Review of Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G VR

NeilBart · Mar 21, 2017

There has been interest within the Nikon SLR Lens Talk forum in the new Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G VR and I can add my happy experience to the discussions. I was gifted the Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G VR for Christmas 2016 and have had it on my Nikon D7100 most of the time since. I carry it together with an Olympus OMD EM-1 with 12-40mm f2.8 lens in a Think Tank sling bag, for a versatile combination.

I have found the lens is sharp across the 70mm to 300mm range, including when ‘wide open’ for the focal length. It has fast auto focus, which is also quiet when used with video. The lens has a claimed (by Nikon) 4 stops increase in shutter speed of vibration reduction (VR); essential for both telephoto zoom stills and video. Because of the VR, sharp images can be taken at 300mm while hand holding the D7100 with the lightweight lens.

Below are some images taken with the AF-P DX 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G VR in Fremantle, Western Australia, mostly on Christmas Day 2016. The images have been processed in Photoshop to medium size jpg.

Shopping in Fremantle, at 300mm.

Prawn trawlers, Fremantle boat harbour.

MV Matilda Bay, at 300mm.

Lobster fisherman in bronze.

Lobster fisherman in bronze at 300mm.

Seagull at 300mm.

Wind blown hair at 300mm.

Bon Scott of ACDC in bronze.

Bathers Beach House, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Bather in bronze.

Change rooms at Bathers Beach, Fremantle.

South mole, Fremantle, in strong sea breeze; at 300mm.

Quiet street on Christmas Day 2016, in Fremantle, Western Australia.

I highly recommend the Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-6.3G VR.

Intercooler2 · Mar 21, 2017

I wonder if this lens would be good for upcoming Warblers, or would the yet to be released Sigma 100-400mm top it?

Photographic Memory · Mar 21, 2017

Love using this lens. I am the AF-P fanatic around here, having posted some images taken with it on the other thread regarding someone "returning it".

Regarding these 2 AF-P's someone mentioned "no better than a "smart phone" and another "just a point and shoot".

Give me a while and I will post mine, or just look at my gallery for now. Love using this Lens. Absolutely!

--

DSLR > 'Mirrorless'
- Mirrorless? You mean Optical Viewfinder-less. An EVF is like having a VR headset on instead of using your own eyes to view what is.
For those with eyes…
Actual Reality > Virtual Reality

evan47 · Mar 21, 2017

Intercooler2 said:
I wonder if this lens would be good for upcoming Warblers, or would the yet to be released Sigma 100-400mm top it?

In my opinion it would be too short.

I used the 70-300vr g for a few years before moving up to the 300f4/tc14ii and still had to crop most of my smaller bird shots.

If you are looking for a birding lens for small birds on a tight budget a used sigma 150-600c would be your best bet.

Intercooler2 · Mar 21, 2017

Thanks for the real world input. I always thought 400mm covered most everything.

baloo_buc · Mar 21, 2017

Can you turn off VR on it?

NeilBart · Mar 21, 2017

The VR for this lens can't be turned off on the D7100 and D7200, but apparently can be on other current DX cameras. Nikon says a firmware upgrade is coming to address this.

Respected Thom Hogan comments on this and other DX compatibility issues in his review at http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/ni...-lens-reviews/nikon-70-300mm-f45-63-af-p.html .

The VR works so well on the new 70-300mm on my D7100 that I would never want to turn it off. The pleasure of this lens is how sharp it is at 300mm hand held.

Excellent 'value for money' at less than $400.

Photographic Memory · Mar 21, 2017

Finally on the PC, I posted more on the lady considering returning her's thread, but here are a few of mine with this FABULOUS Lens... (Hope you don't mind?)

Enjoy

Same as above, cropped

Same as above, cropped

Same as above, cropped

[ATTACH alt="Experimenting, having fun. After all us AF-P users are "only" 'entry-level'

"]1645329[/ATTACH]
Experimenting, having fun. After all us AF-P users are "only" 'entry-level'

Excuse me if I am hi-jacking this thread, but I absolutely am all over these AF-P Lenses so I am on your side

--
Actual Reality > Virtual Reality
- I admire The Creator's creation, not so much (hu)man-made disposables.
That's probably why I am more interested in decent end-result Photography over the technology that was used to produce it.

Photographic Memory · Mar 21, 2017

*I have to point out the daffodil photo is also "same as above, cropped". Tack sharp quality lens!?

NeilBart · Mar 21, 2017

Excellent images Photographic Memory. Your image of the bird on the bench alongside denim is outstanding for 300mm at 1/60 of a second! Both for sharpness and subject isolation.

You are certainly not hijacking this thread. We share enthusiasm for this mighty Nikon zoom lens. I have used many Nikon lenses since the 1970s; this lens is without doubt the 'best value for money'.

300mm in DX is the equivalent of 450mm for a full frame camera. FX users would be delighted to have a similar lens for less than $400. DXers should rejoice in their good fortune with this lens.

Photographic Memory · Mar 21, 2017

NeilBart said:
Excellent images Photographic Memory. Your image of the bird on the bench alongside denim is outstanding for 300mm at 1/60 of a second! Both for sharpness and subject isolation.

You are certainly not hijacking this thread. We share enthusiasm for this mighty Nikon zoom lens. I have used many Nikon lenses since the 1970s; this lens is without doubt the 'best value for money'.

300mm in DX is the equivalent of 450mm for a full frame camera. FX users would be delighted to have a similar lens for less than $400. DXers should rejoice in their good fortune with this lens.

This means a lot to me, Neil, and it seems like-mindedly we share the same passion. Judging from your comment regarding 1/60 shutter speed at 300mm I tell you what, after an earlier on in life "multi-tasking" at this later on in life stage I can't seem to get my head around all these numbers and supposed formulas regarding "proper exposure" so I just kind of use instinct, with a hint of muscle memory.

Haha, you should see the shots that I don't show, for example if the shot is too blown out instead of dialing in a faster shutter speed I sometimes make it even longer and all you see is nothing but white (or black). I guess this new D3300 has some of its dialing the opposite way than my previous D3100. Well that's my excuse anyway

That you have been using Nikon since the 70's when Photography was really "raw" (and film-grainy) I respect that.

Thank you again. And likewise your pictures showing off this Lens's capabilities are superb.

Having this 300mm (450 due to DX?) I have been contemplating the Kenko Teleconverter x2. Just for kicks

If they had a buy one get one sale you and I could go halves

Photographic Memory · Mar 21, 2017

The bird was on a public train station platform and the lady on her cellphone was a stranger so I made it a point to let her know I wasn't some creep taking photos of her leg. She acknowledged the robin bird next to her and she was in compliance

Happy sunny Spring Time

KnightPhoto2 · Mar 22, 2017

Intercooler2 said:
I wonder if this lens would be good for upcoming Warblers, or would the yet to be released Sigma 100-400mm top it?

It's just that unless you are at a migration hot spot like Pelee etc. any 300mm or 400mm is far too short for Warblers. Warblers are tiny!

Photographic Memory · Mar 22, 2017

KnightPhoto2 said:
Intercooler2 said:

I wonder if this lens would be good for upcoming Warblers, or would the yet to be released Sigma 100-400mm top it?

Click to expand...

It's just that unless you are at a migration hot spot like Pelee etc. any 300mm or 400mm is far too short for Warblers. Warblers are tiny!

lambert4 · Mar 22, 2017

There is one on Walmart website for $195, and my Sigma 70-300 non OS is near impossible to handhold at longer FL. This seems an amazing deal.

Thanks, I am new to Nikon and looking for a Long tele to bide my time while I shop for a 200-500 or 150-600 option.

lambert4 · Mar 22, 2017

NeilBart said:
The VR for this lens can't be turned off on the D7100 and D7200, but apparently can be on other current DX cameras. Nikon says a firmware upgrade is coming to address this.

Respected Thom Hogan comments on this and other DX compatibility issues in his review at http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/ni...-lens-reviews/nikon-70-300mm-f45-63-af-p.html .

The VR works so well on the new 70-300mm on my D7100 that I would never want to turn it off. The pleasure of this lens is how sharp it is at 300mm hand held.

Excellent 'value for money' at less than $400.

$196 offering of this lens?

Just pulled the trigger on this deal, lets see if it is legit.

Photographic Memory · Mar 22, 2017

lambert4 said:
NeilBart said:

The VR for this lens can't be turned off on the D7100 and D7200, but apparently can be on other current DX cameras. Nikon says a firmware upgrade is coming to address this.

Respected Thom Hogan comments on this and other DX compatibility issues in his review at http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/ni...-lens-reviews/nikon-70-300mm-f45-63-af-p.html .

The VR works so well on the new 70-300mm on my D7100 that I would never want to turn it off. The pleasure of this lens is how sharp it is at 300mm hand held.

Excellent 'value for money' at less than $400.

Click to expand...

$196 offering of this lens?

Just pulled the trigger on this deal, lets see if it is legit.

Gaber · Mar 22, 2017

Great shots Neil. I also have a D7100 and I have the older VR version. Some questions. I understand that in some of the new VR's (the 16-80, for example) the VR doesn't have to be turned off when you put the camera on a tripod. Is this the case with this lens? If so then there would be no problem with not being able to turn off the VR.

I would like to know how much smaller this lens is compared to the pld one and if it is compatible with the 1.4X converter (I expect not).

Photographic Memory · Mar 22, 2017

Gaber said:
Great shots Neil. I also have a D7100 and I have the older VR version. Some questions. I understand that in some of the new VR's (the 16-80, for example) the VR doesn't have to be turned off when you put the camera on a tripod. Is this the case with this lens? If so then there would be no problem with not being able to turn off the VR.

I would like to know how much smaller this lens is compared to the pld one and if it is compatible with the 1.4X converter (I expect not).

--
WSSA Member#40 ( Head Squirrel)
http://www.pbase.com/thegaber
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegaber/

Good point this may be the reason my stars I thought were trails when shooting the sky tonight even though some shots were only 15 or so seconds long (18-55mm AF-P on Tripod, VR (always) on.

--
Actual Reality > Virtual Reality
- I admire The Creator's creation, not so much (hu)man-made disposables.
That's probably whchI am more interested in decent end-result Photography over the technology that was used to produce it.

graemechapman · Mar 23, 2017

You can't fit a genuine Nikon converter to this lens but I have tried the Kenko 1.4x Teleplus pro 300 with it and it works OK - trouble is on a D7100 the autofocus dithers a bit in dull light, but on the D500, no trouble.

In regard to price, the VR version (the only one to get) has been available here in Australia from Harvey Norman for just under AU$300 - certainly very cheap. Just be sure the Walmart one is a VR version. The non VR ones are virtually useless.

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