Middleweight champ of a lens!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Optical and VR technology that used to cost much more!

Cons: Still slow glass, not pro build quality.

The Bottom Line: 
Another excellent tool for your serious kit, and great for the casual shooter as well!

Author's Review
Here comes the Nikon 70-300 VR-lenses! Selling for around 550.00 everyone is very curious about this lens. The 70-300VR is a lens with slower glass F/4.5-5.6 and IF, which means focusing is internal and nothing moves outside the barrel when focusing. The lens extends quite a bit when zoomed. The lens is AF-S focusing which is very fast and quiet. Being a DX lens this is NOT intended for film cameras. The lens has 17 elements which is VERY different from the older 70-300 models. I tested the lens on a D80.

Handling
Typically, the 70-300 handles well and balanced nicely on my D80 with the grip attached. The zoom ring is huge and smooth to operate. Build quality is quite like the Nikon 80-400 and actually feels a bit better than the Nikon 18-200VR.

AF Focus
I found this lens a "true AF-S" lens in that it focused FAST and quietly. Some of Nikon's lower end AF-S models are not that quick. Even at 300mm the focus was snappy in so-so lighting conditions. I could force it to hunt, but not easily. Well done.

Performance:
So let's get to it! I'll come right out and say it: I prefer this lens to the coveted Nikon 80-400 VR. The 70-300 focuses MUCH faster, handles just as well and is sharp to 300mm. The 80-400 seems to focus half as fast by comparison, though I find it fine on better bodies. The new 70-300VR also focuses 2.6 feet closer than the 80-400. Some folks will also argue that they also prefer the extra 10mm on the wide end and don't need the extra 100mm of reach...and that's fine. It basically clobbers the 80-400 in most practical aspects and costs 900 dollars less! People who own the older 70-300 ED should buy this lens because it's better...from bokeh to sharpness and VR opens up new territory. Standing on it's own merits, this new lens is contrasty, while providing typically good color. I find it slightly superior to my 18-200 (a good sample) and nearly as sharp as the 80-400 across the same range. That's impressive at this price point.

Suggestions:
True, if you own a Nikon 70-200 VR and a good teleconverter it will be faster and still be optically superior. But that combo weighs more than twice what the 70-300 VR weighs and is much larger to handle. If you own the Nikon 80-400 VR you get the extra 100mm of reach, but the 70-300 VR just about matches it optically in it's range and trounces it with better focus speed and "possibly" better VR technology. As I said, this will be a better lens than the 80-400 for a lot of people: It is for me! Optical technology continues to trickle down to mid-priced glass and we all benefit. Snobs, who carry nothing but 2.8 zooms and primes may snub this lens, but don't let them spoil the party. The 70-300 VR is just another tool in the Nikon lens lineup and it has it's place, just like the wonderful Nikon 18-200VR and 200-400 VR. I believe that the 70-300VR is also an indication that the 80-400 will be updated soon since this really is a serious alternative for much less. I see the handwriting on the wall and am selling my 80-400.

Finally:
Just get one. Nothing else in your kit does what it does while being fairly compact and light. Don't consider the 70-300 ED because it's a rather cheap optical set from the G version with upgraded build and one useless ED element. Only get the 80-400 VR if you need the extra reach. So, Nikon has brought us another winner here. While it covers some of the 18-200VR's range, it adds the "big reach" of an extra 100mm which is useful. Good job, Nikon!

Capt. RB