Fairly Sharp
Relatively Inexpensive
Good Contrast
Fairly Good Range

Slow AF
Zoom ring loose, does not stay put

Not a bad kick about lens, but like most Nikon users, want I really want is an 80-400 f2.8 ED AF-S VR but it seems that that will never happen so we keep settling!

Customer Service

not needed

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None in this range

Low cost for Nikon.
Lightweight.
Good manual focusing.
Good construction despite plastic body.

Sharpness a bit disappointing.
Zoom ring too loose.
Not focused on infinity at max distance setting.
Filter mount rotates when focusing.

Light weight makes this a great lens for travel snapshots. Lens tends to creep from zoom setting when tilted. Lens not being focused on infinity at max. distance setting is an inconvenience for me. Very good color rendition, but sharpness could be better. Have tried some 10x8 enlargements, but will probably not go above 8x6 in future.

Customer Service

None so far.

Similar Products Used:

Tokina 70-210 AF 4-5.6
Nikon 70-210 AF 4-5.6

Light weight
No vignetting
Realistic colour saturation.
Excellent value for money.

Not sharp enough for me.

Not a bad lens at all, but not a pro-lens. It is fine for 6x4 prints, but not for slides. I try to use at F 11, and is best at about 135mm.
Great for travel, as it is light weight.
I will however, try to use the 80-200, which is sooo sharp.

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Nikon 80-200 F2.8

Affordable
ED glass
Lightweight

Zoom creep
Lower build quality
Slow autofocus

I finally got around to shooting a test roll with this lens comparing it to two other Nikon lenses. I was not expecting much from this lens, based on all the reviews, but was pleasantly suprised. Compared to the 28-105 zoom Nikkor at overlapping focal lengths (70-105 mm) the 70-300 ED is noticeably inferior at 70 mm both wide open and stopped down to f/8. At 105 mm, it improves to even with the 28-105 Nikkor stopped-down, but still is less sharp and contrasty wide open. At the middle focal lengths, the 70-300 ED is really crisp, as good as the 28-105 Nikkor at its middle focal lengths. Sharpness at 300 mm is not quite as good as in the 135-200 mm range, but is quite good. There was no noticeable light falloff at any focal length, wide open or stopped down, but image quailty is quite noticeably worse wide open, more so than the Nikkor 28-105 or the 18-35 zoom lenses.

On the negative side, there is significant zoom creep if the lens is not braced when held in an orientation other than horizontal. In addition, the build quailty seems slightly worse than other consumer Nikon lenses: in my sample, the zoom operation is smooth from 70-200, and a little bit scratchy from 200-300. Autofocus is slower than some of the shorter zooms, as the barrel has a long way to go to focus from close-in to infinity.

Overall, this is a very nice tele zoom for an lens in the affordable cost category. I don't think I would use it as a primary lens, but it would serve well as a long tele companion to the 28-105 Nikkor zoom.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

None

Small,light,sharp after tripod mount installed

None after I built custom tripod mount,

I liked the lens from first momment I got it, however I relised I needed tripod mount badly. After I built and instaled it the lens gained 100% of sharpness. With T6 close up lens at max. extension and max. focus it is also quite sharp.
Will keep it along with 28 - 105. N 80 with sb 28 and these two lenses is a great companion for my 5 x 7 LF.

Customer Service

Helpfull

Similar Products Used:

sigma 70 - 300
nikon 70 - 210

Crisp photos, good contrast, decent build

Slow focusing, zoom creep

This isn't a bad lens, considering teh range. My pictures, mostly travel shots and sports, come out much better tha my old manual focus Canon stuff. What is a cause of concern is that I strongly believe that this lens is actually a rebadged Tamron lens. Manufactured under license by Tamron. Check out the specs and schematics. Identical lens.

Customer Service

N/A

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N/A

Size, sharpness, colour

None

I wanted a travel lens and couldn't be happier with my selection. It's sharp, compact and the results I got on a recent trip to the USA and Japan have been excellent. Great deal!

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None

Exceptionnal results in the 70-200 range. Good from 200-300. More solid then most consumer zoom. ED glass. Great price.

Better build them most consumer zoom but not as good as "profesionnal" lenses. Slow to focus.

(please excuse my English...)

Ok, let's put things in perspective. Considering the price, this is one the the very rare affordable zoom of such a quality. The only thing that keeps this lenses from being a pro one is the build quality (more then solid enough for any amateur). The ED glass realy makes a difference. Photos are consistenly sharp in the 70-200 range and of good quality beyound that.

If Nikon would make more of these "intermediate" lenses, they would realy make me happy. I use this lens for portraits and sport photography, I'm extremely please with it. It's a bit slow to focus, but I usually pre-focus manually before letting the AF handle the rest. This realy helps the lens avoid hunting a lot.

More then wort the 100$ or so more then other consumer zoom. This realy is a pro lenses, only slower and sligthly less solid. Would recommand this lens to anyone who wants consistently good results at a reasonable price.

Customer Service

None needed

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None

Size/Weight,
Price,
Nikon Glass.

Soft beyond 200mm,
Feels a bit 'flimsy'.

I needed a compact xx-300mm zoom in a hurry because I could not fit my Tokina 100-300 in a small bag for a one-body shoot. Since I needed the lens THAT DAY I didn't have much time to do any intense shopping or online ordering. When I called around I actually had a difficult time finding this lens within a one-hour drive. I finally did and started using the lens the next day (away from home).

The lens is rather tiny when retracted (lens hood removed), but looks strange at 300mm as the diameter of the forward lens barrel varies greatly when compared to the focus/zoom ring. Beyond 200mm is where this lens loses its sparkle. As previously mentioned, this lens is not designed for following action, especially with slow slide film. BUT, what can I expect for the size and price? I suspect that this lens is perfect for travel, with higher speed print film. I do not regret buying it and it still will find its way into my bag in the future. However, with my recent purchase of an 80-400VR, the 70-300 will not see much use for 'important' shoots where absolute sharpness is required.

Customer Service

Not required.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 24-120,
Nikor 80-200 f/2.8,
Tokina 100-300 f/4.

cheap
very good color contrast
light

plasticky
awfully slow focus
small aperture

a very good lens for the money. the image is superb. a budget buy if u can't afford the 80-200.

Customer Service

nil

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None