To measure and compare the resolving power of the Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR lens, we photographed the Enhanced Digital Camera Resolution Chart with it and a number of rival lenses using a Nikon D80. We tested each lens at a focal length near the lower end of each optical range and at an aperture of f8 for the maximum sharpness. The D80 was set to Large Fine JPEG mode and its Optimise Image parameter set to Normal.

The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

The DX 55-200mm VR at 70mm f8 scored 2150 lpph for both horizontal and vertical resolution, which is essentially the same as that measured for the other lenses shown here. Clearly the 10 Megapixel sensor of the Nikon D80 is the limiting factor here. Interestingly our 70-300mm VR sample scored fractionally lower in its vertical resolution when set to 100mm f8, but this certainly wasn't noticeable on our real-life sample images. Now let's take a look at the corner sharpness results.