Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

This post may be a bit premature but I would like to have some feedback on the new Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm, f/4.5-5.6 E ED lens. My understanding is that it is a full frame lens and has a new auto-focus motor that is extremely fast. I would be using it initially on a D7100. Have any Hogs had a chance to try it? My intent is to replace an older 55-300mm lens that has the slowest focus in my arsenal.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Why spend the $$ for an Fx lens for a Dx camera? You'd be better off with a Sigma or Tamron Dx equivalent. Unless you are planning on upgrading to a Nikon Fx body, why?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have not used this lens. But I have done some experimentation with my mix of DX and FX lenses since getting my full frame body. The results, now that I can see for myself, are significant. I will not purchase any additional DX lenses. Their image circle, which can be viewed almost completely on an FX body, are really small. The vignetting area clearly extends into the corners of the DX image area. Related to this, using an FX lens avoids all or most of the lack of sharpness common to image corners and also the distortion common to the corners of images. This observation is true for all the lenses that I tested, including the old 18-70 zoom, 18-200 zoom and the 17-55 f2.8 zoom, which is by no means an inexpensive lens. I realize that this comes at the cost of loss of economical wide angle choices. These results were very surprising to me...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Because silly, with a FX lens on a DX body, you are only using the sharpest part of the lens, the center part. And besides, they are getting a further reach using a DX body, and they are using more EFFECTIVE MEGAPIXELS than they would get with a FX camera. That's why silly.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some info on using an FX lens on a DX body.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/products-and-innovation/the-dx-and-fx-formats.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUIfB5YUc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGIprLchLFs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgC30Sm_p8g

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...I love the lens...the new AF-P motor is spectacular...it is so quiet and fast...it's the lens I seem keep on my camera the most...

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I use the old 70-300 VR with no issues.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I ordered that lens and it's on the truck for delivery today. I ordered it because of the lighter weight, 9 rounded diaphragm blades, some weather sealing, fast focusing. It was a bit pricey so my expectations will be higher...

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Let us know!

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

I don't have any experience with the new version, still own the older version. But I do have experience with using FX lenses on a DX body. I started out with a D7000 and "kit" DX lenses 18-105mm and 55-300mm. But soon learned that FX lenses work very well on DX cameras, and if I ever wanted to upgrade to an FX body, I would not have to buy all new lenses if I already had FX lenses. You get a better selection with FX, better available quality. The added reach others mentioned is only apparent, but I do like it. The crop factor makes it look like you have 450mm instead of 300mm. In reality, the magnification is still what you get with a DX 300mm lens, but the narrower angle of view essentially crops that image in the camera. So your image will come out better because the part you wanted anyway is covering more sensor [compared to having to crop down peripheral unwanted parts of the image]. That 1.5x crop factor also affects every focal length on the camera, so while you seem to gain reach on the long end, you lose the same amount on the short end because of the reduced angle of view. I did finally purchase an FX camera last fall - D810 - and still have the D7000 as a backup camera with my 70-300mm mounted on it. [This was 5 years after beginning to learn to use my D7000 - first DSLR - and buying other peripherals such as a better tripod, filters, and FX lenses.]

The only thing about the 70-300mm I do not like is the smaller size of the largest available aperture, which is fine in good light. I have the 24-70mm f/2.8, which I love!

Another thing to realize is that while the better lenses will improve your images, they can only do so up to the limits of the camera. I discovered this for myself after using the 24-70 on the D7000 and then switching it over to the D810!

murraypastko

The AFP version is not totally compatible with the D 7100.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I will for sure. I am pairing mine (dare I say :) with the Nikon D 7500.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Yeah, too bad it isn't a f4.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

? Why would you want f/4 over f/2.8?

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I would want f 2.8 but it would then be too big and heavy and really really expensive.