Camera Labs

Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know about our Nikkor 70-300mm VR review here:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikkor_70-300mm_VR/

and as always, there's a video tour here:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikko ... view.shtml

If you've already read our earlier DX 55-200mm VR review, be sure to still scroll down to the bottom of the first results page of the 70-300mm review as there's some new outdoor results...

Gordon

Great review Gordon.
Made me want to change my 55-200 VR.

But I think I keep it a while longer while i try to beefed up my wallet for something better, that might comes along.

Colour fringing looks obvious though.

DavidL

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Nikon D7000 and a bunch of Nikkors

I've just uploaded 4 photos I took using this lens with my D80 in New Zealand. Only the second photo is cropped. Click on the photos to see their full Flickr pages.


ISO 320, 195mm, f/5.3, 1/320


ISO 360, 240mm, f/5.6, 1/1000


ISO 250, 250mm, f/5.6, 1/1000


ISO 200, 300mm, f/7.1, 1/1000

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Nikon D80, Nikkor lenses: 35mm f1.8 G AF-S DX, 50mm f/1.8 AF D, 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR, SB800 flash
My photos on SmugMug

Nice review and video-tour (as always!) of a very interesting lens.
Just one question: when you talk about VR you mention it to help reduce shutter-speed 3-4 "times" (not "stops")!? 3-4 stops means 8-16 times and that was what your review was saying...
In addition to your praise of the lens, let me add that the next longer alternative, the Nikon VR 80-400mm, is a big step from the VR 70-300mm with respect to weight, size/bulk and price coupled (unfortunately) with an older VR and AF/MF-switch that in no way makes it attractive for the additional 100mm (from 300mm to 400mm) reach. See my review here.
So the VR 70-300 seems to be the best tele-zoom this side of 2000$/€ (!) for the Nikon-system. And an ideal lens for the aspiring FX-photographer. A real bargain!

Addendum: Oh and btw Gordon, you still show macro-capabilities of the VR 18-200mm that must have existed only in your test-lens. This is a little unfair against the other lenses, as the 18-200mm that you can buy off the shelf today only has a fov of approx 9x6cm and is thus much worse than the other lenses in this comparison.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Love the review Gordon!

Also loving the last shot Phil

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Nikon D80 | 18-135mm Kit Lens | 50mm f/1.8 | 4GB 150x Card | SB-600
http://flickr.com/photos/antmanisfubar

Those shots looks great Phil..

Makes me wanna have it !
Just checked with my local store - they have it in-stock but ...
cost is okay - provided i dont eat for the next 3-4 months !

Tempting tempting - temptations at work !

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Nikon D7000 and a bunch of Nikkors

But David, I think you have a nice lens with the VR 55-200mm already. So you better get yourself some food - we don't want to lose you starving for new gear

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Great shots Phil, especially of the whales - at Kaikoura I presume? I did the same trip and didn't come back with anything nearly as good - even when cropped!

Thomas, yep, it's 3-4 stops. I think it's ok to say 3-4 times slower in the video as it'll be better understood. Remember the videos are watched by a wider audience.

As for the 18-200mm, I don't have one here to retest for the macro. That was the result I got for my sample. I could arguably re-source and retest every single product and may find some different results, but there's only so much time, and if it were a case of me restesting the 18-200mm or producing a new review I think most would prefer the latter!

Nice video review Gordon!

One thing that seems missing is a tripod collar, i.e. center of mass too far forward, as this lens w/o a collar will cause you to tighten down more on the tripod to ensure it doesn't suddenly tilt forward, not to mention the strain placed on the camera mount.

One minor quibble is that the focusing ring is small in comparison to the zoom ring, would prefer the opposite arrangement.