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...

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

The lens is great for using at sports events and for taking macro pictures. It takes amazing focused pictures as well. The only thing bad about this lens is that it is very hard to focus.

Good for sports games; Great shots of insects

Hard to focus

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...

Good but not very fast. But picture quality was great.

Picture quality; Vibration Reduction; Weight

Slow

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.

January 25th. The Nikon AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Nikkor telephoto zoom is designed to be the ideal complement to the 18-55mm VR DX-format camera kit lens, such as the one coupled with the Nikon D3100 D-SLR camera, and provides users with an affordable way to achieve telephoto zoom focal...

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Lightweight; Rugged; Very sharp great contras

Slow Focus

Why I purchased the Nikon 55-300 LensI have had a Nikon D3000 for a little over a year and felt I wa

reasonable price; compact; light weight; easy to use; great pictures

none

The 55-300mm lens is a decent, though not stellar, addition to any Nikon photographer's kit if you shoot on the DX format and need an extensive telephoto reach.

Good focal length reach for the price; Lightweight; Well balanced for the D3100 and lighter Nikon DX cameras

Slow autofocus; Soft images at 300mm