Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

• Fast aperture medium telephoto lens
• Internal Focus
• Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
• M/A focus mode switch
• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC)

DESCRIPTION OF THE LENS FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER

This lens is light, compact affordable, but produces very impressive results. I highly recommend the use of this lens for portrait, events and for landscape. Despite it being a fixed focal length and not being able to zoom, I highly recommend this lens for beginner Nikon dSLR users who own only the kit zoom lens that came with the camera. This lens allows you to shoot at low light and/or to blur the background of the subject of the photo. This prime lens is a safe, affordable and way to see for yourself how good a prime lens can be as against the kit zoom lens. It also shows what the other Nikon professional prime and professional lenses are capable of should you get serious in this hobby.

REVIEW OF THE LENS FOR EXPERIENCED USERS

What follows is a quick review is based on my use of this lens for around 2-weeks. It is intended for those already familiar with Nikkor's line of 85mm prime lenses but are wondering how this lens compare with the other Nikkor 85mm autofocusing lenses that Nikon makes. This review is based on my own copy of the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D, 1.8D, 1.4G and 1.8G.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8D

The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is bigger than the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D but is a bit lighter. Unlike the 85mm f/1.8D, this lens comes with a reversible hood which does a good job in protecting and shading the lens. With the hood reversed, the 85mm f/1.8G becomes much more compact than the 85mm f/1.8D with the hood installed. But with the hood installed, the wider lens barrel and the wider and longer hood makes the 85mm f/1.8G significantly bulkier than the 85mm f/1.8D.

Reflecting the bigger-sized lens, the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter while the 85mm f/1.8D uses a 62mm filter. As the "G" suffix indicates, the 85mm f/1.8G does not have an aperture ring while the 85mm f/1.8D has an aperture ring (see notes below in the 85mm f/1.4D for the significance of this).

The older Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D have always been very sharp at the center and at the corners even when used wide-open but the new Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is stll a bit sharper still. Despite being bigger and wider, the 1.8G has slightly more vignetting wide open than the 1.8D but this quickly reverses in favour of the 1.8G from about f/2.5 onwards. The two areas where the 1.8G has improved significantly over the 1.8D is in having better bokeh and also having less purple fringing when shooting wide-open. The 1.8G focus speed is a bit faster on a D7000 than the 1.8D on the same body. In addition, the 1.8G autofocus is now consistently more precise and significantly quieter.

Priced reasonably, this 85mm f/1.8G lens can auto focus on Nikon bodies that do not have a built-in focusing motors (such as the Nikon D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D40, and D60). For those who use this focal length regularly, upgrading from the 1,8D to the 1.8G is easy to justify. For 1st time buyers of the 85mm lens, I highly recommend choosing the 1.8G over the 1.8D given the minimum price difference between these 2 lenses.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D

The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is of the same width as the than the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D but is shorter and also significantly lighter by 200 grams. Unlike the 85mm f/1.4D, the 85mm 1.8G comes with a reversible hood which does a good job in protecting and shading the lens. Unlike the 85mm f/1.4D which uses a 77mm filter, the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter.

Wide-open at f/1.8 to f/2.5, the new Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is sharper at the center, borders and at the corners than the 85mm f/1.4D. At f/2.8 and above, the 85mm f/1.4D improves considerably. The bokeh of the 85mm f/1.4D is still better and creamier but the 85mm f/1.8G is no slouch in this regard. There is also less purple fringing on the 1.8G than on the 1.4D used wide-open. Focus on the 85mm f/1.8G is a bit faster than the 85mm f/1.4D on a Nikon DX D7000 but the difference is small and insignificant. Focus precision between these two lenses are about the same but the 85mm f/1.8G focuses much quieter than the 85mm f/1.4D.

The primary advantage of the 85mm f/1.4D over the 85mm f/1.8G is primarily in it being 2/3 of a stop faster and it having an aperture ring. The 2/3 stop advantage is significant for still and video while the aperture ring is very helpful for use in video. The aperture ring is also particularly helpful in still photography when using this lens with an adapter on m4/3 and NEX bodies as it allows the use of precise, easily set and repeatable aperture settings. This is the reason why I still have the Nikkor 85mm 1.4D and 1.8D lenses even after getting the 2 new Nikkor 85mm 1.4G and 1.8G lenses.

For portrait photography where the subject is framed at or near the center, I would likely still opt for the 85mm f/1.4D but for anything else where the 2/3 stop advantage is not used, I would likely choose the 85mm 1.8G.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G

In terms of size, the 85mm f/1.4G is significantly bigger and heavier than the 85mm f/1.8G. Both lenses comes with reversible hood. The 85mm f/1.4G uses a 77mm filter while the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter.

In terms of performance, the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G is better than the 85mm f/1.8G in all respects. The 1.4G is a bit sharper, has better bokeh, less vignetting at the same aperture setting, even less purple fringing, better flare resistance, better micro-contrast and richer color. It's very tough to compete against the 85mm f/1.4G when it comes to performance. Yet while the 85mm f/1.8G comes up a bit short, it comes in at a close second. At almost 3x the cost, it is not surprising that the 1.4G is better than the 1.8G. Whether one should get 1.4G or the 1.8G will depend on how much one is willing to pay more for the small performance difference. Consideration should also be given to the bigger size and weight of the 1.4G vs the 1.8G.

For someone who already has a Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, would it still make sense to get a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G? The answer is yes if one needs a smaller, lighter and more compact 85mm. I use this lens with my smaller Nikon DX bodies as well as with my Sony NEX and Panasonic GH2. The 1.8G smaller size and lighter weight would also be a very good match for the rumored upcoming Nikon full frame in a small body, the D600.

Buy Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now

I was looking at the 85mm lens. I was torn between the 85mm f/1.8G lens and the 85mm f/3.5G Micro lens. While I enjoy taking macro/micro shots, I wanted a lens that was sharp and had good bokeh. I also wanted to use the lens for general photography. I was spoiled using my 40mm f/2.8G micro lens as it does a great job with both micro and general photography. I decided on the 85mm f/1.8G lens. I haven't looked back.

This 85mm f/1.8 is a sharp lens with beautiful bokeh. I use this lens with my Nikon D7000 which equates to a focal length of 127.5mm. It took awhile to get used to the distance or focal length. I usually have to take a step or two back to get the object/subject to focus.

I currently use the lens for florals and garden pictures. The pictures are sharp from f/1.8 through f/16. The bokeh is beautiful at f/1.8 through f/2.8. Creamy is the word that comes to mind. I've been really happy with the results from this lens.

I've posted some pictures in the gallery. There's a few florals (e.g. daylilies) and I also took some pictures of the packaging for this lens.

I'll be back to post any updates and additional pictures.

** Update 07/12/12 **

I've had the chance to use this lens over several days taking pictures for a VBS event at my church. This lens does an amazing job with portraits. I set my D7k to Aperture and f/4. The bokeh is beautiful. I like how my focused subject appears to pop out of my pictures. Love this prime lens even at 128mm (DX). I've figured out how far (distance) I need to stand away from my subjects. My pictures are very sharp! Great lens!

** Update 08/09/12 **

This has been my "go to" lens for the last several weeks. I'm using this lens for taking candid shots and portraits of people. I mentioned before that I have to take a step or two back when I compose my pictures. I love doing this as I don't appear to be intrusive with my camera. Sometimes folks don't even notice I'm taking their pictures.

I've been using this lens in low light and haven't been disappointed. I love the results I'm getting.

** Update 09/02/12 **

This lens is now on my camera full time. It has become my favorite fixed prime lens (over my 50mm, 40mm, and my 35mm). I'm still getting great results whether photographing inside or outside. My images are always coming out sharp with lovely bokeh.

** Update 09/23/12 **

I used this lens for a class photo shoot. Set my aperture around f/4 and f/5.6. I was extremely pleased with the end results. Pictures were sharp. I'm having a blast with this lens!

** Update 11/10/12 **

I'm now a proud owner of the Nikon D600 full frame DSLR camera. I mounted this 85mm lens and what a beautiful combination. How about a winning combination! Now I know what other reviewers mean when they say it's a fantastic portrait lens. It truly is! I'm getting beautiful results and it's great to be able to use this lens as a true 85mm.

Read Best Reviews of Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Here

I have only had this lens for a little over 2 weeks but I want to say that so far, this lens has performed well above my expectation.

Sharpness The lens is sharp even at f/1.8 but close it down to f/2.2 f/4 and you'll have super sharp images.

Focusing This lens focuses "perfectly". I used a few different test chart the very day I got the lens. I put the camera on a tripod and shot at different angles. I was expecting to have some shots that may be off of focus at least a bit but no, all my focus targets were hit right on. One thing that could be a deal breaker to some people is that it is not an ideal lens for sports or shooting fast moving objects. It focuses pretty fast except for when I tried shooting kids chasing each other around. But for people like me who shoot a lot of portraits, its focus is not a problem at all.

Lens construction It is so light that it felt like I didnt have a lens on. This is very helpful when shooting for hours at a time. The lens body is made out of plastic but "I" personnaly dont think it is the cheapo type of plastic because I've hit my lens against a wall wall while shooting and didnt see any effect to it.

Bokeh Just go to flickr and look for a group called "85mm 1.8g" and look at the images that they've uploaded.

Price I think that this lens is the best bang for your buck. The overall quality of the lens is comparable to its f1.4 cousins but priced way less.

I give this lens a 5 star rating based on my personal experience with it even for a short period of time. I will come back and update this review if later on I find something that needs to be put up here.

Want Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Discount?

I'm not one for lengthy reviews, so here's a breakdown of why this lens rocks. The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S, on my D3 and D700, performs flawlessly and delivers really sharp images. I usually shoot at around f/2.0 and the level of detail and sharpness is really impressive/amazing. I shoot weddings and portraits, so my focus is always on the eyes and this lens nails it almost all of the time (hey, shooting at f/2.0 you're going to get a lot of soft focuses images around the eyes). It's light, compared to Canons 85mm f/1.2, and just gets the job done.

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As a college student I was skeptical of spending $500.00 on a hobby but every penny I spent was put to well use.

The lens has great construction, feels nice and solid, smooth, well weighted focusing ring, and has a good heft. Of course you can't compare it to the quality of the higher end Nikons such as the 24-70mm, etc but the idea is it's not just a nifty piece of plastic. The lens was produced at the same time as the D800, with 36mp monster of a detail gathering sensor, so you better believe this 85mm f/1.8g is sharp! At 1.8 the images are not contrasty and as sharp, but as you stop down your aperture it only gets better and better. I've been shooting this lens with my Nikon D7000 and man it is a joy to use. The focus is fairly quick, it's not as fast as the 35mm f/1.8g in my opinion but non the less, the focus is quick. I paired this lens with a B+W MRC (010M) UV filter for protection and removal of haze. If you have the money for this baby get it. The bokeh, or out of focus elements, produced from this lens are buttery smooth and pleasing, you effectively isolate a subject without having nasty bokeh to distract from. No flaring or ghosting issues that I have seen yet, but I have a tendency to not shoot towards the sun or other very bright sources of light.

Go For It!

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Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens

• Versatile, Ultra-High Power 16.7X Zoom Lens
• Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
• 3 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) Elements, 3 Aspherical Elements
• Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
• 77mm Filter Thread

** Updated July 1 **

This is hands down the best all-in-one Nikon lens for DX cameras. Well worth the price if an all-in-one lens is what you're looking for.

I bought the 18-300 DX for use on my D7000 as a replacement for my 18-200 DX and my 70-300 FX. With the 18-300, I can carry one lens instead of two, not worry about missing the shot because I have the wrong lens on the camera and minimize the number of times I'm swapping lenses and getting more gunk onto my sensor.

After real life usage of the 18-300 both on and off a tripod, I feel I am not giving up anything in terms of image quality with this lens over my 70-300. That's saying a lot, as the 70-300 in particular is a very high quality lens even though it isn't in Nikon's higher priced "professional" lens category. As compared to the 18-200, you do give up a bit of corner sharpness over the 18-28mm range, but gain center sharpness in that range, gain center and corner sharpness over the 70-200mm range and of course, get the extra 200-300mm range.

**** Overall handling ****

On a D7000, this lens feels well balanced to me. If you've used the 28-300 on an FX camera, it is very much the same feel, weight and size.

The lens handles very nicely. Good manual focus and smooth zoom with just enough stiffness that you really don't get much lens creep. There is a locking switch if you feel you need it (I generally haven't used the lock on my 18-200 VR II or my 28-300).

If you're used to the 18-55 kit lens, it's going to seem big and heavy, but after you get used to it, you'll love the range you're going to get and the image quality!

If you're used to the 18-200mm, it's almost an inch longer and 9 ounces heavier. If you don't need the extra 50% range at the long end, if you're happy with the 18-200 image quality and your primary goal is a small, light package, keep your 18-200. If you need the range and/or want higher IQ in the 70+ range and can afford the price, get the 18-300.

I'm used to the 70-300mm on my D7000 and the 18-300 is only 3 ounces heavier and almost one inch shorter.

The VR works well, just as it does on the 18-200, 70-300 and 28-300.

Auto focus seems to be accurate and fast in good lighting. Auto focus is a bit slower in marginal light, but no worse in my opinion than 18-200 or 28-300. The 70-300 seems slightly faster, but that is to be expected with the shorter focal range it has to travel.

****Real World Image Quality ****

I reviewed the MTF charts for the 18-300, 18-200, 70-300 and 28-300 before ordering the lens (see last section below). I've found that real world testing bears out the MTF charts. Here are my observations at comparable wide, middle and long focal lengths of these lenses taken with a D7000 on a tripod with the mirror up.

18-300 versus 18-200

---At 18mm and 28mm focal lengtha

------18-300 sharper in center

------18-200 sharper in corners

------

---At 70mm, 105mm and 200mm

------18-300 sharper in center and corners

------18-300 looks to have better bokeh

18-300 versus 70-300

---At 70mm focal length

------18-300 better center sharpness

------70-300 better corner sharpness

---At 105 focal length

------18-300 better center sharpness

------Same in corners

---At 200mm and 300mm focal lengths

------18-300 better center and corner sharpness

18-300 versus 28-300

---At 28mm focal length

------18-300 better center sharpness

------28-300 better corner sharpness

---At 70mm focal length

------18-300 better center and corner sharpness

---At 105mm and 200mm focal length

------18-300 better center sharpness

------28-300 better corner sharpness

---At 300mm focal length

------18-300 better center and corner sharpness

Note that there is more focus breathing with a lens like the 18-300, 18-200 or 28-300 than there is with the 70-300. This means if you're standing 5 feet away from a subject and you zoom to 300mm, your subject will appear smaller in the viewfinder with the 18-300 than it will with the 70-300. All the wide range zooms do this to keep the size of the lens as small as possible. At anything from about 60 feet to infinity, you will get the same size on both lenses. The difference in apparent subject size will increase between 60 feet (no difference) to 5 feet (70-300's minimum focus distance). If you can move closer to your subject, you will be able to get the same or bigger size picture of your subject with the 18-300, as the maximum reproduction ratio of the 18-300 is .32x versus .25x for the 70-300.

**** Laboratory Image Quality MTF Charts ****

The comparative MTF charts are posted as a Customer Image next to the image at the top of this page (note I have blacked out everything to the right of 14 mm on the 70-300 and 28-300 charts, as the DX sensor will crop that).

Notes for those unfamiliar with MTF charts:

Vertical axis = % of contrast achieved (perfect lens would be 100%)

Horizontal axis = Distance from center of image in mm (14 mm is corner of picture on DX)

Performance of FX lens over 14mm n/a, since not relevant for DX sensor size

Red lines (S10 & M10) = Contrast of the lens

Blue lines (S30 & M30) = Sharpness of the lens

S= Sagital M = Meridonial the closer these two are to each other the more pleasing the bokeh

Buy Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens Now

I just picked up a copy of this lens at San Jose Camera this afternoon (sorry Amazon, I would have bought it from you if I wasn't leaving for a trip this weekend). Given the super-duper zoom category this lens belongs to, I really was expecting sacrifices all over the place IQ, focus, etc... I figured I needed a lens for those occasions where making a lesser quality shot was more important than losing the shot because I was changing lenses.

So far, I have snapped some random shots of my kids at tennis class and daycare, stills and videos and I have to say I am very pleasantly BLOWN AWAY!

(so far) this lens appears to focus very quickly, doesn't do a whole lot of hunting at least in good light, although it focused just fine inside the not brightly lit store as well. Image quality appears to be better than my 70-300 VR at the 300mm range not as sharp as the 70-300VR in the sub-200mm range, but then again, few lenses are. Colors appear nice, contrast appears fine. Nowhere near as sharp as my Tamron 17-50, but nothing to complain about at all.

Continuous focusing in video mode is lacking, but then again, I've never had much luck with anything but a wide-angle lens with video on my D7000. Focus motor seems pretty quiet too, the built-in mic only picked up a faint sound.

I don't know if it's because I had such low expectations that anything would have impressed me, but so far, I am feeling happy about my purchase.

Updates:

1)focus is great in poor lighting conditions even at long end

2)issue discovered. In-camera flash casts a huge shadow at 18-20mm or so range. Truly stinks if using indoors without external flash but lens is still a keeper. Also, auto distortion control did not recognize this lens, firmware update fixed that.

3) posted some random unedited snapshots from the coffee shop this morning, high ISO (sorry), but still look very decent. colors appear nice and VR works very well. still loving the lens.

4) finally took some real pictures in the "field" today. Here are my observations:

certain focal lengths are sharper than others, but overall sharpness is very good throughout for all practical purposes(so far)

because of the huge zoom range, I find myself forgetting to change settings that I use for wide/normal range and telephoto ranges, so I am taking wide angle shots with unnecessarily high shutter speeds and telephoto shots with speeds that are way too slow. Not the lens' problem but mine.

I broke down and pixel peeped and found some rare instances where there was some kind of funky Chromatic Aberration that the camera didn't/couldn't remove white helmet against a dark treeline in the bright sun. Nothing obvious at normal magnifications, but if you have to crop all the way down to the pixel level, then it's problematic.

Bokeh is not the prettiest in high contrast situations, but not horrible.

it's big and heavy but did not feel burdensome using it all day with a neoprene strap.

lens creeps a little if you aim downwards, but once you're aware of such a behavior you can mitigate it (hold on to the zoom ring).

nice colors

5) July 2012: I made a family vacation movie out of a series of totally impromptu handheld videos taken in a moving clunky old train through the Santa Cruz forest (didn't bring my camcorder kids insisted I make a movie). Set VR to "active", sometimes used AE lock, and just let it go. The results were surprisingly spectacular. I don't understand how it could be, but there was no bouncing around due to the train movements! (I did not apply any post-production image stabilization via software)(hint: don't mess with the zoom ring when taking videos not smooth, quite ugly. Also, full-time auto-focus is merely passable)

loving this vacation lens even more now!

Read Best Reviews of Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens Here

Wow, I didn't know this was possible. I loved my Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, but I wished I could focus closer and go wider. I loved my Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor Lens, but often wished it had more reach. After selling both to have an affair with the Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM SLD Ultra Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital DSLR Camera, which while fun was doomed to be a short term thing. Anyway, I always wished there could be such a lens, and now it's here. Remarkably the length of time from first seemingly reputable rumor to announcement to being in my hands.

Initial impressions:

It's large, though not exceptionally so (then again once you use a "Bigma", large is relative), and it's heavy. Not having my 18-200VR anymore it's hard to make direct comparisons, but suffice to say it's quite a bit bigger all around, but the proportions are manageable. It's shorter than my 70-300VR, though girthier and heavier. Build quality is excellent (Nikon's high end consumer grade), and everything has a tight smooth operation.

When mounted on my Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) (freshly updated to correct for distortions with this new lens), it is relatively balanced, but having a grip helps. It quickly starts to extend, and when fully extended, the minimum focus distance isn't far from the front of the lens (that spec is based off of the plane where the sensor is, not anything on the lens). Focus seems a bit slower than what I'm used to, but still fast (more of an acute observance than anything problematic), but results are sharp and precise. VR works brilliantly (FYI, I believe it was off by default), and I get crisp results often at 1/60 when shooting at 300mm (or whatever the effective focal length actually is).

I haven't pixel peeped yet, but initial results are as I expected. Solid, reliable, and sharp. Contrast could be better, but that's compared to my primes, and it's comparable to what I got from my 18-200 & 70-300 zooms. The versitility is worth the trade off, but do know you're making one (as you do with any zoom). Where Nikon has blown me away is that the trade off is so minimal. I honestly don't see much more than you'd see in an 18-105VR.

Conclusion (for now):

It's an amazing lens that makes minimal and well measured compromises to enable awesome versatility. As with all zooms, you give up some light gathering ability, but unlike 3rd party choices (18-270 ones at least), you never go past f/5.6, which you hit around 100mm. You also lose some contrast, but no more than Nikon's other consumer zooms, and less than 3rd party choices. AF speed is slower than some lenses, but still what I'd call fast. Size weight are definitely in a whole new league compared to 18-x lenses, but not that bad by 300mm standards (weight is a bit high). Cost, well that's a tough call, but being a Nikon, it likely will hold it's value throughout it's life.

All in all, I love it.

7/1/2012 Update

Great results on my D90! While the somewhat slow aperture does require some flexibility in regards to shutter speed/ISO, VR and modern Nikon high ISO capabilities mitigate that limitation. Heck, throw this on a D5100 (or D7000), and you'll be able to handle most scenarios between the focal length versatility of this lens and the high ISO abilities of Nikon's best (in terms of ISO) DX sensor. For me, I'm quite happy with what I see on my D90. AF is definitely a bit slower than perfect (but definitely ideal) at 300mm indoors, even with the IR emitter on my SB600. Sharpness is excellent, even at slowish shutter speeds (sample uploaded). It's just crazy versatile, and honestly, as stated by another reviewer, it totally matches the capabilities of the 70-300VR, which is an excellent lens. This is Nikon's best super zoom, and the industry's best to boot. The 18-200VR was a compelling reason (one of my main reasons) to go with Nikon (when launched), and this a much better lens (if you're OK with the size/weight).

7/13/2012 Update

This lens is definitely as good or better than the 18-200VR and 70-300VR combined. It doesn't give up anything to either lens. That's absolutely amazing give the inherent compromises with zooms, let alone ultra-zooms, and even more so when you consider how great those other two lenses are. You don't lose anything optically, and the size and weight penalty isn't THAT bad when compared to them, nor is the price. This is Nikon's best consumer zoom, and honestly it's every bit as impressive (in a totally different manner) as it's legendary 70-200VR II or any other pro zoom (I'm not saying it's better at a common focal length, but it makes up for that in versatility, price, and size). Anyway, if you're tempted by this lens, go for it. You won't regret it.

Want Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens Discount?

Really don't think I can match the previous reviews; however, I will throw out a quick overview of my new baby from 1call. I also use a D7000 and formerly had an 18-105, 18-200, & 70-300... Sold all in order to snag this all-in-one. In love.

First, I am 6'3" and athletic 210lbs. Do not be mistaken, this is a large and heavy lens. The 70-300 is a large lens, but this is definitely heavier & more thick in general. If you are a small person, opt for the 18-200... Seriously. Girlfriend shoots a D3100 with the 18-200 & bulletproof setup without killing her on a day hike, etc. Otherwise, this lens is the greatest all-around I could imagine.

Important note, you must update your firmware AND distortion control firmware. I use a Mac & this was an easy process, unsure what the PCversion would entail. Go to Nikon's website and do a distortion control search, should find what you need.

Lens creep out of the box, more so than 18-200 (18-50 or so)... Not bad though. With a lens of this weight, one should hold the barrel anyway so no issue and very tight build overall. I'm sure it will wear as the 18-200 did and become fairly loose, but to be expected and not an issue with a super zoom.

Also notice the shadow of the lens with the flash in low mm shots in low-light situations.

Lens distortion also noticeable over 18-200 in many instances. Auto distortion control eliminates a lot of it (note above). Manual correction after the fact (in-camera) will do the trick without question.

Overall picture quality close to equal to anything I've used at all focal lengths.

NOTES:

if weight is not an issue, you are not a professional, and take multiple shots at a time you will get quality images with this lens. Great all-around, no question. Only competitor is 18-200 due to smaller, more friendly size.

Would NOT mount this on anything less that a D90/7000, too heavy for a camera without an internal frame.

Not a camera with a lens, rather a lens with a camera... D7000, not huge camera, but no one would want to mount this lens on a full-frame and majority of options are of similar size to 7000.

As mentioned, multiple shots necessary as distortions/aberrations seems different shot to shot due to processing. This is likely a result of the distortion control; however, it definitely improves the pictures (have noticed minimal corner cutoff). Also, lag time for correction on D7000 is minimal.

Definitely not a professional lens, but fantastic for vacation/all-around and would consider using it for semi-pro work as long as you are decent with post editing software... High enough quality 90% of time, but for true perfection one must have FX array of lenses.

Must buy. Worth $. Benefits outweighs flaws for my size and shooting behavior... General photography with emphasis on landscapes/nature.

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So I'm another avid Amazon consumer that did not purchase this lens through Amazon. I was on a list at my local mom & pop camera store when I was called on June 28th. They called and I went running as I was about to leave for a few days of r&r in Kennebunkport, Maine, the summer white house of Pres. Bush 41. I wanted to mention this lens here because Amazon is the first place I go to research products and pricing, and to read seemingly unbiased reviews. If this review helps an Amazon vendor to make a sale, terrific. If it helps you to buy from Amazon, all the better.

I'm not going to bore you with technical jargon you may not understand or care about. I shoot and compose as if I were painting a scene. Sometimes I get lucky. It always comes from my 62 year old heart. I'm not thinking about ISO this or aperture that. I'm an avid high-end amateur, that's why I shoot in the DX format. The equipment I used was the new 18-300 and the Nikkor 35mm 1.8 for the nightime shots. Part of Ken Rockwell's dream team for Nikon DX cameras. The camera is the Nikon D7000 and a circular polarizing filter was used in the day shots. A UV filter on the 35mm for the nightime stuff. I usually shoot in P and A modes. Sometimes S at night to darken down the exposure.

I have not yet seen any real-world (shooting with this lens)examples in the reviews currently out there, so for those of you who are curious, here's my link to my FB album just uploaded. You do not have to be a FB member to view the album. Let me also say, I shoot raw and the the post processing was done in Adobe Lightroom, the images on FB are compressed JPGs. I love high saturation and vivid settings when I do travel photography.So, I traded in my trusty 18-200 which served me well. No lens creep on the 18-300. Auto focusing is perfectly fast, and heavy with the D7000? Heck no! No big whoop. Use the right strap and you're good to go. I was and am astounded by the results. Screeamingly sharp; this lens has blown me away too! From far or near, you can zoom in on a flea sitting on the Bush's front doorstep. You can get close to the flowers, it's not a macro, but it comes close and the bokeh is tolerable.

So take a look and please note that the photos online are compressed JPGs. You should see them raw. ;-)

Boy am I glad I have this lens as my new walk-around. Light lenses are for sissies.

Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)

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