Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

I bought this for my daughter for Christmas. She made a mistake when she told me the model to buy, so it didn't work with her camera. She called the seller and he offered to exchange it for the correct model.

I had been looking for a telephoto lens for my Nikon that was longer than the current 70-200 mm that I have now. I received an e-mail for a sale on the non-VR (Vibration Reduction image stabilization) version of this lens. I like the VR feature, which sealed my decision to purchase this VR version of the lens.You do need to check the compatibility to see if this lens will work with your camera. The VR feature is turned on and off based upon a setting as the external switch on the lens itself not is there. Your camera may need a firmware update. Mine did. I found the update and how to install it on the Nikon website. It was a very simple process that was completed in a few minutes.What I purchased was not a kit, so there was not any lens hood or pouch in which to carry the lens. Additionally, the filter thread size is 58mm, so I did need to purchase a circular polarizing filter to protect the lens and because I like the filter’s effect on my pictures.Lastly, on the page for this lens under the Product Information sections under the Batteries sections, the following appears, “1 Lithium ion batteries [sic] required.” I did not notice this until I was writing this review. I did not install any battery, and the lens has been working. I could not find any reference to a battery in the manual. On searching other listings for this lens, I found a reference to the battery being required in the cached pages but not on the current pages. The battery was specified was the battery used in the camera. I believe that this is a typographical error that has been caught on the other pages but not this one yet. If I am wrong, please, someone tell me where it is in the lens and what the battery designation is.Overall, the lens operates exactly as expected. I am quite happy with it. I recommend it to all. I rate it with 5 stars.

I got mine used, item was as described. Great image quality for the price. Sharp images, even at 300mm wide open. If you do birds in flight or other small wildlife and cant get super close to your subject, you should probably get a lens that's longer than 300mm if you shoot on DX. The picture of the bird is cropped, so there is less detail.

The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm VR lens along with the 18-55mm VR lens are must have lenses for most whom travel, and desire to travel lightly. These lenses easily cost below $500. Those conducting business with their cameras or those that can afford hauling heavier equipment around, may desire to purchase the more costly $800+ heavier and larger lenses.ATTACHED PHOTOSPhoto of small brown bird (dsc_0026.jpg): f/6.3; 1/500 seconds; 300.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 450.0 mm); VR On; Standard Picture Control; ADL Auto; ~45 foot distance to bird.Photo of forward looking small bird (dsc_0058.jpg): f/6.3; 1/500 seconds; 300.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 450.0 mm); VR On; Standard Picture Control; ADL Auto; ~45 foot distance to bird.Photo of bird asking for free food (dsc_3265.jpg): 1/500 seconds; f/8.0; ISO 400; 300.0 mm; VR On; Neutral Picture Control; ADL Off; ~15 feet away.Photo of moon (dsc_0336.jpg): 1/500s; f/6.3; ISO 200; 300mm; VR On; Neutral Picture Control; ADL Off; Minor editing within Nikon Capture NX-D.FYI: I seem to have a better experience with duplicating my naked eye observations with using Neutral Picture Control and switching Active D-Lighting off. Although I'm sure Active D-Lighting and Standard (or other) Picture Controls have their use with artistic photos, the additional effects seem to augment the reality of the colors towards the unrealistic end of the spectrum. Active D-Lighting will cause problems with third party raw editing software.PROS1) Small and light portable zoom lens.2) Really good magnification capabilities. Great for capturing photos of license plates!3) Optical VR significantly helps! Without Optical VR, freehand >200mm focal length usage is almost useless, due to image movement blurring. I immediately noticed I could acquire excellent images at ~3.5 stops less. (eg. Without Optical VR image stabilization, at least 1/300 seconds exposure time is required while using no tripod. With Optical VR image stabilization, 1/40 seconds exposure time while using no tripod is easily possible.)CONS1) Plastic mount flange, easily breaks. My initial purchased lens broke sometime during 1-15 days of initial use. A lot of weight for a cheap and weak plastic mounting flange! Does not look to be a high impact plastic at all. (Although, a somewhat easily replaceable, $7 part.)2) Had to return the second purchased lens due to Nikon support stating I likely have a defect on the second lens, and will follow-up as I perform more testing. In brief, the focal point is moving 1-2 mm while pushing the shutter release button halfway, and image stabilization is requiring 1-2 second delay until focus. When pushing the shutter release button fully and instantaneously taking the image/exposure, there are significant unfocused areas due to this 1-2 mm shift with 1-2 second delay in focus. My first purchased 70-300mm lens apparently had no issues with focus during such instantaneous shutter release exposures, and I would have noticed the significant movement of the focal point. (eg. Focus Mode AF-S; AF-Area Mode: Single Point.) 2017.07.19 Apparently this issue with the focal point moving due to image stabilization appears to be normal activity, yet Nikon support wasn't aware of this occurring. Nor did many, if anybody, notice this as normal activity within the public forums.3) Had to replace the third lens, due to a brass/gold colored chip on the inside front lens. Again sent for a replacement through Amazon.com and readily received a replacement.4) The outer lens is only 1 3/4 inches diameter, and seems to be a very small diameter lens compared to some of the more costly zoom lenses I've used in the past. I think the small diameter lens is one of the offsets of being light and portable; and due to the smaller lens, the sensor is not able to receive as much light through the smaller lens. I'm guessing, higher apertures will require a longer exposure time, while the background is still significantly blurred at F/11-F/16 apertures. Since I currently have no other zoom lens to compare to, this maybe something others with access to more lens may want to compare or keep an eye on.5) On some or most of these AF-P lenses, can hear a main spring bind/snap on the interior of the unit while zooming in/out through the entire focal length. My guess is their quality testing is performed within a very noisy factory, or conditions which might deter good quality testing from occurring? (Speculative but might help explain why some of these minor issues are sneaking through, or maybe they're due to reselling by third parties.) None the less, I still enjoy these lighter AF-P lenses.

I purchased this to replace the identical lens that came with my camera kit years back - identical in all respects except that this lens has vibration reduction. It’s allowed me to use the full range of the lens without a tripod. The professionals can argue the minutiae of its pros/cons. It’s not a $2000 lens, and I don’t have it on a high-dollar camera. I get great pics nonetheless.

The lens arrived about 3 days early, packed well, and as described. The price was better than other National used camera equipment sellers. I would purchase again.

Good product so far works fine,Reason for the low starThe lens hood cover, and dust bag. That was advertised.Was not shipped with lens.Otherwise the used lens does appear to be good quality and is working properly so far its been just a few days..