Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4D

Nikon AF-S 300mm

Here is a lens that I have mixed feelings about. Straight off, I should say that this is not a lens I use for work, this is one that gets taken out when I am shooting for pleasure. I’ll cut straight to the chase, the optical performance is excellent. Really, I do mean excellent from sharpness at f/4 it will keep

you very happy. There is no having to stop down with this one, as it was clearly designed to be used at and near maximum aperture.

You won’t run into problems with Chromatic aberrations, nor vignetting as it does very well on both accounts. Flare isn’t too much of a concern either, especially if you take advantage of the useful built-in sliding lens hood. Gosh, I wish they would start doing that again as I really like the built-in lens hood design as its one less thing to remember and you always have it with you.

So, what’s not to like? Well, first off the price. I really think for what this lens offers its about 25% too expensive. This latest model does have an AF-S motor so its covered in that regard and the auto-focus performance is of course near enough silent and relatively fast. I say relatively, as at least I thought it would be slightly faster, but either way its not too shabby and up to the task of birds in flight with a decent body. My next concern is the lens foot, it does annoy me as its just not well thought out. That being said, I’ve now bought one from a company in California and since getting the replacement its no longer a concern. Its just annoying you spend this much money on a lens, and then have to go out and spend another couple hundred dollars to replace something Nikon have already provided and you’ve paid for. On some lenses a tripod collar isn’t of much importance, but on this lens its vital as it will be put on a tripod if you want great images.

This takes me to my last issue. Concerning the price and when the lens was released, I would of really liked to have vibration reduction technology built into it. This is along the same lines as the tripod collar and I’m sure Nikon will eventually release another version and the next one will undoubtably have VR built-in.

With the exception of the above, the build quality is actually really quite good. I just can’t get myself to say excellent as it does get some points knocked off because of the above, but discounting those issues, it is a very nice lens to hold and the focus ring is nice and smooth.

I like this lens a lot, and I use it a great deal and sometimes add the 1.4 extender which it takes very well. It gives you a nice 420mm f/5.6 lens and although its best stopped down just one stop, it will give you acceptable results wide open even with the extender on it. If you want a fast focusing f/4 lens, this is the one to get as its optical performance is excellent. I just wish Nikon could have found a way to bring it to market for a little less money, or had added VR and given us a fully well built package which they clearly know how to do, as they have done so with many lenses that are built second to none.