Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR f/34-8 Fixed Zoom Digital SLR Camera Lens, Black

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My motivation for trying this new lens is that each summer (April through September) I spend a bunch of time in the garden photographing hummingbirds. My best photos are usually made with the Af-S 300mm F/4 prime, but it is a heavy lens for extended use. Most times I use a monopod to help support that heavy lens for anything other than a quick session. LIkewise, using the Nikkor 200-500mm, F/5.6 doesn’t work for me either because of its weight, the lack of maneuverability and a slightly sluggish auto-focus, compared to the AF-S 300mm, F/4 prime. However, it has produced some really nice images. (if interested: www(DOT)flickr(DOT)com/photos/pms_swim/ - replace "DOT" with "."; Amazon strips out website links in reviews... ) My other “go to” lens for chasing hummingbirds is the venerable Af-S 70-300m f/5.6 that I have been using for about the past 10 years. It has been to the Nikon hospital at least once, while still under warranty to replace the focus motor (AF-S). Some say it’s “soft” on the long end (300mm) and maybe it is. However, I can usually hand-hold it and follow the “little birds” for hours, if need be (it is rarely ever hours…). Nikon has a newer 300mm F/4 E “PF” lens (Phase Fresnel) which is much lighter, but it’s $2,000. Besides, the AF-S 300mm F/4 prime is an excellent lens which I already own. Thus, my hopes for a light, worthy replacement for the 70-300mm AF-S rest upon this new rendition of that classic lens. However, I’m also concerned about compatibility with the D7200, my “go to” DX camera for this type of photography. What does it mean I will "lose focus when it times out?" I need to try it to see if it meets my needs utilizing “back button focus” and “pre-focusing” on flowers and awaiting a bird to alight. What you want to read first, the good news or the bad news? Good news is that the lens seems to focus very quickly using the D7200, about like the 300mm F/4 AF-S prime, even in poor light approaching dusk. Also, the focus appears spot-on, nearly silent. I thought it “was” totally silent at first, but listening closely I can hear a slight hum. Well, not exactly a hum, more like a soft clunk; very quiet. The further the “throw” distance (going from near to way out or vice versa) the more pronounced the clunk. “Clunk” isn’t exactly the right word either, but it’s very quiet. An aside, playing with the AF on my other camera body, the D750, the focus is absolutely quiet. Don’t know why the difference. Can you handle more good news? Well, the image quality even wide-open (f/5.6 @ 300mm) and especially stopped down to f/6.3, f/7.1 approximates the 300mm AF-S prime IQ. It’s obviously better IQ than my old 70-300mm AF-S zoom at 300mm, which is what I was hoping for. In that regard, I’m quite impressed and pleased with the IQ. NOTE: it became dark and will await morning to check out IQ, AF, etc. with the other body, the D750. OK, the not so good news… That “time out, loss of focus” is going to bother me when using the D7200. I use back-button AF, and keep the shutter depressed as I follow “those little birds” around. No problem in that mode of attack. However, I didn’t realize how much I focus on a flower, for example, then let up on the shutter and await a bird to alight or hover by a flower. Then, I would fully depress the shutter and get the shot, most of the time (things happen quickly!). However, with this new lens, the 70-300mm f/5.6 AF-P zoom, if the camera has “timed out” (e.g. info [LEDs] along bottom of viewfinder goes blank) when I press down on the shutter, it loses focus, though it still appears in focus in the vieiwfinder until i push down on the shutter relase. Then, I have to stab the back-button to re-establish focus and that’s a problem because of how quickly things are happening in photographing hummingbirds. FYI, after applying the latest firmware update on the D750 in anticipation of getting this lens, this “time out, and lose focus” does not happen with that camera body with my preliminary testing indoors, overnight. An aside, the lens fits very snugly on both bodies. I had some difficulty removing it from either body and had to use both hands and deliberately hold the body & move the lens. I felt like maybe something was “stuck,” but I didn’t see anything unusual. I don’t think I have to be so deliberate with most all other lenses, except the very long telephoto lenses. So, I’m trying to figure out what to do… Nikon could make it so easy by updating the D7200 camera’s firmware, like it has done with the D750 so that focus problem would be solved. Meanwhile, I will be trying to figure out how to lengthen the amount of time, before D7200 “turns off.” I’m not interested in upgrading to another DX body, despite how nice, capable they are (e.g. D500, D7500). For one thing, the software I presently own and am quite content with using doesn’t support those new cameras, but I’m getting off -track here. I suspect I am not alone in this quandary of what to do with a lens if I own a camera body with “limited” compatibility. Overall, I really like the initial results (IQ, AF) and will continue to test (VR, video… - but I don’t use these that much). OK, just wanted to share my initial impressions.

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Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6E ED VR zoom lens I have recently purchased the AF=P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, after using the older AF-S 70-300 f4.5-5.6 lens for 12 years. I do not yet have much experience with it, but I can report a few things. It focuses much faster than the older AF-S lens, and is a bit quieter (although the AF-S is very quiet). It is a bit lighter than the AF-S lens. I am using it on an older D5200 camera body. IT WORKS PERFECTLY ON THIS OLDER CAMERA! Some people have claimed it will not work on the D5200 - they are wrong. Read the information on the Nikon web site - they say it will work with the D5200. The only caveat is that the D5200 (like other older Nikons) has an auto time out for autofocus, and when this times out the lens may change focus. So if you are tracking a subject with the shutter release half way down to maintain focus it will time out after a while. You can change the time out duration in the camera settings. This is an issue with the camera, and not the lens. It applies to all lenses used on the camera, and not just this lens. The lens is a FX format lens. If you use it on a DX format camera body (like the D5200) the lens projects an image larger than the DX sensor. The result it that the effective focal length is 1.5 times greater, or 105-450mm. There is actually a real advantage to this arrangement. Lenses have the greatest distortion at the extreme edges of the image. Only the central part of an FX lens image is focused on the DX sensor, giving a sharper picture. The only deficiency I can see with this new lens is the lack of a focal distance scale on the lens body. The older lens had one, but I rarely used it. The older AF-S 70-300mm f4/5-5.6 lens was amazing. When I have more experience with this AF-P 70-300 f4.5-5.6 lens I will post a more complete review.

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While I was hoping for an f4 70-300 I was still pleased to see how quick and sharp this 4.5-5.6 is. Im using it with my Nikon D500, forgoing the DX version which, while much lighter and smaller, lacks the metal mount and VR switch. This FX version may even be a tad sharper on the DX sensor. Lastly, as I may add a full-frame body next year I wanted my 70-300 to work with DX and FX. Buyers should verify that this AF-P lens will work on their Nikon body as its limited to only a few of the newer models.

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I had the previous version of this lens and while it provided very good optical quality I was never fully satisfied with it. The current version (AF-P) is much better optically. It delivers quality images on both my FX and DX bodies. Highly recommended.

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Sharp, light, fast focus, good price (for a Nikon) - this is exactly what I was looking for and I am very happy that it met my high expectations. I have modern camera bodies so I am not concerned about "limited compatibility". Ken Rockwell also says this is a great lens. 07/2018 follow-up: I have used this lens for almost a year now and I love it! I thought it was a good deal when I bought in new for $750. I am really surprised to see it is currently $600.

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I have a Nikon D7100 - and have used a 50 mm prime lens for three years since I got the camera body. My daughter is coaching middle school cross country - I need a lens to get me out farther. I did a lot of on-line research and talked to much smarter folks than I am - and finally landed on this 70-300. WOW. I have had the lens a little less than a week and am just getting to know it - the glass is SO good - images crystal clear and the reach is amazing. Yes, it needs more light than the ole prime lens, and it is a lot heavier, but the benefits are well worth it. I recommend this enthusiastically.

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I returned this lens. It just wasnt sharp enough, IQ wasnt very good compared to any of my other Nikons. I took some shots of the moon with it on the D850, and the shots I took with at 105mm and cropped with my 105mm macro were actually better than the ones taken at 300mm with this lens. I ordered a Tamron 70-200 G2 with the money from this and it is much higher quality. I may have had I bad copy, I dont know, but the lens itself felt cheap to me, I just didnt like anything about it.

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Bought this for a zoom for my Z6 as dont see a Z equivalent any time soon. First impressions support the various reviews of this lens. It is a reasonable weight and balances well on the Z6 with the PTZ. The zoom is smooth to use and the focus ring works well with the focus peaking. General initial shots at 70mm and 300mm confirm that it is tack sharp. It zooms very quickly, if not quite as fast as the 300mm prime. It comes with a, not particularly great, lens bag, and the lens hood is substantial. It focuses very close and whilst no where near macro is going to be great for friendly birds. Finally the price of this lens makes it a bit of a no brainer. Wonderful addition to the Z6 kit lens and now I just need to find a justification for the, slightly more ;) expensive 14-30 f/4. (For those who follow ByThom also lists these three as his travel option set.).

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Well balanced with Nikon D750

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Bought this to shoot with my Z6, works perfectly with the FTZ adapter. Quick, silent auto focus and sharp pictures. So far, I love it!

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