Best Cheap Nikon Telephoto Zoom Lens

05. May 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Best Cheap Nikon Lenses · Tags: , , , , ,
Nikon 70-300mm AF f:5.5-5.6D ED Lens

AF Nikkor 70 300mm f4 5.6D ED photomiser.com Best Cheap Nikon Telephoto Zoom Lens

For a while I owned the 18-135mm Nikon telephoto zoom, then the Nikon 18-200mm VR. The most interesting pictures with any zoom, are usually used either full wide or full telephoto. But 135mm or even 200mm is just too short to be exciting for telephoto. It’s too short to bring wildlife up close, even too short to get good sporting event shots. So, I sold these, and for the same price as one 18-135mm, I got both the 18-55mm above and the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor. Indeed, for the price of the 18-200mm, I could get all three of the lenses I have in my kit now, with another 100mm in reach and full macro. You can never have enough reach though, so even the 300mm is not as good as it may sound…but anything longer is another $800.

Song sparrow crop scottdetwiler.com Best Cheap Nikon Telephoto Zoom LensSong Sparrow
Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF Nikkor at 300mm (cropped)

Unfortunately, the 70-300mm G was a disappointment, being very soft at worst and mediocre even stopped down. (Read the full review of the 70-300mm G in our Cheap Nikon 300mm Zoom Lens Comparison). I have since replaced it with the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF Nikkor. The Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF was the last “prosumer” 300mm zoom before the AF-S and VR era. Like most zooms in this category, best results with the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF past 200mm are achieved stop down a stop or two, but my copy seems pretty good even wide open. Certainly much better than the 70-300mm G. Optically, it’s on par with the newest 70-300mm VR, but lacks the VR and AF-S…and the price tag. It’s discontinued; a few new ones are still floating around at absurd prices, but’s readily available used for $200. It needs an on-camera focus motor.

Affordable Telephoto Alternatives

Nikon has a lot of options for telephoto zooms that reach to 300mm. Unfortunately, according to reviews, all of them do well up to 200mm but begin to weaken to varying degrees when wide open. This mostly mitigated by stopping down to f/8 or f/11. Since we have this focal length in the kit because we want that 300mm, this is less than ideal, but it takes $1000+ pro lenses for anything better. Note that only lenses designated “AF-S” will focus on cameras like the D40, D60, D3000 and D5000 series.

  • I cannot recommend Nikon’s cheapest 300mm zoom, Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor. My copy was unacceptably soft. The price is tempting, though. You might be luckier in quality than me. This lens refurbished is $100, new less that $150. Note that you will need pin-drive focus on the camera.
  • Nikon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 AF. This classic from the before the digital era is a good quality lens, but available for under $200 used. It’s the old style “push-pull” zoom. It requires a pin drive. It has a very solid feel, and is overall very sharp. Stop down to f/8 when you can, but even wide open it’s acceptable. I owned this one briefly, as an initial replacement for my poor 70-300mm G. I swapped it when I got a good price on the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED AF Nikkor, which is a little lighter, a little shorter when not zoomed, and to my eye very similar in image quality. Optically, there’s nothing wrong with the 75-300mm, and if you’ve got access to one for a good price, use it with confidence.
  • Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor $350 new. Focuses on any camera; the only DX in the group. At these longer focal lengths vibration reduction really shines. If telephoto is your passion, this is the least expensive 300mm zoom with VR.
  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor $600 new, $450 refurbished, $375 used. Top of the line in the sub-$500 price range. Focuses on any camera. In these long focal lengths the VR really becomes useful.

If you can do without the extra reach, the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR has vibration reduction and is less than $200 new, or about $150 used. It’s another high-quality sleeper that is included in retail kits, so they are inexpensive new and easily obtained used. On the other hand, while the various 300mm can be uncertain past 200mm unless stopped down, at least you have the 200mm to 300mm to work with. The first time you photograph any wild animal you’ll have the 55-200mm cranked out to 200mm and be crying for more. I certainly was with the 18-200mm I owned for a year. I’m inclined to upgrade to a better 70-300mm than move to the 55-200mm.

Of course, there is the almost-everything Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S Nikkor. But then we’d have $900 in one lens, still need something for macro, and would be unimpressed by the mere 28mm wide angle, especially on a DX camera.

Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

03. May 2012 · 2 comments · Categories: Best Cheap Nikon Lenses · Tags: , ,
AF Nikkor 75-300mm f:4.5-5.6 photomiser.com

This review compares two genuine 300mm Nikon zoom lenses that are available for less that $200.

70 300mmG Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom LensesProblems with the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF

For two years I have used the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G Nikon zoom lens. While it was a bargain, I have not been satisfied with its performance optically. For example, see this shot of a male Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) at f/5.6 at 300mm in strong light on a Nikon D90:

dragonfly 70 300mm G at 5.6 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

I did not expect it to be perfect at this price–but nor did I expect it to be this bad. Granted, all the reviews say to keep it stopped down. That helps, but not as much as I’d like. I was miffed to have to give up two or three stops just to get something reasonable, and even stopped down it was not performing well.

75 300mmD Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

I decided to go shopping. A discontinued 70-300mm Nikon zoom, the Nikon Zoom 70-300mm f/4-5.6 AF, starts at $200 used, but I wasn’t confident the differences would be that much of an improvement. [Note: After completing this review, I did obtain the 70-300mm ED Nikon zoom lens. It was on par with the 75-300mm in picture quality. It has the aperture ring.] In my research another oldie but goodie caught my eye: the 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6D ED. It’s $200 used, and has good reviews. Finally I purchased 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6D ED for a head-to-head comparison at 300mm, where the flaws would be most pronounced. This is the result. This comparison uses my single copies of each lens. Your mileage may vary.

Physical Comparison

The older D Nikon zoom lens is longer and heavier than the G. It uses the outmoded “push-pull” action for zooming, rather than the twisting barrel favored now. It works fine, though it’s harder to make precise zoom adjustments. It has a metal mount and includes an integrated tripod collar. It has the aperture collar, which only matters on older film models. It was Nikon’s consumer-priced zoom of the 1990s, but in those days that meant more. The last element rotates when focusing, so polarizing filters are unfortunately not practical. With care, this lens will outlive you.

The G Nikon zoom lens is strictly a consumer grade lens. It is shorter and lighter than the D. All plastic, including the mount. Being a “G,” it has no aperture collar. It’s not heirloom-quality.

75 300 v 70 300G Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

The 70-300mm G is shorter in rest mode; fully extended both are about the same length. Neither as VR vibration reduction. Both lenses require an on-camera focus pin. They will not focus on D40, D60, D3000, D5000 or similar cameras. The D90, D7000 family and Nikon’s full-format DSLRs will focus these.

The Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor is still in production, and is available new for $175, $125 used. The discontinued Nikon zoom 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF is readily available used in excellent condition for as low as $200.

Performance Comparison

The Nikon D90 camera was set on a tripod, kept low for stability. Neither the subject nor the camera were moved during testing. The lenses were switched while the camera was on the tripod. Both Nikon zoom lenses were fully zoomed to 300mm. Camera was set on auto-focus, aperture-priority. I selected the aperture and set the ISO to 320. The camera chose the shutter. I used the timer to activate the shutter for hands-off operation. Conditions were mostly cloudy, but the lighting changed a little between some shots. I began with the 75-300, completed the series, then mounted the 70-300G. For the final f/40 I replaced the 75-300, having forgotten that aperture earlier.

The results here are not just a one-time thing. I have been noticing the poor quality of the G under a variety of conditions. In addition to the softness of the subject, the bokeh, if you can call it that, is bizarrely smeared.

Image on left is the 75-300mm, image on right is the 70-300mm G. The crops are 500×500 px crops out of jpeg images that were originally 3126×2136 px. The crops show actual pixels. NOTE: The 75-300 AF image watermarks are wrong…there is no such thing as a 75-300D ED. It’s supposed to be 75-300mm AF. Corrections are pending.

Full frame at f/5.6

Note the overall softness and the smearing effect in the background of the 70-300mm G (on bottom)

Nikon 75 300mm f 4 5.6D ED AF at f 5.6 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses
Nikon 70 300mm f 4 5.6G AF at f 5.6 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

Crop at f/5.6

D at f 5.6 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses
G at f 5.6 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

Crop at f/11

D at f 11 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses
G at f 11 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses

The background smear is gone in the 75-300mm. The 75-300mm is also sharper, seen especially in the dark flecks.

Crop at f/22

D at f 22 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses
G at f 22 Comparing Two Inexpensive 300mm Nikon Zoom Lenses
The differences are not as significant here.

Conclusion

Bottom Line: The 75-300 AF is considerably better optically than the G at 300mm. The 70-300G is really soft wide open, vaseline-on-the-lens soft. The 75-300 AF  is much better wide open. The differences are reduced as lenses progress as they reduce in aperture, but the 75-300 AF is more sharp in all comparisons. Sure, you could keep the G stopped down, or avoid using the lens past 200mm extended, but why bother having it in your kit if you can’t use your Nikon zoom as advertised? For a few bucks more, get the older but better 75-300 AF.