• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Photography Life

PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels

  • Reviews
  • News
  • Lenses
    • Lens Index
  • Forum
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Workshops
    • Support Us
    • Submit Content
  • My Account
    • Log In
    • Sign Up
  • Search
Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P Review

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P

By Nasim Mansurov 90 Comments
Last Updated On July 2, 2020

« »

Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Optical Features
  • Lens Comparisons
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
guest
guest
90 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Matthew Currie
Matthew Currie
November 19, 2019 2:13 pm

I’m a little late to the party here, but in anticipation of a few trips recently I finally got around to replacing my 55-300DX with the 70-300 P (FX version). I chose that because my D7100 has no in-camera ability to turn off VR, and I have read that the VR on the DX version, while good most of the time, may compromise panning for birds in flight. And since I could afford the DX version and still fit it in my traveling backpack, I went for it. I haven’t noticed a problem tracking BIF in the current lens, but it as an “active” VR mode, and you can turn it off, so I can use whatever works best whenever I need.

After playing a bit with this and liking it, my wife raced it against her 70-300AFS/VR, and traded that one in.

Of course it’s easy to guess that the new lens outperforms the 55-300 optically and vastly outperforms it mechanically, but it also visibly tops the previous model. The AFS-VR was very good, but the new one is visibly better.

On a recent trip to Antarctic regions, I was continually suprised (after several years with the 55-300) at how consistently and how fast the new lens hit what it was aimed at. There may be a few reasons to gripe at Nikon for doing this or that or failing to do that or this, but I’m happy with the choices on this one.

2
Reply
Guy Dagar
Guy Dagar
March 18, 2019 2:36 pm

Shooting the AF-P 70-300mm with both my D810 and D850 I have to say I’m just continuously amazed. As far as I can tell the IQ is just as good as my three favorite Nikon zooms, the 24-70mm f/2.8 G, The 70-200mm f/4 G VR, and the lowly but ultra sharp 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5. I bought the 70-300 to have a lighter lens with a little more reach for those times when I don’t want to lug a tripod down on the beach or into the woods. Hand-held at 300mm it continues to provide sharp, beautiful photos. One of these days I’ll put it on a tripod and see what it really can do.

1
Reply
Patrick Stargardt
Patrick Stargardt
April 2, 2020 12:42 am

How does it compare to the Nikon 300mm F4 PF? Can we compare the imatest scores from the test?

0
Reply
Daniel
Daniel
August 27, 2019 7:00 am

can someone put on line some shots about the AF-P 70-300 DX VR on FX sensor?
i’m really interested, especially from 100mm and up!
from what i read here it look like a good compromise between quality and price. personally it would be only a temporary choice while waiting nikon to relase similar zoom on z-mount!

0
Reply
David Butler
David Butler
Reply to  Daniel
October 15, 2019 2:15 pm

Hi Daniel
I am really pleased with this lens on my Z6 as a lightweight travel telephoto. Fast focussing and I would say sharp. Its light but is a bit long with the FTZ adaptor but I left the lens hood at home which helped (I regretted that when using the lens in light rain!). I managed to purchase in the UK from a dealer as an open box product for £430 – I consider that to be a bargain. Hope that helps – I would post some shots if I knew how.

0
Reply
Chris Newman
Chris Newman
March 9, 2019 3:17 am

As I commented under your Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX VR AF-P review, I have been looking, unsuccessfully, for measurements of resolution, etc, on the same basis, to allow me to compare the image quality of the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX VR AF-P and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P. This is the first site I’ve found that that covers both of these telephotos and publishes measurements. (I was particularly impressed by the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S review, with four copies tested to address variation.) I was then very disappointed to find that the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX VR AF-P review doesn’t include measured data.
Are you able to comment on the relative optical quality of these two lenses?

With thanks,
Chris

0
Reply
Chris Newman
Chris Newman
March 8, 2019 8:53 am

I have a Nikon D800, my principal lens is a 24-70mm f/2.8, but the core kit I regularly carry includes APS-C lenses to keep down weight. My telephoto is the Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200 4-5.6G IF-ED, but I would like a longer reach and better image quality, and recently testing has convinced me that my hand-held results at 200mm are degraded by mirror slap. (Ironically for a telephoto, the 55-200mm is my lightest lens, as well as the cheapest. My other, heavier lenses also have shorter focal lengths, except the massive Sigma 150-500mm, which combined with their larger moments of inertia seem to avoid problems with mirror slap.) But no alternative lenses seemed suitable until Nikon launched both FX and DX AF-P 70-300mm lenses. I’ve updated the firmware on my D800. The DX lens is lighter; great for carrying, but probably less resistant to mirror slap when I come to use it. Its smaller image circle is a drawback, but relatively minor for a telephoto, when my subjects are often birds or butterflies that don’t fill the frame anyway. It lacks a VR switch (not important for me) and also has a ⅓ stop smaller telephoto aperture and a plastic mount, but it’s much cheaper. Reviews praise both lenses, but I can’t find matching reviews that show their measured optical performances in the same terms. Browsing reviews of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S (only daydreaming at present), I found Photography Life’s, and was extremely impressed by its thoroughness, and testing four copies to address variation. I then found and read this Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P review, but was so disappointed to find Photography Life’s Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX VR AF-P review doesn’t include measurements of resolution, etc.
Are you able to comment on the relative optical quality of these two lenses?

With thanks,
Chris

0
Reply
Baptiste
Baptiste
January 24, 2019 4:32 am

Hello,

I am doing professional architecture photography,
i already have 14-24 ; 24-70 ; and i need a zoom for architecture details.
I can’t choose between this lens and the 70-200 f4.
I really wonder about the difference of sharpness around 200mm.

It is not a matter of price but more a matter of sharpness vs 200-300mm range and 100g lighter.
Any advice on this ?

I use D800 + D750

Thank you in advance

0
Reply
Mirella
Mirella
December 13, 2018 10:24 pm

I have a question how is it some of the images
have a f/8.0 aperture if the lens max aperture is 5.6 Can someone answer this? I am totally confuse….
NIKON D850 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 82mm, ISO 64, 13/10, f/8.0

0
Reply
Stephen J Jones
Stephen J Jones
Reply to  Mirella
August 21, 2020 1:21 pm

An f8 aperture is smaller than an f5.6 aperture.

0
Reply
Luka Koprivica
Luka Koprivica
November 7, 2018 3:00 am

Great review!
But what about “dust and moisture-resistant”? Do you refer to the rubber ring at the mount or there is something more?
I can’t find any info on that anywhere else, seems that only you are mentioned that.
Thanks!

0
Reply
Tapas Ghosh
Tapas Ghosh
October 10, 2018 3:44 am

I have nikon D500. I like to buy 70 300 lens for birding. Please suggest me which lens I should buy ? Please suggest.

0
Reply

Primary Sidebar

Learn

  • Beginner Photography
  • Landscape Photography
  • Wildlife Photography
  • Portraiture
  • Post-Processing
  • Advanced Tutorials
  • Best Cameras and Lenses

Reviews

  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews

Photography Tutorials

Photography Basics
Landscape Photography
Wildlife Photography
Macro Photography
Composition & Creativity
Black & White Photography
Night Sky Photography
Portrait Photography
Street Photography
Photography Videos

Support Us

B&H Photo Video Banner

Recent Topics

  • Nikon Z5 recommended Nikon Z5 Settings
  • A7R IV and the gel stick
  • Nikon 14-24 f/2.8G vs Nikon 20 f/1.8G
  • sizing for digital print downloads
  • Tips for Photographing the Great Conjunction
  • Best Lens for Slide Digitisation
  • Z6ii vs. Z7ii which has better tonal gradation?
  • D850 lens mount is tight
  • Z6 II vs Z7 II – which one is better for enthusiast
  • VR Problem on AF-P 70-300 FX lens

Footer

Site Menu

  • Beginner Photography
  • Lens Database
  • Photo Spots
  • Search
  • Submit Content
  • Subscribe

Reviews

  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews

Copyright © 2021 · Photography Life

You are going to send email to

Move Comment