Click on the thumbnails for a high resolution image Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at Nikon's latest telephoto offering for DX format cameras. Until the introduction of this lens, Nikon camera users requiring a lens that covers focal lengths up to 300mm to complement their existing kit lens had a...

Decent optical performer; Good build quality for a consumer lens; Light weight

Lens extends and focus ring rotates during AF; Delay before VR system kicks in properly

Most telephoto zoom lenses designed specifically for APS-C rather than full-frame DSLRs have a zoom range of about 50-200mm. This gives them an effective zoom range of 75-300mm on Nikon camera bodies such as the D3100 and D5100, very close to the classic telephoto zoom range of 70-300mm on...

While I hope to create a full Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Lens, my first priority is to include results from this lens in the lens comparison tools available on the site.

Nikon's longest zoom for cameras with APS-C-size sensors (DX format), this 5.5X 55–300mm f/4.5–5.6G VR ($360, street) scales up to the full-frame equivalent of 82.5–450mm. It offers two elements of ED glass, a high-refractive-index glass element (a DX first), Vibration Reduction II, the quiet SWM...

Most telephoto zoom lenses designed specifically for APS-C rather than full-frame DSLRs have a zoom range of about 50-200mm. This gives them an effective zoom range of 75-300mm on Nikon camera bodies such as the D3100 and D5100 , very close to the classic telephoto zoom range of 70-300mm on...

At the 55mm end of the zoom range, the angle of view is 28° 50', which is a little bit tighter than that of an 80mm lens on a 35mm body.

A 5.5x telephoto zoom lens for DX cameras with Vibration Reduction which starts where bundled kit lenses stop extending your range through to a super-telephoto 300mm.

Decent optical performer; Good build quality for a consumer lens; Light weight

Lens extends and focus ring rotates during AF; Delay before VR system kicks in properly

So you've just opened your camera bag and there it is… your new DSLR with its lonely kit lens attached, the empty space beside it screaming for another piece of gear, but what? Some would suggest a flashgun, we would recommend a longer focal length lens.

Photographers looking for a telephoto zoom lens to complement the 18-55mm kit lens supplied with Nikon DSLRs will doubtless be drawn to the new AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR lens.

High resolution is important; Edge and corner softening or are unacceptable; You need true macro capabilities

Colors are rendered accurately and the contrast is pretty sharp even at the max aperture. The lens is compact for a 300mm and it's lighter than my AF-S DX 18-200mm which I use as my regular walk-around. I'm sure the new 55-300 will be used as my walk around pretty frequently also.