Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED Lens

Description

The Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED Lens delivers excellent detail. Optically brilliant, the lens ensures you can get closer to the subject without the added weight of other zoom lenses. The retro design makes it a unique lens, delivering quality in every department.

The Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED Lens is one of the cheaper tele zoom options in the Nikon lens line-up. When used on today´s APS-C DSLRs the full frame lens has a field of view is equivalent to 105-450mm on classic SLRs. It seems as if the Nikkor is on the verge of being discontinued and replaced by the Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR and the brand Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR which both feature a Vibration Reduction mechanism as well as a silent-wave AF drive (AF-S).

The Nikkor AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 D ED is a lens with a little bit of a story. Its principal optical design is identical to the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD. The licensing background is unknown here. However, the lenses are probably not identical it is quite safe to assume the Nikkor it still features the native Nikon lens coating as well as a true Nikon ED element. Looking at the lens schematics the Nikkor AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6G is also virtually identical except for the ED element and outer cosmetics.

The build quality of the lens is Ok with an outer barrel made of medium quality plastics. The Nikkor extends when zooming towards the long end of the zoom range and when focusing towards closer distances. The rubberized zoom ring as well as the small focus ring operate relatively smooth and even without being restrained. The Nikkor does not feature an internal focus design so the front element rotates (as does the focus ring). The Nikon 70-300mm D ED has no internal AF motor and relies on a slotted drive screw operated by the camera. As a result the AF generates a moderate degree of noise but the AF speed is actually quite fine at least on the Nikon D200.

Item specifics – Nikon AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6D ED Lens