According provided by Nikon AF-S DX lens Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM huge thanks to Anna.
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM review
Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 is an old and very cheap 3.6x zoom lens for Nikon DX cameras. Native telephoto lenses for cropped cameras can be counted on the fingers of one hand and the Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 was the first of them. Now even a used variant. it is rather difficult to find.
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM at 200 mm and MDF
Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 was introduced back in the spring of 2004. Since 2005, it can be seen as a lens from the delivery kit to Nikon D50and later to Nikon D40 (in addition to the regular Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM Aspherical) To silver Nikon D40 и D50 a silver version of the lens was supplied. From spring 2007 replaced with a new version - Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM, which in turn in January 2015 was replaced by another new model - Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6GII ED VR II.
Funnily enough, with the introduction of the Image Stabilizer, the new 'VR' version has removed one 'ED' element from the optical circuit. Therefore, on the Internet you can find rumors that the old version of the lens is optically better than the new one. You can view and compare optical schemes of lenses in the section 'Optical design for all Nikkor DX lenses'. What's even stranger is that instead of the excellent 9-blade aperture found in just a few Nikon DX lenses, the new 'VR' version has been fitted with a conventional 7-blade aperture. In addition, the old version has an MDF equal to 0.95 m, which allows you to shoot 'macro' with a magnification ratio of 1: 3.5, and in the 'VR' version, the MDF was increased to 1.1 meters (accordingly, the ratio increased to 1: 4.3). We treat one, we cripple the other.
Main technical characteristics of Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM:
| Review Instance Name | Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM 3172853 |
| 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 | 9 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) | 0.95 m over the entire range of focal lengths, maximum magnification ratio 1: 3.5 |
| Stabilizer features | no |
| The weight | 255 g |
| Optical design | 13 elements in 9 groups, including 2 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, comes standard. The same lens hood is used: |
| Transportation | With a soft cover CL-0815 |
| Manufacturer country | China (PRC), inscription on the lens: “MADE IN CHINA”. But, the first lots of lenses were made in Japan. |
| Period | From March 2005 to 2007. In March 2007 a new version was replaced Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF SWM |
| Instructions | View–> |
| Current prices in modern online stores |
Rear View Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM
Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 has a built-in focusing motor (SWM - Silent Wave Motor), and therefore will work on all Nikon DX cameras (see exact list), while its EGF will be 82,5-300 mm. In fact, the Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 is an analogue of the same simple, but full-length Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G when used on Nikon FX cameras. It is bad that Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 has low speed auto focus. 'VR' version focuses a little faster. When focusing, the trunk of the lens lengthens (the lens does not have full internal focusing as such), but the front lens does not rotate. Also, the front lens does not rotate when changing the focal length.
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM with the hood mounted in the opposite direction.
Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 has a 'A-M' focus mode switch (no continuous manual control). For manual focusing, the lens must be set to the 'M' position, otherwise it may be damaged. The focusing ring is plastic, not rubberized and, moreover, very narrow, rotates 90 degrees. Manual focusing is not very convenient. Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 uses the commonly used 52mm front filter diameter. The lens aperture closes down to f / 22 @ 55mm and f / 32 @ 200mm. The lens comes with a plastic hood HB-34, which can be installed backwards (with complete loss of access to the focusing ring). The lens handles side light well, but it's better to use a hood.
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM with protruding trunk
The lens is very compact and lightweight, weighs only 255 grams (in size it resembles the usual Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor) But for the lightness you have to pay with the build quality - the case and the mount are made of plastic. To the touch Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 does not cause much confidence. The zoom ring is rubberized when zooming, the rear lens of the lens moves. On the copy from my review, the trunk of the lens does not spontaneously protrude.
Almost all Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6 lenses were manufactured in China. Nikon is not really worried about Nikon DX lenses and pretty much everything is stamped in China and Thailand. At the time of writing this review, the lenses of the Japanese assembly include only:
- Nikon AF Fisheye Nikkor 10.5mm 1: 2.8G ED DX
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-55mm 1: 2.8G ED IF SWM DX
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 12-24mm 1: 4G ED IF SWM DX
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1: 3.5-5.6G ED SWM VR IF Aspherical DX (only first batches)
- Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM (lens from the review, only the first lots)
Sometimes the prototypes of the Japanese assembly immediately fell into the hands of browser sites, which created confusion between the country of the manufacturer of the experimental batch and the strange mass production.
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM on ZK
Petite aperture lens and long focal length requires basic handheld shooting skills, so working with the new version - Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF with a stabilizer - much easier. True, on a sunny day I had no problems when shooting handheld and without stabilizer on the Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 367 MB, 25 photos in format RAW, photo parameters in the gallery of the site and archive are indicated here.
Image quality is directly proportional to the cost of the lens :) The sharpness of 200 mm is noticeably worse than in shorter ranges. You can squeeze out a lot from the old Nikon 55-200 / 4-5.6, just important how to take pictures.
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.
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.com.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
Results
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM is a cute little telephoto lens. Very lightweight and cheap, the image quality is adequate. In general, the newer version is preferable - Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G ED VR IF.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Good time! I have long been waiting for you to review this lens, because I was the owner of it! I saw it in your list of lenses that you would like to test!) But I live in Russia and could not introduce it to you. Now I own the lenses 24-70 2,8 and 80-200 2,8, but it’s interesting to read! Thanks!
Reply
:) Anna, who provided the lens for the review, also saw it in the “looking for review” list.
Reply
I have 55-200 vr2, I can’t sell for six months already. For me it’s a waste of money.
Reply
I guess the version without Vr is even more difficult to sell.
Reply
Unreal g …… .. The son is lying around in toys. PS: Arkady, Foich Nocton test, otherwise the situation in the country is in any way.
Reply
for how much do you give?
Reply
If in Kiev, I’ll give it back.
Reply
http://www.fotomartyn.com
Reply
d.martyn
If in Kiev, I’ll give it back.
I'm not in Kiev, but I have a brother there if you are serious then he will drive up tell me where is my address so as not to flood here ser142320@gmail.com
Reply
Good afternoon! Tell Budlaska and you have a lens?
Reply
How much are you selling?
Reply
0967701995
Reply
Arkadiy, dyakoy you for looking around. PS The main thing is not the lens, but the soul of the artist-photographer. :)
Reply
Thanks for your review. This was my first lens. I can say - an eternal lens, you bought it, then you sell it to hell. It's like a yellow car "Muscovite 2140". In winter, this lens squeaks and becomes tight. In a word, a year later I realized it was time to sell and thank God I got rid of it.
Reply
I bought a new one in January as the second whale to the D5100.
In principle, a normal lens. Dark at the long end, sharpness satisfactory, but no more. I prefer to shoot on the manual Vivitar ser1 70-210 / 3,5, it is lighter and very sharp.
Reply
The sharpness will be satisfactory on a 6MP matrix, it’s not good for him to serve, and I set a miss for focus, but the contrast, color reproduction and bokeh are not bad
Reply
By satisfactory, I meant that when viewing a photo on a 21,5 dm monitor, there is no feeling of a blur, no more (although the sharpness is better at the short end). The vivitra and teleara 200 mentioned by me have pixel-by-pixel sharpness, so I shoot them, sacrificing the convenience of shooting in favor of the final result.
Reply
Plus 55-200 - almost complete absence of chromatic aberrations.
Reply
due to the extremely low detail it can be recommended only for facial portraits, less to blur;)
Reply
I use it for a year, now I put it on d7100. traveled with him to India, quite good photos, just didn’t like the strong vignetting on the long end. And so a normal lens. And then they write that it’s straight rubbish, nothing like that, at least not worse than the same 18-105 or even better. And you need to give a report on the price of the lens, and not compare with others five, ten times more expensive.
PS I have no BP, excellent sharpness, nice dock.
Reply
The lens is not colorful unambiguously, but sometimes something turns out https://fotki.yandex.ru/next/users/andr310/album/423123/view/1041621
Reply
I will sell a Nikon AF-S NIkkor 55-200mm 1.4.5.6G ED 8985-276-35-50 photo lens
Reply
And such a question: Arkady, why in this review and in this
https://radojuva.com/2011/03/obzor-nikon-55-200-dx-vr-otzuvu/
have you stopped publishing tables with parameters that everyone is used to?
It was so convenient!
Reply
I have the same lens manufactured in China, though for the US market, the letters US are in front of the room. Its quality is higher than lenses sold in the CIS countries. So the lens is different for the lens.
Reply
the main thing is to believe it
Reply
So this is so, but according to the experience of the D40 from Japan, it makes much less noise and there are almost no hot pixels, unlike the Russian version.
Reply
As Denis already wrote - the main thing is to believe in it!
Reply
I don’t believe it, I saw it live. Because the second sold.
Reply
Now I saw this on Avito, for 3500 rubles. Does it make sense to take for the D90?
Reply
The lens is certainly excellent, only you need to first check on your camera.
Reply
Yesterday I took such a used / in perfect condition for 2K rubles. Almost for nothing)
Reply
I sell such a lens!
Maybe someone needs it.
Condition of the new (lay for several years in a box). City of Kiev. In Ukraine, sending NP.
Reply
Hello, please tell me if it would be a good replacement for this lens Tokina 70-210 or Nikkor 70-30D (I was also thinking about Nikkor 70-210 f4)? While leaning towards Tokina, will this be a worthy replacement? I mainly need a lens for shooting animals. Thanks in advance to all who replied.
Reply
If you have a camera without a screwdriver, it will be a poor replacement. 70-300D anyway, so-so.
Reply
I have a Nikon D200, so I have a screwdriver :). Can you suggest anything from lenses of a similar focus? 80-200 2,8, about which I read from Arkady, I definitely won’t pull on the price, even more so the fixes. At 55-200 at the long end, indeed, the sharpness is quite mediocre (for shooting animals).
Reply
200 mm. for shooting animals, especially wild ones, it’s not enough even on a crop. https://radojuva.com/2011/10/obzor-nikon-70-300mm-f-4-5-5-6g-ed-if-af-s-vr-zoom-nikkor/
it has everything in order with sharpness and speed. https://radojuva.com/2019/10/nikon-af-p-dx-nikkor-70-300mm-4-5-6-3g-ed-vr/ = sharp, fast, but will not start on your camera. As a last resort, https://radojuva.com/2013/07/nikon-55-300-vr-ed-dx-review/ From screwdrivers, either slow or expensive. If longer than 300 mm. https://radojuva.com/2015/08/nikon-ed-af-vr-80-400-4-5-5-6d/ slow, https://radojuva.com/2020/08/nikon-af-s-80-400mm-4-5-5-6g-super-ed-vr-if-n/ average speed, not cheap. https://radojuva.com/2016/09/tokina-at-x-af-80-400-840/ slow.
Reply
Thank you so much for such an extensive and detailed answer, dear BRP!
Reply
Yes please! To health! Good luck with your pictures!
Reply
And good luck with your photos!
Reply