Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM has a very long name, so for the sake of simplicity I will refer to it as 'Nikon 55-200 VR'. This is an inexpensive telephoto zoom lens for Nikon DX cameras... Nikon 55-200 VR has a built-in focus motor and is therefore suitable for all Nikon cameras... At one time, it became a replacement for an older version - Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM, which did not have an image stabilizer, and in 2015 it was itself replaced with an updated model - Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR II, which has a lens parking mechanism.
In total, there are three such lenses:
- Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED SWM, was produced from April 2005 to 2007.
- Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM, from this review, was released from March 2007 to 2015.
- Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR IIAvailable since January 2015.
The focal length of the lens is 55-200 mm, which will allow using it for a large number of photo tasks. For example, with this lens you can shoot not very shy animals, sports, various events. It is no secret that a telephoto lens, in general, is suitable for shooting portraits, since it has a small distortion, does not distort the geometry, respectively, the faces are not distorted in the pictures, while a large focal length helps to achieve a small depth of field. True, the Nikon 55-200 VR still has a small level of distortion, but on the other hand, 200 mm focal length can be easily blur the background, which is sometimes very important for portraiture.
Main technical characteristics of Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM:
Review Instance Name | Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM 1760879 |
Basic properties |
|
Front Filter Diameter | 52 mm, plastic thread for filters |
Focal length | 55-200 mm EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 82.5-300 mm |
Zoom ratio | 3.64 X (usually rounded to 4) |
Designed by | for digital cameras Nikon DX |
Number of aperture blades | 7 rounded petals |
Tags | focal lengths for 55, 70, 85, 105, 135, 200 mm, bayonet mount mark and hood mounts |
Diaphragm | 55 mm from F / 4 to F / 22. 200 mm from F / 5.6 to F / 32. The lens is deprived of the aperture control ring, control is via the camera menu (G - lens type) |
MDF (Minimum Focus Distance) | 1.1 m over the entire range of focal lengths, maximum magnification ratio 1: 4.3 |
Stabilizer features | 3 stops by CIPA standards (for 200 mm focal length). The stabilizer monitors the movement of the camera while shooting panoramas. |
The weight | 335 g |
Optical design | 15 elements in 11 groups, including 1 low dispersion element (shown in yellow on the optical diagram). The presence of such elements is indicated on the body by the abbreviation 'ED'.
Image of optical circuit clickable |
Lens hood | Nikon HB-37, bayonet type, plastic |
Transportation | With a soft cover CL-0815 |
Manufacturer country | China (PRC), inscription on the lens: “MADE IN CHINA” |
Period | From March 2007 to the present. In January 2015 was supplemented / replaced by a version Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR II |
Instructions | View–> |
3D view | View–> |
Current prices in modern online stores |
Nikon 55-200 VR belongs to the lenses of the most low price range, because you should not expect stunning results from him. The lens is designed for use by amateurs, for the pros there are much better lenses. Depending on the set focal length, the lens has a maximum aperture from F / 4 @ 55 mm and F / 5.6 @ 200 mm, and the minimum value can be set to F / 22 and F / 32, respectively.
The advantages of the lens and their impact on shooting and photo quality:
- Nikon 55-200 VR weighs only 335 grams. On younger cameras (used on Nikon D3000, Nikon D40As well as Nikon D90) It provides a normal weight distribution and holding the camera in your hands is quite simple and convenient. The lens does not pull the camera down.
- Zoom is 3.6 x, which is a normal indicator for such optics. The larger the zoom, the more complex the optical design and the more difficult it is to get good image quality. Also, keep in mind that the viewing angle of 55 to 200 mm on DX cameras is equivalent to the viewing angle of the lens 82.5-300 mm for full-frame cameras. More details in the section on crop factor. I used several Nikon 55-200 VR lenses and did not observe spontaneous focal length changes on them under my own weight (the trunk itself did not protrude).
- Built-in ultrasonic focusing motor SWM (Silent Wave Motor) - allows you to focus on all Nikon digital SLR cameras. This factor is important to owners of non-powered cameras by type Nikon D5200, Nikon D3200 etc. since they can easily use this lens on their cameras.
- Internal focus - when focusing, only the internal parts of the lens move, which means that the front lens and its frame do not move. This will allow you to use different filters without problems. I recommend immediately get protective filter, a filter diameter of 52 mm, filters of this diameter are considered the most common and easiest to find.
- The Nikon HB-37 lens hood comes with a lens. It is very pleasant that Nikon has not been stingy of additional accessories such as blends or caps for its lenses recently. The hood is quite large and with it the lens looks very solid. You can also wind the hood in the opposite direction and always carry it with you. With this installation method, the lens hood does not take up extra space, always on the lens. But if the hood is wound in the opposite direction, then it covers the focus ring and you cannot use the lens in manual focus mode until you remove the hood.
- VR ('Vibration Reduce') is Nikon's term for Image Stabilizer. it the most important aspect in this lens. The stabilization system will allow you to shoot without grease from your hands at slower shutter speeds. The instructions say that you can reduce the shutter speed by 3 steps, which is 2 ^ 3 = 8 times, that is, if you shot with shutter speedequal to 1/160 s, then now the same can be repeated with shutter speed 1/20 s without loss of sharpness (for stationary objects). This is an indispensable feature in the dark. For a telephoto camera, image stabilization is a very useful feature. Of course, the instructions are a bit exaggerated and in reality it will be possible to shoot at shutter speeds no longer than 1/60 s at a 200 mm focal length. There is a button on the lens to control the operation of the 'VR ON / OFF' stabilizer.
- The image quality is acceptable, it is useless to hope for something super-good, for it alone says its price.
What did not like:
- The lens is almost all made of plastic. The bayonet mount (attachment point) is also plastic. The lens itself is made in China :(.
- Auto focus speed is average. It's funny, but the Nikon 55-200 VR focuses faster than the more advanced model - Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6G ED VR SWM HRI. The focus ring, unlike the zoom ring, is not rubberized and rotates only 60 degrees.
- The lens does not have any additional marks on its body.
- During focal length changes (zooming), the rear lens moves, creating a “vacuum cleaner effect,” which can quickly contaminate the interior of the camera.
- The lens shows good sharpness at f / 7.1 apertures
- Nikon 55-200 VR has a weak macro, with a maximum magnification of 1: 4.3.
- The lens does not have a permanent manual focus control mode 'M / AM'. Attention: To focus manually, be sure to move the lens to the 'M' position. During autofocus, the focus ring rotates and cannot be touched. Alas, focusing is not the quietest.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 294 MB, 37 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the camera Nikon D80.
From personal experience using:
The built-in image stabilizer can sometimes buzz and jerk the image in the viewfinder - this is due to the fact that the stabilizer still works for some time after pressing the shutter button and when you move the camera, the stabilizer holds the picture, and then it turns off and the picture “twitches” due to moving the camera. This is absolutely normal. To check the stabilizer, you need to turn off autofocus, turn on the stabilizer and press the shutter button halfway at this time, the noise from the operation of the hybrid gyroscopic drive should be heard.
If shooting at long focal lengths, it is advisable to use excerpts no longer than 1/300 - 1/200 s (if you shoot without the stabilizer turned on) and always remember that the stabilizer only helps to reduce the level of vibrations, but does not completely remove them - therefore sometimes you have to use a tripod. I highly recommend reading the article as take offto prevent blurry pictures.
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All original Nikon DX telephoto lenses
- Nikon DX AF S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED SWMarel 2005
- Nikon DX AF S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G ED VR IF SWMMarch 2007
- Nikon DX AF S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6GII ED VRIIJanuary 2015
- Nikon DX AF S Nikkor 55-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED VR SWM HRIAugust 2010
- Nikon DX AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-6.3G EDAugust 2016
- Nikon DX AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-6.3G ED VRAugust 2016
A list of absolutely all lenses of the Nikon DX series, as well as a lot of useful information on lenses and cameras Nikon will find here.
An accurate list of all Nikon DX Nikkor lenses
- 10.5 mm/ 2.8G AF Fisheye [gold ring]
- 35 mm/1.8G AF-S
- 40 mm/2.8G AF-S Microphone
- 85 mm/3.5G AF-S VR Microphone
- 10-20 mm/4.5-5.6G AF-P VR
- 10-24 mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
- 12-24 mm/4G AF-S [gold ring]
- 16-80 mm/ 2.8-4IN AF S VR [gold ring]
- 16-85 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 17-55 mm/2.8G AF-S [gold ring]
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S [black / silver]
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S [black / silver]
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P
- 18-55 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-P VR
- 18-70 mm/3.5-4.5G AF-S
- 18-105 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
- 18-135 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S
- 18-140 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Thailand / China]
- 18-200 mm/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR [Japan / China]
- 18-200 mm/3.5-5.6GII AF-S VR
- 18-300 mm/3.5-5.6G VR
- 18-300 mm/3.5-6.3G VR
- 55-200 mm/4-5.6G AF-S [black / silver, Japan / China]
- 55-200 mm/4-5.6G AF-S VR
- 55-200 mm/4-5.6GII ED VR
- 55-300 mm/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR
- 70-300 mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P
- 70-300 mm/4.5-6.3G AF-P VR
Conclusion:
Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM is one of the most affordable telephoto lenses for Nikon DX cameras. The lens produces image quality comparable to its cost. Me aboutI liked very much its lightness and the presence of a stabilizer. Due to its low cost, I recommend it as a good addition to a standard class lens 18-55 / 3.5-5.6.
In 2015, this lens was replaced with an updated model - Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR II.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
I'm tormented by the choice, this lens or Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM test, what do you recommend?
Hello.
Help with advice, I am buying a DSLR for the first time. The choice with the "carcass" fell on the Nikon D5100, but with the lenses I can not come to a consensus:
Kit 18-55VR
Kit 18-55 VR + 55-200 VR
Kit 18-105VR
Kit 18-140VR
The price is “almost” the same.
Thanks in advance, Timur.
Take 18-140 VR and do not even doubt it!
I have a D5100 with the listed lenses except 18-140. The best of them in terms of photo quality, convenient FR for “everyday photo” is 18-105. Of the minuses, it has the greatest weight and size. So, for example, going to visit, incl. for a booze, I take 18-55 + ext. flash SB-400 (in the ceiling) - only because of the relative lightness and compactness. So choose according to your tasks.
Hello Arkady! Which lens do you think is best to choose, this or Tamron 70-300?
How exactly did they say ... "felt-tip" colors. Also noticed. ((This lens is not happy and here's why: The stabilizer helps in rare cases, in bright sunny weather. In another case, when the aperture needs to be clamped (in order for sharpness to appear, it is really not sharp when open) then the shutter speed increases. At an exposure of about 1/15, blur from VR itself appears. That is, in cloudy weather, VR does a disservice. As it was shooting from a tripod fireworks on May 9, all the pictures turned out to be a marriage - I forgot to turn off VR. Well, what kind of lens is Probably I'll say stupidity, but my old 6-megapixel camera Olympus shoots subjectively better, sharper and colors are more natural.
When shooting on a tripod, the stand should be turned off, as indicated in the instructions.
I noticed such a feature, maybe not on the topic ... they put excellent optics on digital cameras, not plastic, obviously glass, on Panasonic, on Sony Zeiss. And they cost moderate money! On SLR cameras, lenses with one low-dispersion element cost up to 20 thousand, with two 40-60, with three all 100 (Elki (L) there are all sorts for Canon) Strange arithmetic. Is it not a deception?
Not cheating, everything has a price. Soap dishes have a small matrix, respectively, lenses in a lens are smaller, they are easier to manufacture - the price is lower. Compare the diameter of the front lens in a professional lens and the diameter of the front lens in a soap dish - the difference will be obvious, and this is just one lens :). Plus, soapbox lenses without manual focus modes, stabilizers, focus stops, etc. And the price of a Sony or Panasonic soap dish with a superzoom is commensurate with the cost of an initial DSLR with a whale.
On the contrary, for compactness and accuracy you have to pay. In other goods of any technology, that’s the case. Making jewelery accurate is more difficult than a hefty colossus. Well, yes, in Japan there is no raw material, each gram of material is appreciated.
So in digital cameras there are also smart presets. For example, in poor lighting in night mode, the cameraman asks whether we will shoot with hands or with a tripod? That is, do we bully or lower iso? And we get the appropriate quality. How many times have I been rescued by the Nikon L820 hyperzoom, its price is the same as this lousy 55-200. It has excellent stabilization, sharpness at all focal points…. video, stereo, batteries, etc. For the same money! One minus is a small matrix.
It is also interesting to read in the reviews, when an expensive device is scolded ... somewhere there I missed the focus, I soaped the picture. And only the owners of cheap soap dishes are happy with everything "like elephants"
And what remains for these owners to do :)
And do not say, the collective consciousness prevails over all)))
A few words about the cost.
Making a miniature item at the modern level of automation is no more difficult than making a large one, but making a high-quality lens (not only to process, but also to weld glass without internal defects, homogeneous in optical properties, low dispersion, etc.) is much more expensive, and with an increase in diameter, the price increases not even linear, but steeper. Even 77mm filters are several times more expensive than 52mm filters, not to mention lenses.
Bought on nikon 7100, disappointed. There is no sharpness and drawing details, the images come out as if out of focus and blurry. I would not recommend buying this lens.
So I will repeat my review because tested it on the D7100. This glass can quite sharply shoot on a hole 8-16, but, the picture from it immediately catches your eye with terrible acid colors and torn rough blur on the covered. If other lenses give a juicy saturated color in Vivid mode with enhanced contrast and saturation, then this lens you can only shoot with Standart and reduce contrast. In short, you can see that the picture is cheap, with 55-300 can not be compared. This one can give a color close to 80-200
Good afternoon, Arkady. I have been looking for an excellent photo blog for a long time. I have 5200 six months with a whale of 18-55, I would like to buy 55-200. But they advise me to 18-140. I'm just an amateur. But if I buy 18-140, then there will be an extra whale and this is unpleasant. I think that 55-200 should be taken for nature, in the mountains, etc. How to proceed? Thank you for your attention.
take 55-200
Take a closer look at 55-300.
Good afternoon!
I want to buy a Nikon D3200 body DSLR. Basically, I want to photograph people in portrait mode at a distance of about 3 meters (that is, not only the face) and nature (both macro photography and landscape. I would like the background to be blurred (well blurred) when shooting portraits) and now I think: what the lens is better to buy. Kitovsky 18-55mm or 55-200mm? On many sites I saw that with 200mm the background is well blurred, but 55mm is not very good.
Thank you!
+ I have never had a DSLR, but I like to take photos very much
Maybe you can take 18-105 (from savings you can on the secondary housing, there are also options: 18-70, 18-135), figure it out with a photo on a DSLR, then it will be clearer what you want. True, they do not have a macro, there are 28-75 / 2,8 on the Tamron (from the motor zooms), on the H.40 / 2,8, of course. A 55-200 in an apartment is too long.
I don’t rent it in the apartment, mostly on the street, in the city, in nature. Is there a macro in 55-200?
I’m still a little afraid that I can’t cope with such a lens, since I never used a DSLR, but 18-55 is not an option, because there is no blurry background (or almost none). So, isn’t it difficult for beginners to work with larger lenses?
Why do you think that the complexity of working with it depends on the size of the lens (or large focal lengths?) A little more weight and size only. 55-200 is clearly not a universal and not very portrait lens, it is an initial (and budget) telephoto. No macro. You called three different tasks, there is hardly one lens for them. Unless something like sigma 17-70 / 2,8-4 macro, he himself did not use it.
And why do you think that “18-55 is not an option since there is no blurred background”? Here are 18-55 a la macro.
I wrote about portraits, in 18-55 there is not a very blurry background.
if a cheap replacement for a whale, then only fix 35mm F / 1.8
Replacing a whale is not a bad thing, only for landscapes it is often too narrow, for portraits that are not tall, it is wide, for them it would be 50 - 150mm FR. It turns out the remainder of the zoom.
Yes, from 200 to f / 5.6 you can shoot portraits without a background.
Does it make sense to buy an existing Nikon DX VR AF-S Nikkor 18-140mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM?
Good day. I use Nikon D90 + whale 18-105. Tell me, is there any point in a Nikon Zoom Nikkor-Lens 55-200mm lens? Will he give a picture better than whale? I’m trying to buy another lens for a whale, I want a better image. But the prices bite, horror. I found this lens here quite inexpensively, but I don’t know if it makes sense to me. Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hello. The picture of the 55-200 is not better than that of the 18-105, its meaning is an amateur telephoto on birds, airplanes, etc. I heard that they are doing “distant reports”, I don’t know, I didn’t succeed - FRs are too long. For a better image, can a fix like 50 / 1,8 (D or D) try? Or what focal points you use.
Yes, I also want to buy a fix. While in thought which one, I’m looking at different reviews.
They just offered this rather cheaply and I thought that maybe it would be better than my whale. But if not, then I will continue to save for a fix. Thanks for the answer.
Tell me how to distinguish the VR or VRII version of the lens on the lens itself?
VR II (and in fact it is GII VR / VRII) with a button
You see, they want to sell me a lens with a marking that you don’t have in the review (with a VRII mark, but without GII), which is why I am worried. In the photo there is only a box and it looks like this:
On the box it should be written http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/images1/55-200mm-vr-ii/D3S_1991-box.jpg
Do not tell me why this button is needed at all? Neither in the instructions (paper) nor in the pdf instructions about this button is a word.
press the button, rotate the ring. the lens is reduced in size, and excess air is removed into the atmosphere
Good afternoon, Arkady, can you tell me, the updated model - Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR II, what is better than the one you have in the review?
I plan to buy the first DSLR, Nikon d3200 (body) + telephoto (cost about 33 tr) mainly for shooting airplanes (also for landscapes, nature, etc.), by the way you write that he has autofocus faster than have 55-300? it is important for me (planes and vertes in flight).
55-300 FR have more, but it is more (as a beginner it’s unusual when the weight of the lens is more than the weight of the carcass), and more expensive (the carcass + 55-300 is about 39 tr, it's already a little expensive for me), I think it's better to start mastering the DSLR with lung 55-200.
55-300 is not so slow autofocus. there will definitely be no problems with the plane. but 55-200 is cheaper
hello. I'm tormented by the choice. There are 18-55 without a stub and 35-80 AF 4-5,6 what to take: offer 55-200 VR or 50mm 1,8v
A light line would be more necessary than a dark telephoto in addition to a dark whale and a dark underdeveloper.
also inclined to the fact that it is better fifty dollars
add i have nikon D50
Both lenses are worthy in their own way, fully compatible with the D50. It's hard to say which is better without knowing why you need a new lens. 55-200 mm - amateur telezoom, more versatile and easy to learn. Fifty for the D50, it seems to me, is not the most useful lens.
Good evening! Please help with the choice of model. I have a Nikon D3100 and it has a standard whale, which came in the kit. But I almost do not use it, because I take a photo as with a conventional digital camera :( I use Helios 44m, the bokeh is excellent and the eye color is pleasing. But often it’s only beautiful, full-length portrait is already a little soapy, and manual focus is not I’m always comfortable. I want an autofocus lens for a variety of tasks, but mainly for shooting people outdoors and indoors. (And I would really like bokeh, like in Helios) Thank you!
Autofocus lenses have a bokeh that is different from Helios - you will not find exactly the same. If you just need a good portrait lens, get the Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8G, to save money you can use it. Compared to most "fifty kopecks" it is much more expensive, but you get a real portrait lens with separation of the subject from the background and a beautiful smooth transition from sharpness to blur. If you suddenly do not like it, easily sell it - this glass is in great demand among photographers.
The only thing is that 85 mm is not very suitable for shooting in a small room - something like 35mm f / 1.8G DX is better here.
Arkady good afternoon. I use Nikon D 90 and a fixed 50mm 1.8D, please advise which addition will be better 18-105 .. 50-200 .. 70-300 .. 80-200 thanks
A wide angle and a television range are gentle to a fifty dollars, I would take a tamron of 17-50 / 2,8 and 80-200 / 2,8 mk3.
Arkady, thank you very much for the answer, but the 17-50 lens is good, but not cheap, please tell me which lens can I replace the 17-50? thanks
Given that the Tamron 17-50 is already a replacement for the native 17-55 / 2,8, it is not possible to replace it with a cheaper similar lens. You can look at darker lenses, for example, at the very cheap Nikon 18-70 / 3.5-4.5.
Arkady, thank you for the answer, and which TV set can you advise? Instead of 80-200 / 2.8 mk lll? This painfully expensive one is 80-200. thanks
Of the family, only the Nikon 70-300 line is cheaper. You can take Tokina / Sigma / Tamron 70 (80) -200 (210) / 2,8
Arkady thank you very much, tell me this is a normal lens for Nikon D 90 - Nikon tamron af 80-210mm f / 4.5-5.6 thanks
No, not normal.
Arkady good afternoon, please forgive me, I'm not a professional photographer, just an amateur, I use Nikon D 90 and fix 50 mm 1.8 D please tell me which lens is better for me to buy (model) for traveling, concerts, family, etc. thanks
Good afternoon Arkady, I use Nikon D90. lens - 50 mm 1.8 D I'm just an amateur, which lens would you recommend in addition to 50mm.1.8D? for family photography, travel, etc. thanks
Some kind of station wagon. By type 18-105, if aperture is important, then sigma 17-50 / 2,8
Thank you Arkady, but will it be a good addition to the 50mm 1.8D. 18-200 or 55-200? thanks
Hello Arkady. Please advise which lens is better to buy - Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f / 4-5.6G IF-ED DX VR. or Nikon Zoom Nikkor 70-210 mm f / 4-5.6 AF. Nikon D90 camera with 50mm lens. Or maybe some other lens? thanks