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This high-power 4.3x telephoto zoom is a versatile and lightweight answer to bringing family action closer. Fits all Nikon SLR cameras but optimized for automatic-focus models
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Technical Details
- Compact super-telephoto lens for travel, sports, wildlife, and stock photography- Super-fast, super-quiet lens using Silent Wave motor technology
- ED glass elements for high-resolution and high-contrast images
- M/A mode allows rapid switching between autofocus and manual operation
- Nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
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By Sam (USA)
I'm surprised that there are so few reviews for this lens.
I wanted a telephoto for years so I bought an old used manual focus Nikon 300mm f4 lens. I was able to get good sharp photographs when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine with the aperture closed down a few stops. But without the split prism focusing in less than very bright environments, I was never certain when I was in focus except by looking at the green dot in the viewfinder which is distracting while trying to keep your eye on a moving subject. Auto-focus is a must on a big telephoto.
I traded it in (the advantage of buying from a local camera store) and bought a new Nikon 300mm f4. Before leaving the store, I photographed a few items inside the store that had bar codes. I photographed hand held with the aperture wide open at about 1/100 second. I zoomed in on my D300 LCD and I could clearly read the tiny numbers at the bottom of the bar codes. The images were perfectly sharp.
I ponied up an additional $1K and bought it. Hey, it was my wedding anniversary and my wife asked what I wanted; this was it. I then took another series of photographs of a sharp barcode on a bottle. This time, I used a tripod for consistency. I do this test with each lens I buy. The only other lens that had this quality as the Nikon 85mm f1.4.
I could see no difference in sharpness or contrast regardless of aperture. I then photographed a house for sale sign up the street. The lens quickly and quietly locked in on the sign. Again, zooming in all the way on the camera's LCD, I was able to easily read the very tiny print at the bottom of the sign (at 200 ISO).
The lens is fairly lightweight so I didn't have any problem hand holding it. It weighs about the same as the Nikon Micro 2.8 lens (not sharp wide open). I don't think I could have held the 300mm f2.8 lens for very long. It would have been nice to have VR on the f4 lens.
Because the lens isn't heavy, by holding the lens hood with one hand and having a good body stance, I was able to take good shots as low at 1/100th of a second. Some photographers claim their photographs were taken hand-held as slow at 1/20 of a second but I find that hard to believe.
While the f4 model doesn't have VR (I love VR) and is only 1 fstop slower, it's about 1/4th of the price of the 2.8 and weighs so much less.
I love the 5 year warranty (I send in the warranty card via Certified Mail -- you only have 10 days so mail it in quickly) and I scan the filled in warranty registration card). Nikon just fixed, for free; not even any shipping costs, my broken 18-200mm gray market lens that was about 2 years old.
Lens actually comes with a soft case. I don't understand why other reviewers have complained about the tripod collar. It seems perfectly good to me. It's not solid metal like the old manual focus lens that I returned but it looks rugged enough for me.
Luckily, the price on the box wasn't changed with the recent 15 or 20% across the board price increase in Nikon lenses so I paid a few hundred less than anywhere on the Internet.
I tend to be very fussy; perhaps to a fault. It's my personality. I wind up returning or exchanging many (most?) items that don't live up to my expectations. But, I'm definitely keeping this puppy.
Some friends came over one night and they brought their young daughter who didn't like being photographed (2 year olds tend to be cranky). I used the 300mm lens so that she didn't have a camera in front of her face; I was about 10 feet away. Since all I had was a few lamps on, I had to photograph at wide open at f4. I was surprised that ever single eyelash was tack sharp. The lens had no problem auto-focusing in the dim light. What a lens!
By E. G. Kallen (san diego, ca United States)
Amazing results. I was considering the 300/2.8AFS VR.. but it costs a whole lot more ( ~$5K), and its too heavy to lug around. The 300/4 AFS is affordable and can be easily hand held. The images from this lens, obviously, cannot match the f/2.8 lens, but they are close. Everything considered, the AFS 300mm f/4 Nikkor is a better value than the 2.8 VR lens.
By lemmy shoyu (So Cal, USA)
Nikon's 300mm f/4 ED-IF AF-S telephoto lens is a excellent value and an excellent choice for shooting Sports, wildlife and portraits. At 3.17 lbs., it is very mobile and easy to hand hold. With extra low dispersion "ED" glass and fast, silent internal focusing, it is capable of producing photos that rival much more expensive lenses. When coupled with teleconverters, focus is not as sure and some shots may be missed while autofocus is hunting for the subject. For those needing additional range, after November 2007 Nikon will be introducing three new fast autofocus vibration reduction "VR II" super telephoto lenses:
AF-S 600mm f/4G ED VR, AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR.
By Barry R. Schirm
This is a superb lens, without the bulk or the much higher cost of the f/2.8 version. With the money you'll save, you can buy a replacement tripod collar for the lens from Kirk Enterprises, which is a vast improvement over the somewhat flimsy collar which comes with the lens.
By John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
This is the latest version of the Nikon 300mm f4 ED Nikkor lens, which is surprisingly relatively light and barely hand-holdable. Those photographers who don't need the additional speed or bulk of the 300mm f2.8 Nikkor, will find this lens quite reliable for nature, landscape, and especially, sports photography. In its latest incarnation, the 300mm f4 ED Nikkor now can focus very fast and accurately, due to Nikon's Silent Wave autofocusing technology. Without question, this is one of the finest 300mm lenses available now. If I was still using Nikon equipment, I wouldn't hesitate adding this lens to my kit.
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Buy Nikon 300mm f/4.0D ED-IF AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now
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