Finally,a great walk about telephoto!

[Mikspin]

Having recently purchased this lens , I am very pleased with its performance. Autofocus is fast and precise. Once the AF was fine tuned to my D800, pictures were sharp and with good contrast, at all focal lengths. The only physical difference from this version and the previous af-s is the absence of a distance scale window on the new af-p. This has not presented any issues thus far, as I personally never used the distance window often, on my previous zooms, as the markers would always change depending on the focal length that I was shooting. One nice plus on this af-p version, is that the af automatically resets to infinity focus, if the camera is switched off and then on again. The same thing occurs if the camera goes to sleep, and is awakened by a shutter button press. My camera is a D800. I do not know if this is the same for all Nikon bodies, but I really like this feature. It makes for an easy way of achieving a sure infinity focus, since the af-s (D,G, and E) lenses do not have a hard infinity stop. The new af-p focus motor is quick, and sure footed. While I have not had the opportunity to test it on BIF, I feel that it should perform better than the af-s version of the 70-300mm. Having also shot with the older G version, this new af-p lens is a worthwhile upgrade, both in resolution, and autofocus performance. Actually, this lens can probably give the 70-200 lenses, a run for their money except at wider apertures, which the 70-300 does not have. Oh! and non of the 70-200 lenses, perform well at 300mm. It is a keeper.

 

[Rolleix]

Thank you for the review it looks promising, at what focal length f/5.6 start showing up?

 

[Michael Siemon]

Thank you for the review it looks promising, at what focal length f/5.6 start showing up?

At 210mm (it's 5.3 at 200).

 

[Mikspin]

I get f/5.6 at 210. Thanks Mike

 

[travelinbri_74]

Will be curious to see how it does against the Sigma 100-400. Would rather have the extra reach than the 30 on the short end, but would take whichever is sharper (and has better AF)

-TBri

 

[Mikspin]

Cameralabs is working on the review right now. It is almost done. He is up to the comparisons and the new 70-300mm is doing well. As far as resolution is concerned it is about equal to the sigma 100-400 (up to 300mm). Light fall off is greater with the nikon, but there is some problems with the sigma OS (VR), at some shutter speed ranges. If you are more interested in 400mm then maybe the sigma is the way you should go. I am happy with the 70-300 range, and it is about 500g lighter than the Sigma. Thanks, Mike

 

[travelinbri_74]

Thanks, I think I would take the smaller size/weight as well, as I rarely use my longer lenses (but like having the option).

-TBri

 

[StillLearning]

Thanks, I think I would take the smaller size/weight as well, as I rarely use my longer lenses (but like having the option).

-TBri

Unless you need the extra 100mm. If not you can use the shorter fl.

 

[Gordon Laing - Camera Labs]

It'll be complete early this week...!

 

[StillLearning]

It'll be complete early this week...!

Hopefully they will have comparisons to the Sigma 100-400. Especially since there is just over $50 difference between the 2 and the Sigma is around 500 grams more. If they are optically about the same then the choices will be whether you want a lighter shorter telephoto verses a heavier longer one.

I can attest that the OS stinks at 400 mm but seems to be better at 300mm and down. It is an odd mix in a lens but I was surprised at how well long distance photos at 400mm verses close up.

 

[travelinbri_74]

And the 70-300 lets in just a bit more light if I am correct (slightly larger max apertures at overlapping FLs)

 

[bjn70]

Small and light is good for walkaround, and 300mm on FF is a good focal length for occasional use. You have to be serious about needing longer focal lengths to go for the bigger glass.

I bought the 55-300 for playing around with on my DX body and it is a good mix of reach and small size, sharp up to 200mm or so but not quite as good at 300mm. Essentially I have the same good reach as the 70-300 on FF but I can go a little farther with less sharp results. Since my wife put up a birdfeeder in the back yard I've decided that I need all the reach I can get so I've been looking at the Sigma too. I can't afford the price of the lenses with 500mm and 600mm reach, and I wouldn't carry a lens of that size and weight, but I think I might be willing to put the Sigma in my bag for "just in case" occasions. I'll have to seriously consider the weight and I might end up with the AF-P instead.

The VR in the 55-300 is very good. My daughter carried it around for several days in Yellowstone and got good results at the long end without me teaching her to be careful with it.

 

[StillLearning]

And the 70-300 lets in just a bit more light if I am correct (slightly larger max apertures at overlapping FLs)

Yes the Sigma is at F6 at 300. But you can't adjust AF and multiple points on the Nikon if needed. It will still be interesting how they stack up on overlapping FL.

 

[Daniel D270439]

Mike...I mean no disrespect of your review but do have a question on the photo. It appears on my monitor (which is a new 2K version) that the flowers are not sharp and that perhaps you did some cloning - as perhaps the pot was cloned out.

Am I missing something or is my monitor fooling me (which I doubt).

 

[Mikspin]

The shot was originally a 3/2 perspective in DX mode on my D800. AF was set on AF-C, single point, on the flowers in-between the fence posts. I wanted to see what the front out of focus effect would be against the in-focus, marigolds. I thought the effect was cool. I resized and sharpened in post. I am posting the original SOC, raw shot. No foolery, just cool! Thanks, Mike

 

[Daniel D270439]

Thanks Mike...wanted to make sure my two monitors were still functioning properly - probably these old eyes.

 

[Vince P]

I had the old 70-300VR and seriously considered the Sigma 100-400 and Nikkor 80-400. But the weight and bulk saving were more important to me than 100mm. I am happy so far. Off topic for 400 5.6 by the way the 300 F4PE with a 1.4X Tcon is (Actually 420) a great little package.

 

[Mikspin]

Looking forward to it. I really enjoy your work. One of the best! Mike

 

[Paul Pasco]

Having recently purchased this lens , I am very pleased with its performance. Autofocus is fast and precise. Once the AF was fine tuned to my D800, pictures were sharp and with good contrast, at all focal lengths. The only physical difference from this version and the previous af-s is the absence of a distance scale window on the new af-p. This has not presented any issues thus far, as I personally never used the distance window often, on my previous zooms, as the markers would always change depending on the focal length that I was shooting. One nice plus on this af-p version, is that the af automatically resets to infinity focus, if the camera is switched off and then on again. The same thing occurs if the camera goes to sleep, and is awakened by a shutter button press. My camera is a D800. I do not know if this is the same for all Nikon bodies, but I really like this feature.

It is interesting that you consider this a positive feature. If you set the camera up to do a time lapse of a fixed focus point, every time the camera goes to sleep or is shut off you have to refocus. With the latest bodies this is not the case, they stay at whatever focus point was set at power down.

It makes for an easy way of achieving a sure infinity focus, since the af-s (D,G, and E) lenses do not have a hard infinity stop. The new af-p focus motor is quick, and sure footed. While I have not had the opportunity to test it on BIF, I feel that it should perform better than the af-s version of the 70-300mm. Having also shot with the older G version, this new af-p lens is a worthwhile upgrade, both in resolution, and autofocus performance. Actually, this lens can probably give the 70-200 lenses, a run for their money except at wider apertures, which the 70-300 does not have. Oh! and non of the 70-200 lenses, perform well at 300mm. It is a keeper.

--
Regards, Paul
Lili's Dad

 

[Mikspin]

This af-p focus system, behaves in different ways with different Nikon bodies.On my D800 it would be a bad choice for time lapse because of the reseting to infinity, everytime it awakes to perform another exposure. It is however, an outstanding choice for astro photography, where the focus should be at infinity. None of my af-s lenses have a positive infinity stop. This af-p lens performs as if it had a positive infinity stop by simply turning my D800 off and on again. For time-lapse (which I rarely use), I use one of my af-s, G lenses. That is how a (defect) in one persons view, can be a useful addition to another. You might have a newer body that will work the new af-p AF lenses in a manner similar to older af-s AF. In that case, the new af-p lens will be a great candidate for time lapse, but not as useful for astro-photography. In either case, most of our shooting will be with traditional half shutter, or af button, manual activation. Nothing will be noted as being defective, and you will be extremely impressed with the speed, silence, and accuracy of the new af-p system. The VR is also quite nice.Mike