I think this lens is fantastic. The price too was great (ebay purchase seriously below a retail price with warranty so delighted about that. Now, the lens has no VR and is not as 'fast' as the 2.8 - the 300 Nikon sell as the higher spec model but, kets face it, for 1 stop more and with VR, which more often than not needs turning off (for various methods of photography) 3.2k more, I think I CAN work around it. Having said that VR with this lens would have been just great for the times I do need it. The lens is sharp, tack sharp, and hunts and locks quickly onto wildlife target and the photos are, on the whole great. (If they are not great, that is down to me, not the lens as I learn to handle this great piece of kit.The lens is, for a prime, light and compact compared to many in its class which, given a full day in the field does not weigh so heavy on your arm as a zoom to the same reach would. I've added teleconverters. They slow the lens down. The 1.4 nikon with it works best pushing the lens to a 420 5.6 with no real issues of IQ loss. Things start to get become more noticeable with the 1.7 and the 2x . Bean bag definitely needs to be used with the later tcs on the lens to maintain image sharpness, especially if you want to use a low ISO, even in great light. It's at this stage you wished you had paid the 4.2k for the 2.8 300m VR...but only for a fleeting moment! Scenario - 2x on the 300MM =600 at f8. Not so fast. long reach so tripod or beanbag is a must. There has been some debate about the collar on the lens not being stable enough and acting like a 'tuning fork' when shooting on a tripod. I have not had any issue, having said that, most of my shots, for flexibility with wildlife, are taken using a bag and off tripod. I'm back to the flexibility again. Think of the length of the f4 zoom 200-400 Nikon, Think of the length of the 300 f4 with 1.4 tc added. think about working in a forest with all those trees, and tight branches. Believe me, the 300 is a quicker lens to move about with and a lot less heavy. It will be a sad day if/when/I have to part with this professional piece of photographers kit.Read full review
One of Nikon's best 300mm lenses even by modern standards. Lack of VR doesn't bother me at all. Took me a while to find a good example, but it was worth the wait. Great results on Nikon and Lumix G9 (all manual 600mm equivalent). Image degredation barely noticeable with 1.4 converter. The AFS motor can be a weakness. Warning sign is often a squeak while focusing. About £400 should get you a good one. The older screw-drive model is a lovely lens too, and for even less.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
High quality lens, can be hand held. Works well with Nikon 1.4 teleconverter taking it to 420 mm.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Built like a tank but not too heavy, the one I bought was well used and this gave it a lovely smooth feel and a joy to use. One thing to note is that the integrated lens hood doesnt lock when not deployed and so can rattle irritatingly.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The images it produces is super sharp and VR performance is amazing. The best part of this lens is it is light as feather, I can carry this lens anywhere without worrying about the weight.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best-selling in Lenses
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Lenses