Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED (4.3x)

Nikon has hit a home run with this Nikkor, which has a variable aperture that will range from f/4 at 70mm to f/5.6 at 300mm. Minimum aperture is f/32 at 70mm and the lens uses small colored dots to show you the aperture for 70mm and the aperture for the 300mm. You can focus crisply at as close as 5 feet and thats at any zoom setting you’d care to use.

The focus distance as in other D type lenses is used by the camera in making the flash metering calculations. Making use of Nikons extra-low dispersion glass in two areas, your color informatin will focus at the same plane, particularly when at longer lengths and will, like most ED lenses, focus past infinity, depending on some external conditions such as temperature.

Manual zoom and focus rings are separated, and easy to fin, with the front focus ring being wide enough to get a good hold of, unlike some lenses of this type.

Equipped with the HB 15 lens hood, the lens is relatively small about about 70 mm, and will fit well into smaller cases or into your hand, although it does extend several inches when you are zoomed to 300.

The lens is built of quality polycarbonate, sturdy enough for day to day u se. It is not supplied with a tripod mount, however since the weight isn’t such that it requires one the only time that will be an issue is in very slow shutter photos.