Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55 300mm F 4 5 5 6G ED VR Review | 54 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR as a budget-friendly, lightweight super-telephoto lens delivering decent optical results and good build quality for DX-format cameras. Serving as an ideal extension for 18-55mm kit lenses, its pros include affordability and a compact 300mm reach, though it suffers from a rotating front barrel during focusing and a slow, disconcerting Vibration Reduction (VR) activation.

The Photography Life review of the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR evaluates this DX-format lens as a highly capable and cost-effective upgrade to the older 55-200mm kit lens, offering excellent optical value, a compact build, and effective Vibration Reduction. Pros include consistent sharpness up to 200mm, well-controlled chromatic aberration, and solid contrast performance, making it a good choice for general-purpose telephoto shooting. Conversely, the review identifies limitations, specifically sluggish autofocus, prominent vignetting past 135mm, and soft images at the 300mm end. Additional drawbacks include a lack of full-time manual focus override, a slightly jerky zoom ring, and a rotating front element that complicates the use of filters.

📸 Performance Overview The Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR DX AF-S Nikkor is a budget-friendly telephoto zoom lens designed for APS-C sensor digital bodies, offering an effective focal range of 80-450mm. Testing shows the lens achieves its sharpest, "tack-sharp" performance across the frame when stopped down to f/8 or f/11, particularly in the wider 70-100mm focal range. Optical strengths include strong resistance to chromatic aberration at wider focal lengths and negligible corner shading when stopped down. Additionally, its lightweight polycarbonate construction (580g) makes it highly portable, and it features a smooth, well-dampened zoom ring alongside a helpful vibration reduction system. ⚠️ Limitations & Verdict However, the lens comes with notable trade-offs, particularly regarding speed and handling. Despite its AF-S designation, autofocus operation is relatively slow, taking around 1.5 seconds to rack through focus, and the front lens element rotates during focusing, which complicates the use of polarizing filters. The design lacks an instant manual focus override, meaning users must use a physical switch to change modes, and the narrow quarter-inch focus ring makes precise manual adjustments difficult. Optically, sharpness degrades...

According to Ken Rockwell, the Nikon 55-300mm VR is a cost-effective, sharp, and lightweight telephoto zoom lens designed for DX-format cameras. While the VR II image stabilization and vibrant color reproduction are major pros, significant cons include slow autofocus performance and a lack of manual focus override, requiring a physical switch for focus adjustments. The lens features a substantial 5.5x zoom range but suffers from a rotating front element, which complicates the use of polarizing filters. It is a DX-only lens, limiting its compatibility with full-frame or film cameras, and while suited for landscapes, it is not recommended for fast-action shooting.

The review of the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR on Radojuva highlights its 5.5x zoom range (equivalent to 450mm on DX), effective Vibration Reduction (VR II) system, and good image quality, making it a solid, budget-friendly option for amateur photographers. The lens is praised for its ability to deliver sharp handheld shots at 300mm with a sturdy metal mount, providing versatile telephoto capability for wildlife and portraits. YouTube · However, the lens is noted for having a sluggish, "horribly implemented" autofocus system and a lack of full-time manual focus override. Key disadvantages include a slow maximum aperture range (f/4.5-5.6), a rotating/extending front element that complicates filter use, and a requirement to toggle the M/A switch for manual focus adjustments. As a result, the reviewer often advises users to consider alternatives like the Nikon 70-300mm VR or 55-200mm VR II if budget allows.

The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is a decent, lightweight telephoto lens designed specifically for Nikon's DX-format crop-sensor cameras like the D3100, D5000, D90, and D7000. Weighing 530 grams, it features a black plastic casing with rubberized focus and zoom rings, alongside physical switches for automatic/manual focus and vibration reduction. Its main advantage is offering a highly accessible, extensive focal length reach for the price, while remaining well-balanced on lighter camera bodies. Furthermore, its extra-low dispersion (ED) glass successfully minimizes chromatic aberrations, and its integrated autofocus motor ensures compatibility across DX bodies. However, the lens suffers from notable performance trade-offs, particularly regarding speed and sharpness. It is a slow lens with a maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6, and its autofocus struggles to lock onto subjects under one second, especially when fully zoomed in. Image quality also degrades severely at longer focal lengths; while sharpness remains reasonable from 55mm up to 135mm, images taken at the full 300mm extension appear mushy, unsharp, and exhibit minor vignetting. Ultimately, it is a budget-friendly option best utilized within the 55-150mm range, but...

According to Ken Rockwell, the Nikon 55-300mm VR is a high-powered, reasonably priced, and lightweight telephoto zoom lens designed specifically for DX crop-sensor cameras. It is praised for producing superb optical sharpness and excellent color, with highly effective vibration reduction that makes it a strong choice for general photography. Conversely, the lens is limited by slow, noisy autofocus and a rotating front filter thread that complicates polarizer usage. Lacking instant manual focus override, it requires a manual switch for focus adjustment and is not recommended for fast action, with the 70-300mm VR suggested as a faster alternative.