The sets of crops below immediately reveal the DX 55-200mm VR as delivering lower contrast to the pricier 70-300mm VR when both lenses are set to 70mm f8. While the 70-300mm crops are undoubtedly punchier though, there's little if any extra detail resolved. Both lenses appear to deliver roughly the same degree of detail in this particular test, which is impressive for the DX 55-200mm VR considering its budget price.

As you'll see in our studio resolution tests on the next page, the resolving power of each lens appears to be limited by the D80's 10 Megapixel sensor, although it will be interesting to retest each lens with higher resolution Nikon bodies to see if differences emerge. Before moving onto the next page though, scroll down further to see results with each lens with their apertures wide open.

Below are crops from samples taken with each lens opened to its widest aperture; the composition is identical to the one above allowing direct comparisons. If anything the DX 55-200mm VR appears to deliver slightly higher contrast here at 70mm when opened to its widest aperture, and there's certainly no undesirable artefacts as a result. Indeed if you look very closely to the right side of the first row of crops, you'll see a tiny amount of blue fringing on the white chimney on the 70-300mm VR sample which isn't apparent on the cheaper lens.

So overall, a good result here for the DX 55-200mm at 70mm, although with tests performed at the longer end of the optical range we noticed some softening and coloured fringing in the extreme corners compared to the 70-300mm. To be fair though, the 70-300mm VR is more expensive, bigger, heavier and corrected for full-frame bodies. So the results here are testament to the quality of the DX 55-200mm VR - it's a class act for the money. Now let’s have a look at the studio resolution results.