Great lens!!!

[Andrew Photog]

I just got the new 70-300 AF-P VR and want to share my experience comparing with my other lenses.
It is a great lens, pin sharp wide open at 300mm. Better than my other lenses at 300mm.
I highly recommend it!!!
Also, the focusing speed is faster that the other two lenses. The new AF-P motor is fast and quiet.
I shot these test pics from my window, hand held on D500.








I understand for every lens there is sample variation, you can get a good or bad sample. So these pics are only representative of lenses I have.
Below are 3 pics compared at 100% view at 300mm:

 

[graemechapman]

Hello Andrew,

I thoroughly agree, a great lens. What I don't understand is that it seems to be ignored by everyone else on this site - I think it has something to do with f/6.3 maximum at 300 mm. That's only a half stop slower than its predecessor, next to nothing these days.

I have already briefly mentioned this lens at the bottom of my post "500 mm for old blokes", further down in this forum which mainly deals with the 300 mm PF for wildlife photography. Except that it won't accept a teleconverter, this lens is right up there on I/Q with the 300 PF at almost one tenth the price!!!! Sample pic below.

Cheers

Graeme Chapman






Rainbow Lorikeet

 

[Andrew Photog]

Forgot to list the lenses being compared:

Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR vs 18-300 F6.3 VR vs 55-300 VR

 

[Gary Barnett]

I also have this lens and it is sharper than my 55-200mm VR II.

Still very sharp at 300mm even under dull lighting outdoor.

 

[Mach Schnell]

While the image on the right is certainly the sharpest, the other two appear to have been taken at a different f-stop (f/13 vs. f/6.3). Also, it is pretty hard to compare images when taken handheld. Suggest you re-test, with a solid tripod, keeping every setting the same except for the lens. Then report back.

 

[Andrew Photog]

While the image on the right is certainly the sharpest, the other two appear to have been taken at a different f-stop (f/13 vs. f/6.3). Also, it is pretty hard to compare images when taken handheld. Suggest you re-test, with a solid tripod, keeping every setting the same except for the lens. Then report back.

 

[Andrew Photog]

Also, great performance from all-in-one zoom - 18-300 at 300 - but it is center sharpness. I will post corner sharpness test later.

 

[nbirkett]

Hello Andrew,

I thoroughly agree, a great lens. What I don't understand is that it seems to be ignored by everyone else on this site - I think it has something to do with f/6.3 maximum at 300 mm. That's only a half stop slower than its predecessor, next to nothing these days.

At least two reasons: It doesn't work on many common cameras. And, it is lacking a VR on/off switch on the lens, forcing you to menu dive for that function.

 

[Andrew Photog]

original photo at 300mm for pixel peeping

 

[Andrew Photog]

difference in view between 55 and 70

 

[Andrew Photog]

side by side comparison of the lenses

 

[rube39]

At least two reasons: It doesn't work on many common cameras. And, it is lacking a VR on/off switch on the lens, forcing you to menu dive for that function.

 

[nbirkett]

At least two reasons: It doesn't work on many common cameras. And, it is lacking a VR on/off switch on the lens, forcing you to menu dive for that function.

 

[rube39]

At least two reasons: It doesn't work on many common cameras. And, it is lacking a VR on/off switch on the lens, forcing you to menu dive for that function.

 

[Kenny08]

How does this compare with the non AF-P version? Ie. AF-S

 

[Gary Barnett]

How does this compare with the non AF-P version? Ie. AF-S

In term of focus speed? It is almost instant, so instant that you have hardly noticed it!

 

[Sacred]

original photo at 300mm for pixel peeping

I can definitely see motion blur when viewing at pixel level. Slight, but it is there. Testing VR is important. But sharpness test and VR test should be done separately. But lens performs very very good taking everything into account.

 

[gtrplr2]

I just got the new 70-300 AF-P VR and want to share my experience comparing with my other lenses.
It is a great lens, pin sharp wide open at 300mm. Better than my other lenses at 300mm.
I highly recommend it!!!
Also, the focusing speed is faster that the other two lenses. The new AF-P motor is fast and quiet.
I shot these test pics from my window, hand held on D500.

On the reviews here I went and purchased this lens,(250 mile round trip)and I find it unbelievably cheep of Nikon not to include a rear lens cap, or a lens hood!! So I went looking online for the Nikon HB-77, and they are all either backordered or out of stock, way to go Nikon.

 

[dwa1]

On the reviews here I went and purchased this lens,(250 mile round trip)and I find it unbelievably cheep of Nikon not to include a rear lens cap, or a lens hood!! So I went looking online for the Nikon HB-77, and they are all either backordered or out of stock, way to go Nikon.

That is really poor of Nikon's corp. decisions. At least they finally produced a 70-300 VR that is sharp wide open at 300mm. They at least got the most important part right.

Hood... Consider this replacement (google it)... JJC LH-77

Also, consider using one of B+W's screw on metal lens hoods with a standard lens cap on the end of the hood.

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www.bhphotovideo.com

For the rear cap - not an excuse for Nikon, but consider that for most people with multiple lenses, there is usually one cap that is not in use due to a lens being mounted on a body.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

 

[gtrplr2]

Thanks Wayne!

That is really poor of Nikon's corp. decisions. At least they finally produced a 70-300 VR that is sharp wide open at 300mm. They at least got the most important part right.

The short time I have used it, it does look good so far.

Hood... Consider this replacement (google it)... JJC LH-77

I looked at that one but was not positive of the fit, is it an identical hood?

Also, consider using one of B+W's screw on metal lens hoods with a standard lens cap on the end of the hood.

I will look into that, thanks.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/11171-REG/B_W_65041196_58mm_Screw_In_Metal_Telephoto.html

For the rear cap - not an excuse for Nikon, but consider that for most people with multiple lenses, there is usually one cap that is not in use due to a lens being mounted on a body.

I agree with you on the taking one off, put one on, but how cheap of Nikon when they only cost $4.95 direct from Nikon, but of course it is not available either, although I do have spares, but geezzz.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

Thanks again,

Jeff