300mm f/2.8G AF-S VR

300mm f/2.8G AF-S VR

Focal length: 300mm Maximum aperture: f/2.8 Minimum aperture: f/22

Vibration Reduction (VR) technology compensates for typical camera shake and extends your ability to shoot at shutter speeds that are up to three-stops slower than would be possible with a lens without VR technology. Nikon VR technology automatically detects panning action, and with Active Mode selected you can enhance your ability to shoot from unsteady platforms such as moving cars or aircraft. VR On/Off mode allows conservation of battery power.

Lens construction: 11 elements in 8 groups (with 3 ED glass elements) 1 meniscus protective glass element G type: Full performance available when used with Nikon models that incorporate a sub-command dial; other camera models have more limited compatibility Picture angle: 8-degrees10-ft. on 35mm format and 5-degrees20-ft. on Nikon DX Format Sensor Minimum focus distance: 2.2m (86.6 in./ 7.2 ft.) Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:6.1 (x 0.16) Filter / attachment size: 52mm Dimensions: Approx. 124 x 268 mm (4.9 x 10.6 in.) Weight: Approx. 2870 g (6.32 lbs)

Optional accessories: C-PL2L Circular Polarizing Filter, Gelatin Filter Holder, Teleconverters: TC-14E II, TC-17E II, TC-20E II Content and images originally posted by Andy Bright

• 
• 

Reviews

Andy Bright's review

First off, the AF-S 300mm 2.8 VR is far more compact than I had imagined (I have previously owned a Nikkor 300/2.8) and this one seems far shorter in length, I think some Japanese designer has been active with a hacksaw on the hood or it is a trick of the eye with the main lens barrel being so fat.

Weight wise it does seem lighter in weight, but I know this is solely because I am now used to lugging a 600/4 around.

I purchased the lens solely as a walkaround lens. with a strengthened optech neoprene strap, it is very easy to walk around with this lens around your neck for many hours.

Tripod foot seems minute compared to my bigger lens... and it was removed very quickly (half hoped it would weigh a fair bit, but its removal did not shed too many grams). The facility to remove the whole collar was attractive until I realised that I would lose the lugs for the shoulder/neck-strap so that idea was ditched, not that collar removal seems to be in the realm of the user but a shop job.

VR seems more far responsive and rapid in kicking-in than the 80-400, though it does seem a little noisier than the 80-400mm VR

AF is very rapid... but most USM/HSM/AF-S lenses are, and the main questions these days revolve around the camera side of the AF equation.

What I had presumed to be nothing more than 4 AF lock buttons on the lens barrel (as with my 600/4) turn out to be multi purpose, the most useful purpose being that a press on any of them will take you straight to a preset focus point (excellent).

Lots of sliding switches on this lens, most are just a waste of space really.

Initial results; 300mm bare = sharpness beyond belief, never had a lens this sharp. Backgrounds were totally convincing, natural and smooth fall-off. No real evidence of improvement to image after stopping down. Colours looked totally accurate to me.

300mm + TC-14E = as above, no visible loss of any aspect of the above... even wide open at f4.

300mm + TC-17E = A major (and pleasant) surprise to me. Wide open at f4.8 there was no significant degradation to the image, just very minor softening. at f5.6 we were back to images all but identical from the bare lens

More, including photos at http://www.digiscoped.com/Nikon300mmVR.html

Pros

• Optical quality
• build quality

Cons

• cost