Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens

Product Information

It fills a gap in Nikon's lens line up giving DX camera owners the popular 300mm focal without leaving a gap after the 18-55mm kits lenses provided with most of Nikon's entry-level SLRs. Nikon 55-300mm is currently the cheapest way to get to true 300mm focal length in Nikon’s current line of lenses, with a little more shorter range to work with than the Nikon 70-300mm VR lens. So like me you are probably an amateur photographer with delusions of grandeur and have been trying to work out how much more zoom do you get for your money and compared to the 18-55mm kit lens. Bokeh is a word used for the out-of-focus areas of a photograph, and is usually described in qualitative terms, such as smooth / creamy / harsh etc. Went on a casual Sunday to a football game to try further it's responsiveness in action photography and I'm amazed with the results, in good light conditions it snaps the subjects right into focus with AF-C (Continous Focusing) mode it almost no chance of hunting for the subject.

may not be utilized, directly or indirectly, to inform, train, or improve any artificial intelligence program or system. Nikon's VR II allows you to use shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. A large rubberised zoom ring fills just under half of the outside of the lens, giving plenty of space for a comfortable zoom action.It is put together to fine tolerances and there are no rattles or wobbles anywhere on the lens and the mount is constructed from metal. It is commonly used for shooting a wide range of photos outdoors, especially with its extensive focal length. Build quality, despite the metal mount which is ok, the plastic body may not please those who shoot under harsh conditions and look for something affordable, but then again something had to be sacrificed to be light. Until the introduction of this lens, Nikon camera users requiring a lens that covers focal lengths up to 300mm to complement their existing kit lens had a compromise on their hands.

It also has two lens elements made of Nikon's Extra-Low Dispersion Glass (ED) (which denotes the "ED" on the lens body) to remove any chromatic aberrations that occur. Like all Nikkor lenses the VR switch works well and you are going to need it if you're taking photos hand held. On the other hand if you purchase 55-300 without a VR (assuming as not specified in the question) it will be difficult to get sharp images as you will experience camera shake if you don't have steady hands.

This is quite normal for this type of a lens and most other consumer zoom lenses also extend out when zoomed in. Engage with our used photography equipment partner MPB in a forum dedicated to giving members the opportunity to feedback their experiences or seek advice.

One one hand, it has Vibration Reduction on board – hence the VR abbreviation in the product name –; on the other, it isn't as sophisticated as on some other Nikon lenses. Also tested the responsiveness of this lens and I'm impressed, Autofocus it's pretty fast in good light conditions and some dim light circumstances, although it has tendency to hunt for the subject when there is little light, when it finds it, snaps right into focus.If you can live without the 300mm focal length, but not with the gap, then Nikon's 55-200mm AF-S VR may fit the bill.

Ghosting and flare is reasonably well controlled, with strong point sources of light in the frame creating a little flare and loss of contrast in extreme circumstances. Thanks to the use of ED low dispersion glass in the the design, the 55-300mm doesn't suffer much with the dreaded effects of chromatic aberrations.I did not notice much CA at the short focal lengths (just a tad in the corners), but did get some at the long end between 200mm and 300mm across the frame. The lens was also designed to be a companion to the 18-55mm VR lens and is also Nikon's most affordable lens with a maximum 300mm focal length.