To measure and compare the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR's purple fringing caused by lens chromatic aberrations and sensor
blooming, we photographed a high contrast
test chart using it and a number of rival lenses set to their
shortest and longest focal lengths with the aperture wide open. The crops are taken from the upper left
corner of the chart and presented here at 100%.
The DX 55-200mm VR keeps fringing down at 55mm, but it can be apparent around high contrast subjects in the corners when zoomed-into 200mm.
Nikkor DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
Nikkor DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikkor DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
DX 55-200mm at 55mm f4
70-300mm at 70mm f4.5
DX 18-135mm at 18mm f3.5
DX 18-200mm at 18mm f3.5
DX 55-200mm at 200mm f5.6
70-300mm at 300mm f5.6
DX 18-135mm at 135mm f5.6
DX 18-200mm at 200mm f5.6
Nikkor DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR macro comparison
DX 55-200mm VR at 200mm f8
Max area of 92x62mm
To measure and compare the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR's macro performance we photographed
a chart using it and a number of rival lenses at a focal length and distance which
delivered the maximum possible reproduction.
The dark lines are 10mm apart and the result is not cropped. Smaller areas
are preferred in this test.
The image left was taken with the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR zoomed-into 200mm where it captured an area measuring 92x62mm. This puts it roughly on par with both the 70-300mm VR and DX 18-135mm. See our Gallery for a real-life macro example. Now let's compare the geometric distortion of each lens.
