for those who do have the 70-300 lens, what kinds of picture do you

capture with it and/or when do you use that lens?

 

And if i wanted to get a let say the D200, or the D300 sometime in the near

future, would the lens i currently(as well as the 70-300) transfer/work with

that camera body also.

 

 

W.C.

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

Thom Hogan likes it:

 

http://bythom.com/70300VRlens.htm

 

It appears to be very sharp up to 200mm, even wide open. Some softening of the borders towards 300mm means that you may want to stop down a bit. Similar to my son's 75-300, except the newer lens will focus on a D40.

 

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Nikkor%20/%20Nikon%20Lens%20Tests/46-nikon--nikkor-aps-c/250-nikkor-af-s-70-300mm-f45-56-g-if-ed-vr-review--test-report

 

It looks like a very nice lens - particularly for the price.

[joe_a2]

Hi W.C.,

 

Only you can decide if a lens is "worth it", but I think you would be happy with the 70-300 VR given your description. I find it is a little bit soft at 300mm, but not too bad (especially if you can keep the aperture up around f/8 or f/11).

 

The 70-300 VR is the cheapest way to get 300mm, but it is a bit slow at f/5.6. You may need to boost the ISO to keep the shutter fast enough for sports. The next step is the 300mm f/4. The AFS version will autofocus on your D40, the earlier plain AF version will not autofocus on your D40. Both the AFS and AF versions work on all the other dSLRs. Both versions are splendid, even at f/4.

 

Remember, a long lens is not just for reach, but for isolating your subject or compressing distances in your pictures.

 

The 70-300mm VR will work with ALL the Nikon dSLRs, including the D40, the D200/300 and even the full frame D3. Your 18-55 and your 55-200 will work perfectly on a D200 or D300.

 

I would not buy the lens from Best Buy - too expensive. Check out B&H, they have it for $480: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/449088-USA/Nikon_2161_70_300mm_f_4_5_6G_AF_S_VR.html B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Ritz...check them all first. Alternately, the 70-300 VR is about $400 used. Unless you want to keep it for a smaller 200mm lens, you might consider selling your 55-200 to help offset the cost.

[tim_knight]

I have the 70-300 VR and love it for outdoor pictures. Here is another review.

 

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/992/cat/all

[Hector Javkin]

I have this lens, and like it very much. As others said above, don't get it from Best Buy, but from B&H or Adorama or KEH. I believe there was also a non-VR version. Make sure to get the one with VR.

[ShunCheung]

Right, like Hector says, there are three different versions of the 70-300mm zoom. Only the latest one is AF-S VR and it is an f4.5-5.6. The earlier two are f4-f5.6, and one of those was a very inexpensive (less than $200) G version. Only the latest AF-S VR version will auto-focus on the D40.

 

Incidentally, the AF-S, VR version is $480 at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/449088-USA/Nikon_2161_70_300mm_f_4_5_6G_AF_S_VR.html

[rob_piontek]

Unless for some reason you aren't happy with the 55-200, I think it's not worth it. It may be a step up in terms of quality, but 300mm is not much longer than 200mm. How about the Sigma 10-20 ultrawide?

[photo5]

I have the Nikon 70-300mm ED zoom, and I love it. It's lightweight, relatively small for the power, and it was less than $200 in mint like-new condition. I've seen these sell for less than $100 too, I think people get the G version and the ED version mixed up, so if you're lucky you can get one for a song. And zooming to 300mm from 200mm is a feature I use all the time and appreciate. Photo below taken with the ED version zoomed to 300mm at f8 with my D80<P>

 

<center><i><b><img src="http://hull534.smugmug.com/photos/154242020_pJqQ6-M.jpg"><P>

Funnel of the 1955 Empress of Britain, now Topaz PEACE BOAT seen in Vancouver in May, 2007</center></i></b>

[nsfbr]

Have you considered picking up a used 75-300mm lens? http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/af75300.jpg Mine is as sharp or better than the

current crop and t is serving me until I take the plunge (planned for sometime this spring for

the 70-200 2.8 VR.

 

I think I paid $200 for it and that seems about right.