Nikkor 70-300mm

William · Apr 5, 2007

I've been looking for a good long lens but kind of cheap; so far I've settled on the Nikkor 70-300mm. I'm wondering how you guys like this lens.
Also, what is the difference between the ED and the not ED version?

Thanks!

smyth · Apr 6, 2007

depends what you're using it for. I'm assuming that you're getting the f4-5.6. ?

dinodan · Apr 6, 2007

There are three, actually.

The 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G is the cheap, made-in-China one that sells for about $125 in the US. It's a kit lens that's okay as long as you keep it pretty well stopped down at the longer focal lengths and otherwise don't expect too much of it. There are quite a few of these on Ebay, probably for sale by owners who got them as kit lenses and are ready to step up to something a bit better.

Then, there's the 70-300 f/4-5.6 ED lens that sells for around $325.00, I think. I don't have any experience with this lens, but it's safe to assume that it performs considerably better than the aforementioned cheapo. ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass is a special formulation that reduces chromatic aberrations caused by the fact that different wavelengths of light (colors) converge at different points after being refracted through a lens.

Finally, there's the new (introduced last summer) 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 VR lens. This one costs around $525 or so and features ED glass, IF (internal focusing, meaning that the lens does not change length as it's focused), and VR vibration reduction technology.