Nikon is known not only for its vast array of cameras but also for its unique, efficient, and well-performing lenses. So if you are in the market for a lens that provides sharp, vibrant, and high-quality pictures of vast landscapes or any outdoor environment, then Nikon lenses like the Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR should be at the top of your list.
The Nikon 70-300mm captures wildlife, sports, landscapes, concerts, and much more with clarity and precision.
With its stepping motor AF-P, the autofocus functions silently and within seconds to provide you with sharp stills, as well as HD videos. Furthermore, it possesses VR Image Stabilization which makes sure that you capture clear, high-resolution photos and steady HD videos even at night.
In this review of the Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR, we talk about the unique factors that set it apart from the rest, as well as compare it with a few competitors so you can make a clear, sound, and conscious purchasing decision.
The Design
This particular 70-300mm lens is made from black polycarbonate that is weather-sealed and has a two-ring design.
The lens comes in at 5.8 x 3.2 inches and when fully extended, the length almost doubles. It retracts back quite smoothly. The diaphragm has nine rounded blades. It weighs only 1.5 pounds which is very convenient. Its light weight also makes it perfect for landscape and nature photographers who hike long distances.
The zoom of the lens is engineered using the same standards found in previous NIKKOR lenses. You will see that there are two toggle switches on the lens – one is for stabilization while the other is for focus.
The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR comes with a plastic hood that helps block sunlight or any other light source that might cause lens glare or flare. Besides that, a lens hood is great for protecting the lens from scratches.
The zoom ring has ridges to give you a better grip of the lens when using it. The smaller focus ring also has a ridged finish. Despite the ridges, it is relatively a smooth design that is comfortable and has just enough rigidness to help you make precise adjustments.
The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR In Use
The very first thing you notice when fixing this lens to your camera is that it weighs very little. This helps to make it the perfect candidate for people who love to travel or take their cameras with them everywhere.
The zoom action is the smoothest I’ve seen and the autofocus operates quickly and quietly, especially in the live view. The focus transition is also as smooth as the zoom action when you are recording a video. All hail the AF-P motor!
Since the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 has contrast detection, there is a bit of back and forth action when you try to focus on a particular object in the live view. Other than that, I was really impressed by the above mentioned features.
Picture Quality
There are three different aspects to judge the quality of the pictures taken from this lens: Shooting Macro Objects, Stabilization, and Color Aberration.
Shooting Macro Objects
This particular lens is not a macro lens but due to its wide focal length, you can use it for this purpose.
The lens can focus to 1.2 meters with a maximum magnification of 0.25x. It works effectively to catch close and personal details; however, it might not give satisfactory results if you focus on very small objects.
Stabilization
If we talk about the stabilization, it is rated to 4.5 stops of compensation. Furthermore, this can be switched off when you are using a tripod to shoot videos.
If you are hand-holding the camera while shooting, you can use Normal Mode but if you are shooting motion videos (running animals, sports, crowds at concerts, etc), switch to the Sports setting for better results.
Chromatic Aberrations/ Color Fringing
The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR does not have problematic chromatic aberrations. However, if you try to shoot a bright light source directly, you might notice a few peculiarities. Other than that, the fringing is well-controlled.
Angle of View
If we talk about the angle of view (AOV) or field of view of this lens, it offers considerable AOV for both DX and FX formats.
The DX-format is found in Nikon’s APS-C models like the D7500. Whereas, the FX-format is found in the full-frame models of Nikon like the D850 or D780.
For DX-format, the maximum angle is 22.5 degrees and the minimum angle is 5.2 degrees. For FX-format, the maximum is 34.2 degrees and the minimum is 8.1 degrees.
How Does the Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR Compare?
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS and Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM are the biggest rivals of the NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR.
In the following table, we break down some important features you need to look out for while searching for a lens.
| Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR | Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS | Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM | |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Optical Design | 18 elements in 14 groups | 16 elements in 13 groups | 19 elements in 14 groups |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1.2 meters | 0.9 meters | 1.2 meters |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32-40 | f/22-29 | f/32-45 |
| Dimensions | 5.8 x 3.2 inches | 3.37 x 5.75 inches | 5.6 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs | 1.8 lbs | 2.3 lbs |
Conclusion
The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR is perfect for photographers who mostly shoot moving subjects. Furthermore, it can be used for everyday shooting since it provides perfect stabilization whether it is handheld or mounted on a tripod. Due to its light weight, many travelers and vloggers prefer this particular lens.
The autofocus is fast, quiet, and efficient. The focus transition might take a few seconds to adjust but overall, it is just as amazing as the autofocus.
I particularly liked that the lens was able to deflect all blue and purple fringes quite well. This aspect further enhances its performance with bright, sunny, or well-light outdoor locations.
