Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens

shrimperblue

shrimperblue

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Dave
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Hi,

(Usage is for Wildlife and at about 200-300mm)

I bought the Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens 3 days ago brand new and I'm still not 100% convinced if this lens is worth £400+ or not?

I've found that it's soft after 200mm and I haven't been greatly impressed at 150mm+ either, although it's better than at 300mm.

The way I see it is that if this lens is indeed poor after 200mm then there's no point in me paying for a 300mm lens if I can only shoot at 200mm with sharp results?

Does anyone else have this lens that wishes to comment? Has anyone else had the same issues? Should I return it and go for something shorter - if so what are your recommendations?

Thanks,

Dave
 
I have the lens ( up for sale at the mo) and have been very impressed with it. Lovely and sharp although I do back of slightly to about 280mm when wide open.

Are you shooting on a tripod with a shutter release or hand holding. If you are unsure about the lens then get it set up on a tripod and use a shutter release or timer and then look at the results to see if it is the lens or your technique.

Have a look at my flickr and most of the bird shots are taken with the 70-300 vr and the D300.

HTH

Nick
 
It will be fascinating to hear some more feedback, I have been considering the 70-300mm as a replacement for the 55-200mm as I could do with a bit of extra reach, however if results are poor after 200mm then I may have to go back to the drawing board and consider alternative options.

Just a shame I cannot afford / justify a 70-200 f2.8 with a TC :(
 
I had one a little while ago. I'd read that some people experienced softness between 200 and 300 but in all honesty I never saw any evidence of that on my copy. I also found it very sharp and it was generally used wide open. I don't think I could have just been lucky as this lens generally has a very good reputation.

I think the other thing is, what are the alternatives? Tamron's newest 70-300 VC is meant to be decent but I've heard similar tales of softness fall off. After these two, you are generally into big money with either a 70-200, a 300mm prime or some form of Bigma.

Do you have any examples that you could post?
 
At that price I think it would be a lot to ask to get perfect sharpness all the way - it should be better than the 55-200 though.
 
cambsno said:
At that price I think it would be a lot to ask to get perfect sharpness all the way - it should be better than the 55-200 though.
Click to expand...

That's all I want, for it to be as sharp as the 55-200, any better is a bonus, as I dont use long teles often :thumbs:
 
Thanks for your replies, its very interesting to read.

I definitely wasn't expecting tack sharpness across the range for £440 but at 300mm I genuinely have noticed a big difference in softness.

@Tractor_Boy - I have been using it handheld up to 200mm and then resting on a bean bag in the bird hides. I have a tri & mono but you know what its like when you need to move quickly sometimes!

Your Bird pics are great too - all taken with the 70-300? How far away was you from your subjects?

Thanks,

Dave
 
I went for the tamron vc 70-300mm after trying it out next to the nikon vr version.Found the vc better than the vr on the nikon and its also better at the long end IMO.Not to mention it can be had new for £295 its a bargain.
 
I'm in the market for a 70-300mm and I was going to buy this lens but after reading mostly negative comments about the softness above 200mm it has put me off slightly.

The Tamron VC is from all accounts very good across the whole range even at 300mm!
 
shrimperblue said:
@Tractor_Boy - I have been using it handheld up to 200mm and then resting on a bean bag in the bird hides. I have a tri & mono but you know what its like when you need to move quickly sometimes!

Your Bird pics are great too - all taken with the 70-300? How far away was you from your subjects?

Thanks,

Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave,

Yep most are taken with the 70-300. all are taken on a tripod and I noticed an increase in keepers when I went over to a cable release.

I have a bird hide at the bottom of the garden with a small area set up with feeders so I can get quite close. This one is the farthest perch and is just under 4m away, taken at 1/640 (my default min shutter speed in custom settings) and at 280mm.



Blue Tit by Don't like to be Bored, on Flickr

I struggle with hand holding as I have a slight wobble in my hand so have to use a tripod, if i dont then 99% it is a binned shot as it is blurred so technique is a big part of any longer lens not just the monster3/4/500's.
 
Have you got VR switched on? if you are on a bean bag then that might be stable enough for the VR to be detrimental, like when you use a tripod.

FWIW, I've got a 70-300 VR and find it incredibly good, even at 300mm (especially on my D700) but at times it can produce duff results but that's usually user error.
 
Tractor Boy said:
Hi Dave,

Yep most are taken with the 70-300. all are taken on a tripod and I noticed an increase in keepers when I went over to a cable release.

I struggle with hand holding as I have a slight wobble in my hand so have to use a tripod, if i dont then 99% it is a binned shot as it is blurred so technique is a big part of any longer lens not just the monster3/4/500's.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info it's really good to know. Your images are really sharp, not something that I'm seeing at the moment. I guess it's my technique that's the problem here.

I read up about this lens before I parted with what I consider to be an expensive lens and I read nothing but praise for it, for the cost.

I guess a release cable is an option, but its just so annoying to have to use one when I want to feel the camera.

Out of interest do you have the VR on?
 
Hi,

Thanks for the comments :thumbs:

No I always switch VR off otherwise I understand that it can create its own problems as it is trying to compensate for somthing that is not there on a tripod - movement.

Don't get to dispondant over it. Pop it on a triopod and see if it makes a difference when shooting somthing solid at different focal lengths. At least that way you will know if it is you or the lens that is the problem :lol:

With regard to bird togging even with a tripod I always aim for a shutter speed of 1/640 and push the iso as needed up to about 2000. It is supprising what a difference to the picture it can make having a decent shutter speed :bang:

Nick
 
Can you show us any examples? It would be easier to help.

Ive got the 70-300mm vr lens (used), I do find like most zooms it is best from 70-200mm and starts to get slightly softer at 300mm. I brought a Nikon 300mm f4 prime for use at 300mm which is of course better as its designed for 300mm, but that costs more than double the price and it's a prime! I fine the 70-300mm vr is sharp up to 200-250mm then slightly softer at 300mm. Using a smaller aperture by stopping down slightly helps sharpness and also using a fast shutter speed. Remember without vr on you need shutter speed 1/focal length (x1.5 if crop sensor), so at 300mm on a d7000 you need a shutter speed of around 1/500 if hand held without vr on. Also if your subject is moving then you also need a fast shutter speed to freeze its movement. With vr on you probably get 2 or more stops but you still need to think about subject movement.

The next step up from this in the Nikon range will be the 18-300mm at £850 or the 70-200 vrII at £1500 or a 300mm f4 prime at £950 so the price increases considerably. The 70-300mm is a great lens for its cost.

Check out my Flickr page (Rob'81), the wildlife photos from September 2011-March 2012 (pages 5-8) are taken with the 70-300mm vr. Most of the photos since are using the 300mm f4 and sometimes a 1.4 tc. Have a look at the difference, I don't think I've yet got the best out of the 70-300mm vr but you need to know its limits (like all lens) and work within them. I always use the 70-300mm when I need a zoom, going to use it this weekend for the Olympic torch through Cambridge and i'm not worried about using it.
 
There are some great examples of what the 70-300mm vr can do on your Flickr Tractor Boy.

I only use vr when hand held, but never on a tripod or a monopod. I try to keep the shutter speed above 1/500 or 1/640 for most still subjects and around 1/1000 or more for birds in flight. Keeping a fast shutter speed is important for sharp images, like tractor boys bird images show (1/640).
 
I have this lens and have nothing but praise for it.
This pic was shot at around 220 but I have others on flyckr that are sharp longer than that.


Call_me_Elvis_650.jpg
 
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