Nikon AF 70-300/4.0-5.6 G Black Nikkor Lens (not compatible with D40/D40x/D60/D5000)

This purchase was for my daughter who wanted to up date from a pocket size camera to a DSLR to record the progress and changes in our new Grand-Daughter, I bought her a D3200 , for her birthday, I am a very keen amateur photographer myself and have just upgraded my seven year old D700 to a D810 and already have one of these lenses, my daughter thought she would like one, so I lent her mine to try, after a very short time she said she would like to have one of her own, hence this purchase, as a new one would cost more than the camera, and she was paying this time I suggested a good used one. My one was new when I bought it and still looks like new today after seven or so years of careful use. The only piece of equipment I have purchased used was a Nikon SB 900 flash gun, which was all complete in its original box and in like new condition. I suggested we look carefully, and for one complete with all parts both lens caps, lens hood, and pouch type case all in its original box, I feel that someone that has kept the box has more likely treated the lens carefully. The lens arrived and I tried it on my D810 it looked as good as my own one and performed perfectly, my daughter is very happy with this purchase. Now I must review this lens, before I started I decided to look at the existing reviews already written. I found it unbelievable of some reviews, particularly the person who had returned the lens claiming the rear lens cap was stuck, I presume it was fitted with a pattern cap rather than an original Nikon one, as my one is marked with an arrow and the word " open " in the clockwise direction, YES IT IS LEFT HAND Thread Bayonet. There is many more I could comment on but it would make this too long. The 70-300 is a superb lens I have had a lot of use from mine, the quality of prints from it are excellent and I frequently print at A3, I am an aircraft enthusiast and have taken some superb shots at air shows, of Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs, I must admit photographing, "The Red Arrows" is a little more challenging, but I have worked out a focusing technique which gives me around 90% success. The auto focus locks quickly and quietly but I do not use auto for" The Reds", I will comment on another review, which annoyed me slightly, this person said that taking pictures of small birds in flight or birds perching a good distance away the lens was useless this is not the fault of the lens, he should have gone for at least a 500mm or got closer. I cannot fault this lens if it is used sensibly. I will just say if you are a Nikon user, I would not use any other than Nikon lenses for picture and build quality, you would not buy a Rolls Royce and put a Ford engine in it.

I haven't got the experience to rate this lens from a professional photographers eye, but for me, what it does is extremely good and for the money it is an absolute steal. Like all moderately priced big zooms I can confirm what other reviewers have said about the drop off in sharpness at the extreme end, but seriously, what do you expect for a lens aimed at and priced at the keen amateur end of the market? Because I'm especially keen on wildlife and candid people shots I tend to leave the lens on the camera all the time and switch to my lesser used 18-105mm for everything else. It is extremely heavy and feels very solid. Coupled with the weight of my D7000 I could never forget I'm carrying it. Only once have I missed a shot when the camera would not autofocus on a fairly dull day as a spitfire passed on its way to an air show. The grey body against the grey sky with rubbish light was a little too much for it and I couldn't fire one shot off. That minor disappointment aside, it is a great piece of glass. The pro version(2.8 hole) will set you back a thousand pounds and more and I really can't justify that kind of outlay for what I do with a camera. Ultimately I would say it is well worth the money and so long as you don't try to shoot in adverse conditions it will do what you ask of it. VR Stability works very well and I leave it on all the time. I have not tried the VR panning setting yet as I tend not to do this and so it stays in full control.

I bought this as a special treat for myself, as I was frustrated that my Tamron 18-200mm was just missing the detail I wanted for photos of the birds outside my window. I deliberated whether it was worth the money for an extra 100mm, but the reviews on the Vibration Reduction swung it for me.I have to say I am extremely impressed with its performance so far. The VR makes a big difference for a shakey old bird like me, and that extra magnification has already resulted in some fantastic shots, even though I've just been messing with it rather that seriously planning photos.It's a big lens, and a bit heavy, but that's what you'd expect for a lens with this spec. I find it's performance at the 200-300mm range better that at lower end of the range, but that might just be me! Auto focussing speed is good and not too noisy, and the manual override is an added bonus. I would have preferred a hard lens case rather than the soft floppy velvety job, but guess you can't have everything!I'm not a photography geek, so at my level of expertise I find this to be a lovely bit of kit, and Im very pleased I bought it.