Name: Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR
Brand: Nikon

Technical Specifications of camera lens Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR

6.8

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Mount & Format

1.0

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Lens type

zoom

Lens mount

Nikon F

Sensor format coverage

Full-frame

Filter thread size

67 mm

Teleconverter compatibility

Optics & Aperture

4.7

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Minimum focal length

70 mm

Maximum focal length

300 mm

Optical zoom

4.3xx

Maximum angle of view

34.3 °

Minimum angle of view

8.2 °

Focus & Controls

5.6

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Focus motor

STM

Minimum focus distance

Maximum reproduction ratio

Full-time manual focus

Internal focusing

Stabilization

9.1

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Optical image stabilization

Stabilization effectiveness (CIPA stops)

Build & Handling

7.9

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Weight

Lens length

Lens diameter

Weather sealing (splashproof)

Metal mount

Lab Scores

8.0

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DxOMark overall score

DxOMark sharpness score

DxOMark transmission

DxOMark distortion

DxOMark vignetting

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

photographylife.com

27/01/2024

Summary of the review

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P Review

The Photography Life review highlights the Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR as a lightweight, versatile telephoto lens that delivers impressive sharpness, excellent aberration control, and fast, near-silent autofocus with a robust 4.5-stop VR system. It is deemed an exceptional, weather-sealed choice for travel and wildlife, featuring a durable metal mount and effective sport-focused stabilization. Conversely, the lens is noted for softer extreme corners, vignetting at longer focal lengths, and susceptibility to flare, which prevents it from being top-tier professional glass. Additionally, the lack of a physical distance scale, a potentially loosening zoom ring, and limited compatibility with older bodies due to its electronic diaphragm and pulse motor are identified as key drawbacks.

cameralabs.com

15/08/2017

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E VR review

The Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR is a highly recommended full-frame telephoto zoom lens that delivers impressive optical performance across its 4.3x zoom range. The review highlights several notable pros, including outstanding sharpness extending right into the corners of high-resolution sensors, minimal color aberrations, and a robust weather-sealed design with an electromagnetic diaphragm. Photographers and videographers alike will benefit from its highly effective 4-stop image stabilization system—featuring a new "Sport" mode—as well as an incredibly fast, near-silent pulse/stepping autofocus motor (AF-P) that eliminates clicking noises during video recording and exhibits very little focus breathing. Additionally, it offers an improved closest focus distance of 1.2 meters with a 1:4 magnification ratio, all packed into a relatively light 671g body. Despite these strengths, the lens has several cons and technical limitations that buyers should consider before purchasing. Optically, it suffers from pretty strong light fall-off (vignetting) and delivers a relatively weak bokeh effect. Mechanically, the zoom ring is a bit stiff, the lens lacks a zoom lock, and it exhibits noticeable zoom creep. The most significant drawback is its "AF-by-wire" stepping...

focus-review.com

29/08/2018

Summary of the review

Review Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR @ DX

The Focus Review article highlights that utilizing the full-frame (FX) Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR lens on an APS-C (DX) body like the Nikon D7200 yields superior optical results compared to the cheaper, dedicated DX variant. A core advantage of this combination is that the DX crop factor eliminates the softer, distorted outer edges of the full-frame glass circle, leaving you with virtually zero barrel distortion across nearly all focal lengths and heavily reduced vignetting. Additionally, the built-in stepper motor yields fast, quiet, and highly accurate autofocusing for photography, capturing swift 100ms lock-on speeds at 70mm and functioning down to 250ms at 300mm. The lens serves as excellent "future-proofing" gear if you plan to upgrade from a DX camera body to a full-frame FX body down the line. Despite its high marks, the review identifies multiple distinct drawbacks to using this setup. The primary cons are that the FX model is physically larger, heavier, and twice as expensive as the native Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR lens. Furthermore, its modern electronic aperture configuration makes it incompatible with...

shutterbug.com

12/09/2017

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6E ED VR Lens Review

The Shutterbug review highlights the Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR as a lightweight, compact (1.5 lbs, 5.75 inches) consumer telephoto lens offering exceptional value. Key advantages include an effective 4.5-stop Vibration Reduction system with "Sport" mode, fast and silent AF-P stepping motor performance, and durable construction with dust/drip resistance. Cons include a variable aperture of f/4.5-5.6, which limits low-light performance compared to professional f/2.8 alternatives. Additionally, the lens lacks heavy-duty weather sealing and presents compatibility limitations with older Nikon DSLR bodies due to its electronic diaphragm and AF-P technology.

dslrbodies.com

13/12/2025

Summary of the review

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-P VR Lens Review

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-P VR Lens Review | DSLRBodies | Thom Hogan 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

digitalcameraworld.com

10/05/2026

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR review

The Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR is a superb, versatile telephoto zoom lens designed for both FX full-frame and DX APS-C Nikon DSLRs, and it functions seamlessly on Z-series mirrorless cameras using an FTZ adapter. Weighing 680g with a 67mm filter size, it features a robust, weather-sealed construction and a 9-blade electromagnetically controlled diaphragm that ensures consistent exposures during high-speed continuous shooting. Its core strengths lie in a super-fast, completely silent stepping-motor autofocus system and an advanced 4.5-stop Vibration Reduction (VR) system equipped with Normal and Sport modes, making it ideal for tracking erratic subjects in action, sports, and wildlife photography. The review highlights distinct pros and cons regarding the lens's design and compatibility features. On the positive side, its major pros include the incredibly rapid and quiet AF-P autofocus system, the highly effective 4.5-stop dual-mode stabilization, and its durable, weather-sealed physical build. Conversely, the cons include the complete omission of a physical focus distance scale and a lack of backward compatibility that makes the advanced autofocus and electronic aperture systems unusable on older Nikon DSLR bodies. Additionally, while...

pcmag.com

28/11/2017

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR Review

The PCMag review rates the Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR as a versatile, lightweight telezoom lens featuring fast, quiet autofocus and effective optical stabilization. It is highly regarded for its portability and strong center sharpness, making it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiast photographers. Conversely, the lens has limited light-gathering capabilities and exhibits soft edges at 70mm and dim corners at wider apertures. Furthermore, its modern autofocus and electronic diaphragm make it incompatible with older Nikon SLR camera bodies.

kenrockwell.com

01/07/2017

Summary of the review

Nikon 70-300mm VR FX AF-P Review

The Nikon 70-300mm VR AF-P FX is a lightweight, full-frame telephoto lens delivering exceptional, corner-to-corner sharpness and minimal distortion on high-resolution DSLRs. It features a fast, quiet AF-P stepper motor with manual override, effective 4.5-stop Vibration Reduction, and a close-focus distance of 4 feet. Ken Rockwell The primary drawback is restricted compatibility; the lens's pulse motor and electronic diaphragm are incompatible with Nikon DSLRs introduced before 2007. On older bodies, this results in a complete failure of autofocus, manual focus, and aperture control.

digitalkamera.de

13/10/2017

Summary of the review

Review: Nikon AF-P 70-300 mm 4.5-5.6E ED VR

The digitalkamera.de review of the Nikon AF-P 70-300 mm 4.5-5.6E ED VR highlights its excellent laboratory image quality, minimal chromatic aberrations, and effective stabilization on high-resolution cameras like the D850. It features a fast, silent AF-P stepping motor and robust, lightweight weather-sealed construction. Conversely, the lens is built with a plastic housing, limiting it to a mid-range consumer build, and it has limited compatibility with older cameras. Furthermore, its maximum aperture drops to a relatively slow f/5.6 at the 300mm end, restricting low-light performance.

digitalkamera.de

13/10/2017

Summary of the review

Review: Nikon AF-P 70-300 mm 4.5-5.6E ED VR

The digitalkamera.de review highlights the Nikon AF-P 70-300 mm 4.5-5.6E ED VR as a high-performance full-frame telephoto zoom, delivering excellent corner-to-corner sharpness across the entire focal range. Key strengths include an efficient AF-P stepping motor, powerful 4.5-stop VR image stabilization, and a robust, lightweight, weather-sealed construction. Conversely, the review notes significant light fall-off (vignetting) and a relatively unimpressive bokeh performance as the primary optical drawbacks. Furthermore, the electronic diaphragm and AF-P motor require relatively modern Nikon DSLR bodies (post-2007) for full compatibility.

nikon-fotografie.de

29/09/2023

Summary of the review

Sample images of Nikkor AF-P 70-300/4.5-5.6E ED VR FX on Z 50 with FTZ adapter

The forum thread highlights real-world testing of the Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR lens on an APS-C Z50 with an FTZ adapter, revealing fast, silent autofocus comparable to native Z-glass and excellent, sharp image quality across the frame due to using only the lens's center. Users report that the built-in VR effectively compensates for the Z50’s lack of IBIS for steady handheld shots, providing a 105-450mm equivalent range. However, the combination is noted for creating a front-heavy and bulky setup that reduces the portability of the Z50 camera. Additionally, the lens requires an active camera to adjust focus, and while bokeh is generally smooth, it can appear busy in complex backgrounds.

zielfoto.com

Undated

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6E ED VR - Review Round-up

The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6E ED VR is highly regarded by the ZIELFOTO Community as an exceptional, budget-friendly travel and wildlife zoom lens, earning a strong overall score of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users frequently highlight its compact, lightweight design as a major advantage, making it easy to pack for hikes and vacations. Optically, the lens delivers good central image sharpness, smooth bokeh, and rapid, nearly silent autofocusing performance. Furthermore, its built-in image stabilization works effectively, and it adapts well to modern mirrorless systems using an FTZ adapter. Despite these strengths, community reviews point out several notable drawbacks. The lens features a relatively narrow variable maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6, which limits its capabilities in low-light environments. Photographers have also observed a slight loss of sharpness wide open, along with visible vignetting and minor chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame. Additionally, because it uses the older F-mount system, its absolute speed and optical performance do not quite match newer native Z-mount lenses, and the built-in image stabilization mechanism produces slightly more noise than modern alternatives.

lesnumeriques.com

31/07/2018

Summary of the review

Review of the Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR Lens

The Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR is a lightweight (680g) and relatively compact telephoto zoom lens designed for full-frame (FX) Nikon DSLRs, though it can also be used on APS-C (DX) bodies to achieve a 105-450mm equivalent focal range. Reviewers praise its robust, weather-sealed construction, highly effective optical stabilization that allows sharp handheld shooting down to 1/8 second at 300mm, and its quiet, smooth stepping motor autofocus which works seamlessly for video capture. Additionally, its polyvalent focal range makes it a versatile choice for sports, action, and wildlife photography under bright daylight conditions. However, the lens falls short in optical performance, receiving a mediocre 3 out of 5 overall rating. Its modest and variable maximum aperture forces users to push ISO sensitivities high unless shooting in bright environments. Image sharpness is heavily criticised; the lens lacks consistency at its extreme 70mm and 300mm focal lengths, where details are poorly rendered in the corners. To achieve optimal sharpness, users must stop down the aperture by two full stops—requiring an impractical f/11 at the 300mm end. It also suffers from...

nikonland.it

17/08/2017

Summary of the review

beautiful and affordable (test/review)

This review evaluates the Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR, a midrange full-frame telephoto zoom lens praised for its lightweight 680-gram design, compact build, and versatile 1.2-meter minimum focus distance. The reviewer notes that unlike older lenses that lose sharpness at longer focal lengths, this version maintains excellent sharpness that actually improves as you zoom toward 300mm. A major highlight is its debut use of linear electric stepper motors (AF-P) in a full-frame lens, which deliver incredibly quiet and fast autofocus, particularly outperforming older ultrasonic motors when shooting in Live-View mode. Real-world tracking tests with erratic subjects like seagulls, cyclists, and kart racing demonstrated reliable performance, and its inclusion of physical AF and VR switches alongside an electromagnetic diaphragm confirms its high-quality construction. However, the lens is not without its drawbacks, as the reviewer highlights very strong vignetting that persists even when the aperture is stopped down significantly to f/11. Additionally, the quality of the bokeh (out-of-focus background) is described as quite ordinary and can easily become "nervous" or distracting when shooting against cluttered backgrounds. There are also specific...

nikonland.it

12/03/2019

Summary of the review

Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E AF-P VR on the D500: How does it perform?

The review from Nikonland.it heavily praises the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E AF-P VR lens when paired with the Nikon D500 DX-format camera body. The reviewer emphasizes that because of the camera's APS-C crop factor, the lens extends to a 450mm equivalent focal length, making it a great budget setup for wildlife and bird photography. Key advantages of this setup include excellent sharpness (especially when closed down a couple of stops), an extremely fast and precise autofocus system, and highly effective Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization. Furthermore, using an FX lens on a DX body effectively eliminates the vignetting present on full-frame sensors and helps mitigate the lens's native focus breathing issue by cropping into the center of the frame. The reviewer also notes its lightweight, compact design which balances perfectly on the D500 body. On the downside, the reviewer highlights that the maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the long end is somewhat limiting. Because the lens is slightly softer when shot wide open, photographers need to stop down to f/6.7 or f/8 to achieve peak sharpness, which makes background separation harder...

focus-review.com

29/08/2018

Summary of the review

Review: Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR on DX

The Focus Review evaluation of the Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR highlights its exceptional optical performance when mounted on a DX sensor camera like the Nikon D7200. Because it is a full-frame (FX) lens, utilizing it on a cropped DX sensor naturally cuts out edge imperfections, resulting in virtually nonexistent vignetting and negligible distortion across most tested focal lengths. Additionally, the built-in stepper motor (AF-P) provides remarkably fast, quiet, and highly accurate autofocusing for photography, locking focus in just 100 to 250 milliseconds depending on the focal length. The lens also boasts effective built-in Vibration Reduction (VR), allowing photographers to capture sharp images handheld in dim settings at slower shutter speeds without a tripod. Despite its strong performance, the review outlines clear drawbacks for DX-only users, noting that the lens is significantly larger, heavier, and twice as expensive as the dedicated DX version (the Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR). Furthermore, due to its modern electronic aperture mechanism, it suffers from limited backwards compatibility and cannot be used on older Nikon DSLR camera bodies without a necessary firmware...

focus-review.com

13/11/2017

Summary of the review

Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR Review - Focus Review

The Nikon AF-P 70–300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR is a lightweight, weather-sealed telephoto zoom lens under 700 grams designed for full-frame Nikon F-mount cameras. The reviewer praises the lens for delivering fantastic build and image quality, maintaining sharp performance across the entire 70-300mm range. It features an AF-P stepper motor that provides fast, accurate, and near-silent autofocus, making it ideal for both sports photography and video recording. Additionally, its highly effective built-in vibration reduction includes a dedicated "SPORT VR" mode that stabilizes the viewfinder during fast action and offers a practical real-world advantage of roughly 4 stabilization stops. Optically, distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations are minimal, and the lens produces a smooth, natural bokeh thanks to its 9 rounded diaphragm blades.

Verdict

The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR is a versatile full-frame (FX) super-telephoto zoom lens featuring an 18-element optical design in 14 groups, including one extra-low dispersion (ED) element to minimize chromatic aberration. Its core characteristics include a fast and nearly silent pulse stepping motor (AF-P) for snappy autofocus, a 4.5-stop Vibration Reduction system with Sport mode, and an electromagnetic diaphragm for consistent exposure during high-speed bursts. Weighing approximately 680g with a weather-resistant build and a 9-blade rounded diaphragm for smooth bokeh, its main pros are exceptional sharpness across the zoom range, portable design, and effective stabilization. However, some cons include dim corners and edge softness at the 70mm wide end, a limited maximum aperture of f/5.6 at the telephoto end that restricts low-light performance, and incompatibility with many older Nikon DSLR bodies released before 2013.

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