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

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

Overall score

8.1

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the camera lens.

When it matters: When you want to see which camera lenses attract the most buyer attention and review activity.

Mount & Format

1.0

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Lens type

What it is: The optical category that indicates whether the lens is a prime, zoom, macro, fisheye, or another design.

When it matters: When you are choosing between a prime, zoom, macro, or specialty lens for the kind of subjects you shoot.

Importance: LOW

zoom

Lens mount

What it is: The mechanical and electronic interface that determines which cameras the lens can be attached to.

When it matters: When camera compatibility and access to the right lens ecosystem are central to your buying decision.

Importance: LOW

Nikon F

Sensor format coverage

What it is: The largest sensor size the lens is designed to cover without severe vignetting.

When it matters: When you need the lens to fully cover your camera sensor without heavy corner darkening.

Importance: LOW

Full-frame

Filter thread size

What it is: The diameter of the front filter thread used for screw-in filters and compatible accessories.

When it matters: When you plan to use screw-in filters such as polarizers, ND filters, or protective glass.

Importance: LOW

67 mm

Teleconverter compatibility

What it is: Whether the lens can be used with compatible teleconverters to extend focal length.

When it matters: When you want to extend reach for wildlife or sports without changing to a different long lens.

Importance: HIGH

Optics & Aperture

8.0

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Minimum focal length

What it is: The shortest focal length the lens can provide, which determines its widest framing.

When it matters: When wide framing matters for landscapes, interiors, architecture, or travel shots.

Importance: LOW

70 mm

Maximum focal length

What it is: The longest focal length the lens can reach, which determines its telephoto reach.

When it matters: When you need more reach for wildlife, sports, stage events, or distant details.

Importance: LOW

300 mm

Optical zoom

What it is: The ratio between the longest and shortest focal lengths available in the lens zoom range.

When it matters: When you want one lens to cover a broader range of compositions without swapping glass.

Importance: LOW

4.3x

Maximum angle of view

What it is: The widest scene the lens can capture at its shortest focal length.

When it matters: When you need to fit more of a room, skyline, or landscape into the frame.

Importance: LOW

34.3 °

Minimum angle of view

What it is: The narrowest scene the lens captures at its longest focal length.

When it matters: When you want tighter framing on faraway subjects without moving closer.

Importance: LOW

8.2 °

Focus & Controls

5.5

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Focus motor

What it is: The autofocus drive system responsible for moving lens elements into focus.

When it matters: When fast, quiet autofocus matters for video, wildlife, street shots, or moving subjects.

Importance: LOW

STM

Minimum focus distance

What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.

When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.

Importance: MEDIUM

Maximum reproduction ratio

What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.

When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.

Importance: MEDIUM

Full-time manual focus

What it is: The ability to adjust focus manually without leaving autofocus mode.

When it matters: When you want to fine-tune focus instantly without switching out of autofocus.

Importance: HIGH

Internal focusing

What it is: A focusing design in which internal elements move while the outer barrel length stays unchanged.

When it matters: When you use polarizers, gimbals, or close-up setups that benefit from a lens that does not extend while focusing.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization

8.2

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Optical image stabilization

What it is: A hardware system that shifts optical elements to counteract camera shake and reduce blur.

When it matters: When you want steadier handheld shots and less blur, especially in low light or at longer focal lengths.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization effectiveness (CIPA stops)

What it is: The rated stabilizer benefit, measured in stops, under CIPA testing standards.

When it matters: When you are comparing stabilized lenses and want to know how much handheld shutter-speed advantage they offer.

Importance: HIGH

Build & Handling

9.2

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Weight

What it is: The total mass of the lens, affecting portability and handling balance on the camera body.

When it matters: When you carry a lens all day for travel, hiking, or event coverage and want to keep your kit manageable.

Importance: HIGH

Lens length

What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.

When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.

Importance: HIGH

Lens diameter

What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.

When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Weather sealing (splashproof)

What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.

When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.

Importance: HIGH

Metal mount

What it is: A lens mount made of metal rather than plastic for greater durability at the camera connection point.

When it matters: When durability matters because you change lenses often or use heavier gear for work.

Importance: HIGH

Lab Scores

9.0

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DxOMark overall score

What it is: The combined DxOMark lens rating based on lab-tested optical performance.

When it matters: When you want a quick lab-based summary of overall optical performance before comparing lenses in detail.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark sharpness score

What it is: The DxOMark subscore that reflects how much detail the lens can resolve across the frame.

When it matters: When fine detail matters for landscapes, product work, or high-resolution cameras.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark transmission

What it is: The measured light transmission of the lens, expressed as T-stop rather than nominal f-number.

When it matters: When real light loss matters for exposure consistency in studio, cinema, or mixed-lens shoots.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark distortion

What it is: The DxOMark metric that measures how much the lens bends straight lines away from their true shape.

When it matters: When straight lines matter in architecture, interiors, copy work, or product photography.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark vignetting

What it is: The DxOMark measurement of corner darkening relative to the center of the image.

When it matters: When even corner brightness matters for skies, studio backdrops, or clean product shots.

Importance: MEDIUM

Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR vs the average camera lens

Why is Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR better than the average camera lens?

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Has optical image stabilization
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has optical image stabilization, the average camera lens does not. 29% of camera lenses include optical image stabilization.
Vibration Reduction.
What it is: A hardware system that shifts optical elements to counteract camera shake and reduce blur.
When it matters: When you want steadier handheld shots and less blur, especially in low light or at longer focal lengths.
Importance: HIGH
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has optical image stabilization, the average camera lens does not. 29% of camera lenses include optical image stabilization.
0.5 stops stronger stabilization
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher stabilization effectiveness than the average camera lens (4.5 stops vs 4 stops). The average lens has stabilization effectiveness of 4 stops.
What it is: The rated stabilizer benefit, measured in stops, under CIPA testing standards.
When it matters: When you are comparing stabilized lenses and want to know how much handheld shutter-speed advantage they offer.
Importance: HIGH
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher stabilization effectiveness than the average camera lens (4.5 stops vs 4 stops). The average lens has stabilization effectiveness of 4 stops.4.5 stops vs 4 stops
8.3% better value for money
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a better value-for-money score than the average camera lens (7.95 vs 7.346).
What it is: An indicator that combines the camera lens's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters: When you want to know how much overall quality you get for the price.
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a better value-for-money score than the average camera lens (7.95 vs 7.346).7.95 vs 7.35
16.3% higher user score
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher user score than the average camera lens (9.41 vs 8.091).
What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the camera lens.
When it matters: When real-world owner satisfaction and review volume matter to your decision.
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher user score than the average camera lens (9.41 vs 8.091).9.41 vs 8.09
Has optical image stabilization
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has optical image stabilization, the average camera lens does not. 29% of camera lenses include optical image stabilization.
0.5 stops stronger stabilization
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher stabilization effectiveness than the average camera lens (4.5 stops vs 4 stops). The average lens has stabilization effectiveness of 4 stops.

Total

Overall

Stabilization

Why is Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR worse than the average camera lens?

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2.8 higher f-number at telephoto end
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a dimmer maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/5.6 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
2 fewer aspherical elements
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
0.9 m longer minimum focus distance
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (1.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
54 mm longer lens
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is longer than the average camera lens (146 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
3.5 mm wider lens barrel
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is wider than the average camera lens (80.5 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
2.8 higher f-number at telephoto end
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a dimmer maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/5.6 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
What it is: The widest aperture available at the long end of the zoom range, affecting light intake and background blur.
When it matters: When you shoot at the long end in low light or want stronger background blur for portraits and sports.
Importance: HIGH
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a dimmer maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/5.6 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.5.6 vs 2.8
54 mm longer lens
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is longer than the average camera lens (146 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.
When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.
Importance: HIGH
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is longer than the average camera lens (146 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.146 mm vs 92 mm
0.9 m longer minimum focus distance
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (1.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.
When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.
Importance: MEDIUM
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has a higher minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (1.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.1.2 m vs 0.3 m
2 fewer aspherical elements
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
What it is: Specially shaped lens elements used to reduce distortion and improve sharpness with fewer optical compromises.
When it matters: When edge sharpness and lower distortion matter in wide-angle, travel, or everyday shooting.
Importance: MEDIUM
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (0 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.0 vs 2
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
What it is: Optical elements designed to reduce color fringing by controlling how different wavelengths focus.
When it matters: When you want cleaner edges and less color fringing in high-contrast scenes.
Importance: MEDIUM
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.1 vs 2
3.5 mm wider lens barrel
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is wider than the average camera lens (80.5 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.
When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.
Importance: MEDIUM
Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR is wider than the average camera lens (80.5 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.80.5 mm vs 77 mm

Expert reviews

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.

Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70 300mm F 4 5 5 6E ED VR Review | 54 Data compared

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