52mm thread means I can use all my existing filters :)
Works really nicely with a +1 lens for some interesting close up work.
Light.
Dinky - stack it up against my old Vivitar 90-230mm manual zoom and it's half the size !!

Not overly fast on focussing
That plastic lens mount - looks flimsy but seems to work OK.
f4.5 is a bit murky as max aperture for 80mm and 5.6 is gloomy for 200mm My old Vivitar has similar apertures but is a) 30 years old, b) 90-230mm so starting and fininshing longer. Guess I also got a bit spoiled by having a Zeiss 300mm f4 at one time as well.
Nasty plastic focus ring for manual focussing - but then it is sold as an AF lens.
No distance indicator - major drawback if you are working over distances with non-TTL flash.
5ft min focus is a pain.

Nice cheap, light zoom lens. I picked up mine from eBay for £89 which was about par for this lens. Got slightly suckered into buying the D version and then realised I wouldn't get full benefit unless I used TTL flash. Now my kit is a bit ancient. Two 1960's Nikons (F with Photomic head and FTn) plus a D80 - this lens was primarily for the D80. Also have a big old Metz flash.

Got to use it with a vengeance on holiday. Its size and weight were a major benefit. Could get away with a small carry bag rather than lug around cases. The range meant that I could stand back and get some nice candid shots of the family. Downside is the 5ft min focus. There were times when I would have liked to have been closer and thus not need to use the longer zoom as much. Like all zooms, the shot you really want is the one that is just a bit further or wider than the lens will allow. I did try to get the older 70-210mm AFD zoom, but struggled to find one at a reasonable price. Not only that, the 70-210mm although faster on focussing, is longer and heavier. The 80-200mm is a far better 'go anywhere' lens in that respect. Yes, you can get the newer AF lenses that cover a wider range (18-200mm) but they tend to be DX which reduces the application for full frame cameras. If, like me, you have older full frame 35mm film cameras, the older AF lenses are more useful. If you aspire to stepping up to full frame digital, this is a good way of protecting your investment.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-85mm f3.5-4 AFn
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Vivitar 90-230mm f4.5-5.6
Vivitar 35mm f2.8
Zeiss 300mm f4 preset.

Sharp at all Zoom settings

S-L-O-W (F4.5 Max)

I purchased a used Nikon 8008 for digital negative scanning with no lenses. I find this lens to be sharp at all settings with good contrast. I am a Camera club shooter and have won my share of awards with these so called cheap lenses. Only beef is that it is slow so I purchased a 1.8 50mm for inside flash shooting.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikor 1.8
Nikor 35-80 F4
Pentax Line

1) it's cheap...that's about it.

1) It's really not that sharp. In fact, it's probably only marginally sharper than a P&S. At 4x6, you have to look really close to tell a differenc, but at 8x10, it's patently not sharp.
2) It's widest aperture is 4.5-5.6. This means you'll be tripod mounting or using fast film a LOT. I found this annoying after a while, because like slow film.
3) Its construction is horrible. The focus ring is not grippable and looks cheesy. The barrel feels very plasticy. The whole thing looks and feels like a cheap toy.

Don't buy this lens! For $200, you can get a used AF70-210 f/4-5.6 or an older AF70-210 f/4, or a variety of manual lenses like the 75-150 E f/3.5 or the 80-200 f/4.5 AI. All of these lenses will probably outlast a new 80-200, they're MUCH MUCH MUCH sharper, and the build construction is better. I used this lens for about a year, then couldn't stand it anymore and sold it. It's not sharp, and its construction is lousy. I do not recommend this lens, especially since Nikon users have other options in the used department.

Customer Service

Nikon's 800# is great -- you actually get to talk to someone, and they actually know a lot about their products!

Similar Products Used:

80-200 f/4.5 AI

A high quality/price ratio for a portable telephoto lens, ideal for the beginner-intermediate photographer.

Only stops down at F/4.5, but ... it's a cheap zoom.

If you have just reached this link, probably you are an amateur in photography, so, don't read the scientific - rigid - orthodox analysis from experts in photography, it's sure they will finish with a critic commentary. Think on this lens as one with a high quality/price ratio for the beginner-intermediate photographer, and use it when travelling or portraying.

Similar Products Used:

None

Light weight, low cost

Relativly slow, variable f/stop

Good cheap lens, not as sharp as other Nikkor designs. But if you're venturing into uncertain climes, a good lens to risk.

Customer Service

Nikon USA is the best

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 75~150 series E

Small, lightweight and sharp!

Hard to manual focus. Plastic mount.

Amazingly sharp for such a cheap lens, although it gets a little soft at 200...but better than the 70-300/4-5.6 at this length! If you want a small, light lens to travel with, buy this one before it disappears.

Customer Service

Better to use a private tech. if you need it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 70-300/4-5.6 ED
Nikon 80-200/2.8
More...

-It's light-weight
-Good range

-This lens is WAY too slow. With only a max. 4.5 apeture, you have to use crazy fast film, or a tripod, ALL THE TIME.
-Variable apetures are really bad news.
-DOF is a joke. Although most of my work is outdoors, or city-scapes, when I took this to a basketball game, it was a futile effort. The fan's faces from across the stadium were in better focus than the ball! I really would've liked a 2.8 telephoto here.

This lens is cheap. In both respects. It doesn't cost a lot of cash, but the performance and construction aren't good either. I've 'long-termed' borrowed this lens from a friend, otherwise, I definately wouldn't be shooting with it. There's not way I'd pay money for it. Buy a knock-off lens, like a Sigma or Tokina, for $120 used, so you can have your long range, and then save your pennies for a 2.8

Customer Service

Never had to use them

Similar Products Used:

None

Compact, light, sharp, good contrast, good zoom range

Plastic, extremely slow, prone to fungus

This lens was really good value for money. It was light enough to take backpacking and the results were great...as long as you use a tripod at longer focal lengths. Image was soft at wider appatures, and some flare was apparent when shooting into the sun during sunrise and sunsets. It was not very well balanced on my F60D and one month after purchase, fungus appeared on the front element. It would be an excellent all round compromise if price is an issue.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-105
Nikon 35-80

Excellent value, nifty travel lens.

Soft wide open or beyond 150mm. But I compared it to my Nikkor 105mm at 105, f11, tripod, mirror up, infinity -- the results were identical under a 20x loupe.

As a studio strobe user, I'm no fan of apertures which change with the zoom setting...

This lens is underrated. Nikon made some excellent compromises and should be congratulated.

Similar Products Used:

Zillions of zooms...

The lens is very light for this zoom range. Its price is also attractive.

Optical performance is mediocre especially at long end. This lens shouldn't be used wide opened. In the same time it is too slow so you will have to use it wide opened. As on all cheap Nikon lens there is no distance scale on it, and it is very inconvenient in some cases. Manual focus is difficult.

Not suggested. Used Nikon 75-150mm Series E f/3.5 with telconverter will replace it soon in my bag.

Customer Service

Haven't needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF24mm f/2.8
Nikon MF50mm f/1.8
Nikon AF35-80mm f/4.5-5.6D