AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR owners/users: Hi Chums, if you own or use a Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR and have a spare moment would you be so kind as to provide your assessment of this...

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Hi Chums, if you own or use a Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR and have a spare moment would you be so kind as to provide your assessment of this lens. Additionally, if you also use it with a Nikon teleconverter which one do you use and, again, your assessment, please? I am considerering buying a Nikon D500 and this lens for certain aspects of my photography. Thanks a lot.

willie_gunn Loc: Oxfordshire, UK

There was a recent thread on this here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-372102-1.html

I have the non-VR version of the lens on my D750 pretty much exclusively, together with the TC-14EII 1.4x teleconverter.

I am not sure which aspects of your photography you will be using it for, but I think it's fair to say that I love this lens to bits!

What I find particularly useful are its close-focus abilities.

The first photo below was taken a week or so ago, and the lamb was maybe 10 feet away.

Also opened up it provides lovely creamy bokeh whilst still being tack-sharp. In the second photo of the Morris Men below you can see the splinters of wood (they were giving it some welly!) and read the time on the watch, yet the accordion player in the background is still nicely subdued.

From all reports the newer version does all of this, with the added advantage of VR. What's not to like!

At some point I'll probably upgrade, but if I do I will likely go for the f2.8 version of the lens as the bulk of my photography is wildlife in the early morning/late evening.

(Download)

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

Jerrin1 wrote:

Hi Chums, if you own or use a Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR and have a spare moment would you be so kind as to provide your assessment of this lens. Additionally, if you also use it with a Nikon teleconverter which one do you use and, again, your assessment, please? I am considerering buying a Nikon D500 and this lens for certain aspects of my photography. Thanks a lot.

The best, love it with the TC1.4

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Thanks for the link, Willie Gunn, very informative.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

par4fore wrote:

The best, love it with the TC1.4

Great, thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

Jerrin1 wrote:

Hi Chums, if you own or use a Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR and have a spare moment would you be so kind as to provide your assessment of this lens. Additionally, if you also use it with a Nikon teleconverter which one do you use and, again, your assessment, please? I am considerering buying a Nikon D500 and this lens for certain aspects of my photography. Thanks a lot.

I find this lens to be accurate and very sharp. The VR is very effective along with the light weight (26 oz.), making hand held shots a joy. The one below is one I snapped of a friend coming in on final. All in all, one of my favorite lenses.

(Download)

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

GPS Phil wrote:

I find this lens to be accurate and very sharp. The VR is very effective along with the light weight (26 oz.), making hand held shots a joy. The one below is one I snapped of a friend coming in on final. All in all, one of my favorite lenses.

Thank you very much for your aasessment and prompt reply.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

GPS Phil wrote:

I find this lens to be accurate and very sharp. The VR is very effective along with the light weight (26 oz.), making hand held shots a joy. The one below is one I snapped of a friend coming in on final. All in all, one of my favorite lenses.

Great shot. Cropped or enlarged, you can see your buddy in the cockpit.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

Jerrin1 wrote:

Thank you very much for your aasessment and prompt reply.

Since you are considering the D500, thought I would mention that I used my DX D7100 for this shot. I think an ideal lens for a cropped frame!

Phil

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

GPS Phil wrote:

Since you are considering the D500, thought I would mention that I used my DX D7100 for this shot. I think an ideal lens for a cropped frame!

Phil

Thank you. Yes, I agree, I think it will be a perfect match for a D500 should I decide to buy one.

CO

I don't have the lens but I know that Nikon included PF flare control in their Capture NX-D software for that lens. Apparently, under some circumstances the concentric ridges of the phase fresnel element in the lens can cause weird flare. It' supposed to be a fantastic lens though and that flare occurs rarely.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I've had that lens virtually from the day it was announced and it is one of my favorite purchases. I do have it's big brother, a 2.8 version, but this is both much less expensive and much lighter. I find it sharp as a tack and that the VR is fantastic. All good, no bad. Get one, you will not be sorry. As I have not used a TC with it, I can't comment on that but, given a matching Nikon TC, that combination should be good as well. Best of luck.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

cjc2 wrote:

I've had that lens virtually from the day it was announced and it is one of my favorite purchases. I do have it's big brother, a 2.8 version, but this is both much less expensive and much lighter. I find it sharp as a tack and that the VR is fantastic. All good, no bad. Get one, you will not be sorry. As I have not used a TC with it, I can't comment on that but, given a matching Nikon TC, that combination should be good as well. Best of luck.

Thank you for your informative reply.

ras422 Loc: Virginia

Light weight-- vr works great. Oh so sharp! Used with tc1.4 lll. Very pleased. Good luck Rich

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

ras422 wrote:

Light weight-- vr works great. Oh so sharp! Used with tc1.4 lll. Very pleased. Good luck Rich

Excellent: thanks a lot.