Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

According provided by Nikon AF lens Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G many thanks to Sergey Slepnev.

Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

All Original Similar Nikon FX Telephoto Lenses

Below is a list of all Nikon Nikkor telephoto lenses without high aperture and with auto focus support:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4, 1986-1987
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6, 1987-1993
  3. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-300mm 1:4.5-5.6, 1989-1998
  4. Nikon AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1991-1999
  5. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6D, 1993-2000
  6. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm 1: 4.5-5.6D ED, 1997-2005
  7. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-240mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1999-2000
  8. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D ED, 1998-2006
  9. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D, 1998-2006 (?)
  10. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G, from 2000 to 2014, black or silver
  11. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED VR IF SWM, from 2006 to 2017
  12. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-200mm 1: 4G ED SWM VR IF N Nano Crystal Coat, from 2012 to the present day
  13. Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6E VR ED, 2017 to present

The names of the lenses are indicated according to their spelling on the case.

On the official website of Nikon (for 2014!), The Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G still figured as an actual lens. After 2014, discontinued.

As far as I know, Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G и Nikon ED AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D have the same optical system except that the last one of the elements is made of 'ED' glass.

It is also worth noting that Nikon ED AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D uses the same optical design as Tamron AF 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 LD DI Macro (as well as versions 372D, 572D, etc.).

Basic lens information

Basic lens information

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G - very simple telephoto. The entire body is made of plastic (including bayonet), which is why it turned out quite easy. The touch - assembled good, some flaws I found. Zoom ring very broad and rubberized, labeled 70, 100, 135, 200 and 300 mm. When you zoom in, the lens, like many other inexpensive telephoto lenses, lengthens, but the front lens does not rotate, only the rear lens moves, creating a slight 'vacuum cleaner' effect.

But when focusing lens trunk, together with a thread for attaching the filters, and with slots for attaching the lens hood, and rotates and travels forward. Also, the lens that I got for the review was not sick with the 'typical telephoto disease' - a trunk that self-extends under its own weight.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

The maximum length of the trunk of the lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

The auto focus speed is small, 300 mm of focal length noticeably less than 70 mm. The focusing ring is plastic, with the marks of the focusing distances in meters and feet, rotated only 90 degrees. The lens can focus from 1.5 meters, while 300 mm can easily shoot small objects with a maximum magnification of 1: 3.9.

There is no focus mode switch on the lens, the transition to manual focus and vice versa is carried out using the switch on the camera, which is located near the camera mount. There is no focusing distance limiter, which is sometimes very important when working with telephoto lenses.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Plastic mount Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G with a hood

The lens uses a lens hood that can be set both in normal operating condition and in the transport position. In the latter state, the hood completely blocks access to the focus ring at 70 mm of the focal length, but at 300 mm the focus ring is open. It is also very good that the lens uses a 9-blade aperture.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G with hood in transport mode

The lens has a weak apertureBy adding a large focal length and the absence of a stabilizer, you can get difficulties when shooting with your hands. To combat movement, I use the ability to shoot at high ISO, using automatic sensitivity control function ISO. On camera Nikon D700, when shooting in aperture priority mode, I set the ISO threshold equal to 6400, the maximum shutter speed is 1/400 s (for reserve), the minimum allowable ISO value is 200, and I don't know of any problems when shooting handheld. But to use such a lens with weak (in terms of ISO capabilities) cameras, for example, with Nikon D80, And even in cloudy weather - is not easy and requires some skills :)

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G at 300 mm when focusing on MDF with Nikon AF N8008s camera

Nikon AF 70-300 / 4-5.6G designed for full-size cameras, and on Nikon DX cameras EGF lens will be 105-450mm, which will allow you to easily shoot many distant objects.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G on the ZK

Overall - a good lens, but rather weak on the open apertures in the range of 200-300 mm. In the 70-200 range, you can easily get very high quality photos. Personally, I was a little confused that in JVI color distortion is visible - the lens gives a pronounced yellow-green color to the image. Nikon lenses usually do not suffer a similar 'bottle-tinged'.

Boo. Nikon AF 70-300 / 4-5.6G can be easily found for $ 150 The lens can serve as a replacement Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM (for those who have a DX camera with a focus motor). Of the inexpensive such lenses, I also recommend looking away Tamron LD DI AF 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 Tele-Macro (1: 2) A17.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 393 MB, 43 .NEF (RAW) photos from camera Nikon D700.

Lens prices in popular stores can look at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


Results

The Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G is one of the most affordable telephoto lenses in Nikon's full-frame camera lineup. For simple tasks - at the time, well, it's a great alternative to more expensive and qualitative Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6G VR ED IF SWM (for FX) and Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6G ED VR SWM HRI (for DX).

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Vaidas

 

 

Comments: 80, on the topic: Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G

  • koba

    This lens is manufactured by Tamron in China for Nikon, and its cost for Nikon is $ 21 (!!!) (in China it costs about $ 110 in retail from official Nikon dealers and is available in any store for $ 75 as a product which can be bought by weight, not by quantity) ... To splurge on customers more, the same lens is shipped to Japan with only one difference inside - a plastic glued lens called ED (not real ED) and is placed in a new case with the inscription “Made in Japan” with a metal bayonet (this is contraindicated for those for whom the Made in China inscription) and is sold at twice the price. By the way, the same Tamron designed the now famous Milvus series for Sony, and they themselves produce it as an OEM product.

    • Peter Sh.

      Not Millvus, but Batis. And produces Sony, Tamron only patents. Koba, you messed up everything again.

  • Owner

    “.. On the Nikon D700, when shooting in aperture priority mode, I set the ISO threshold to 6400, the maximum shutter speed is 1/400 s (for reserve), the minimum allowed ISO value is 200 and I don't know any problems when shooting handheld. "
    Can you tell me how to set the D700 in shooting mode And these parameters, namely the maximum shutter speed, ISO threshold and the minimum allowed ISO value?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Menu - shooting section (a green camera is drawn on the left) - “ISO Setting” parameter.

  • Owner

    The maximum exposure setting is not entirely clear to me. If I specify the maximum value of 1/400, the camera in shooting mode A will select shutter speeds from 1/400 and shorter (1/500, 1/640, etc.) or vice versa (1/320, 1/250, 1 / 125 etc)?

  • Wade

    Is the focus ring tight? Is it realistic for him to focus on a screwdriverless camera?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It will be extremely difficult

    • Oleg

      The focus ring travel is small and not particularly smooth

    • Vaidas

      Possibly, but difficult. You will need to adjust the microns on the focus ring.

    • Vaidas

      However, I was able to take a decent shot using the 2x teleconverter on the DX camera (F = 900mm), but I had to use Live view at maximum magnification and adjust the microns, which wasn't much fun.
      The lighthouse in the photo was 15 km away from me.

      • B. R. P.

        The micron adjustment did not help the picture (

        • Michael

          Two-fold converter hand put

  • Jury

    Thank you Arkady!
    tell me, on D610, he will allow the matrix ??

  • Anatoly

    Hello Arkady. Please at least give a brief overview of the Nikon 18-300mm f / 3.5-6.3G lens.

    • anonym

      The usual sweeping darkzoom. Mediocre contrast, poor micro-contrast. Sharp in the center on a wide, soapy on the body. Huge xa ​​to 2piks thick. Soap edges. As a result, the usual travel lens for undemanding users.

  • Arkady

    It would not be bad to show what place he occupies in his lineup and who is ahead of him and by what indicators. Thank you anyway !

  • Antonio

    Hello. Help out - I choose between this and Sigma 70-300mm D 1: 4-5.6 APO DG
    That suggest?

    • Duck

      This one, of course. If you haven’t taken it yet. Very nice, lamp picture. And don’t listen to anyone about soap, HA. This is all visible with large print or targeted searches.

    • Andrei

      Tamron is much worse than 70-200 normal, but then the soap is soapy, I had a Nikkor 70-300G, I got a very good copy, only good memories are contrasting, sharp, only the focus is slow and the trunk leaves, but then I shot it on film, I don’t know how it will be on the digital

  • Gregory

    Hello.
    I can’t find a review for the Nikon AF-P 70-300 mm F / 4,0-5,6 E ED VR lens
    The link to it in this article throws an error.
    Really somehow read about it?

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