Although I have the Nikon 18-200mm, I’ve been wanting something with more reach. And without spending a small fortune, a 70-300mm is about as good as it’s going to get.
This is probably not the best 70-300mm lens out there, and it was introduced in 2010, but it was rather cheap, so I took a chance, and so far, I am happy.
Sharpness at 300mm is more than adequate for me. Sure, I’d like the biting sharpness you typically only get with a lot more expensive options. And stopping down to f/8 increases sharpness.
Focusing speed is not spectacular, but I doubt I’ll ever need anything faster. And it has VC (Vibration Control), so a bit of reduction in movements and vibrations. I can’t really judge how much it helps, but a few stops at least. It’s nice to have.
I actually think this is one of the better looking 70-300mm lenses. Especially with the lens hood, it’s rather cool looking (and huge!).
And it should be mentioned that it is a full format lens, but it works on crop sensor too, and since it has a built-in autofocus motor, it works on cameras like my D3300 and D5500.
