Nikon 75-300mmFX f/4.5-5.6 AF (1989-1999)Intro Format Compatibility Specifications Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF, set to 75mm. It gets longer at longer focal lengths. (62mm filters, 29.3 oz./831g, 5'/1.2m close focus, about $200 used if you know How to Win at eBay). bigger. I got mine at this direct link to them at eBay. This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
April 2018 Nikon Reviews Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Reviews
IntroductionTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs
This is the original 75-300mm AF zoomfrom 1989, and yes, today it's still super-sharp even on the D850, so long as you hold it steady (it has no stabilization). It was replaced in 1999 by the 70-300mm f/4-5.6ED AF zoom, which is a much cheaper, lighter, and smaller plastic lens. This original version is by far the better lens; I presume it just cost Nikon too much to make to be able to sell it profitably at what the market would bear today. The lens reviewed here is mostly metal and is very similar in construction quality and style as the 35-70 f/2.8D and 70-210 f/4-5.6D AF push-pull AF zooms of the same era. It has a great built-in tripod adapter that cannot be removed, and does not get in the way of hand holding.
FormatTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs This is a full frame FX lens, and I'm reviewing it as such. You may make the usual inferences on DX cameras.
CompatibilityTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs This lens works perfectly with every FX digital camera. It also works on better DX cameras, but won't autofocus on many DX cameras. For DX cameras, any DX telephoto is worlds ahead of this old lens. This lens works great with most 35mm Nikon cameras made since 1977. Of course it won't autofocus on manual-focus cameras, but otherwise everything works great. See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AF, AF-D (screw)" column.
SpecificationsTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs
NameNikon calls this the Nikon AF NIKKOR 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6. AF: Autofocus. NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses. Also has: ∅62: 62mm filter thread.
Optics13 elements in 11 groups. Front-group focusing. Push-pull pumper zoom. Multicoated.
Coverage
Diaphragm9 blades. Stops down to f/32-40 in full-stop clicks. You can set any intermediate aperture.
Focal Length75~300mm. When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 115-450mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera. See also Crop Factor.
Focus ScaleYes.
Infinity Focus StopYes.
Depth of Field ScaleNo.
Reproduction Ratio ScaleNo.
Infrared Focus IndexYes, for 75 and 135mm.
Close Focus5 feet (1.5 meters).
FiltersMetal 62 mm filter thread. Rotates with focus but not with zoom.
HoodHN-24 metal screw-in hood (the same hood as the 70-210 f/4-5.6D AF and 70-210 f/4 AF.)
SizeIt's 2.8" (72mm) around. It is 6.5" (165mm) long at the 75mm setting and 7.7" (197mm) long at the 300mm setting (extension from the lens mount focused at infinity).
Weight29.299 oz. (830.6 g). Rated 30 oz. (850g).
QualityMade in Japan.
Introduced1989.
ReplacedReplaced by the cheap plastic 70-300mm ED FX in 1989.
Price, USAAbout $100 used if you know How to Win at eBay, April 2018. About $200 used if you knew How to Win at eBay, August 2011. About $225 used if you knew How to Win at eBay, July 2002. $370 at closeout new at B&H in 1999. $575 at deep discount new at B&H in 1995. $425 at deep discount new at B&H in December 1991, which is the same as $630 in 2018.
PerformanceTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus
OverallThis is a very well made full-frame telephoto zoom. Newer lenses like the 70-300mm VR AF-P FX outperform it, but they're 30 years newer and only work on modern cameras.
AutofocusAccuracy: It's dead on. This is very good, since you'll be shooting at almost full aperture most of the time. AF is slow! One turn of the AF screw focuses the lens from infinity to about 48.' This is one-quarter as fast as the AF 70-210 f/4-5.6D and AF 80-200 f/2.8D. It also is about 30% slower then the newer 70-300mm f/4-5.6ED AF zoom. There is a FULL / LIMIT switch on the front of the zoom ring. Leave it at FULL, unless your AF system is taking too much time hunting back and forth down to 5 feet (1.5m) and back. Set it to LIMIT and the AF system won't be able to focus closer than 10 feet (3m).
Manual FocusManual focus requires moving the switch on your camera. Once set to M, just turn the front ring. There is no instant manual focus override.
DistortionDistortion is the lowest I've seen in a zoom, and therefore exceptional for a 4x zoom. The newer 70-300 ED by comparison has awful distortion. 75mm: slight barrel 100mm: none 135mm: none 200mm: vanishingly low pincushion 300mm: very slight pincushion
ErgonomicsThe cut of the zoom cams squeezes the zoom range between 200 and 300mm into a small range, making precise adjustment tough between 200 and 300mm. It's long and light, so that if you have it on your D1 it is not heavy enough to keep the whole thing pointed down. Therefore you'll have a constant woodie poking straight out from your body if you carry thing around your neck. The non-removable rotating tripod collar is excellent. The zoom tension is light enough that the lens slides out to 300mm whenever the camera is pointed straight down. Another reason you always should buy Nikon: this lens, introduced in the 1980s, has all the encoders into it so that all the focal length setting data is recorded by today's newest digital cameras!
FalloffThere is little to no darkening of the corners, even at full aperture. Shoot wide open if you want; this is better, even at the same f/number, than the performance of the 80-200 f/2.8 lenses. 75mm none 100mm none 135mm none 200mm little falloff 300mm some falloff
Flare & GhostsI saw none shooting straight into the sun. This again is great performance.
Mechanical QualityIt is very well made. It has all metal innards. This is much better than the plastic 70-300 ED. HN-24 HoodSolid alloy.
Filter ThreadsMetal.
Front BarrelMetal.
Focus RingRubber-covered plastic.
Zoom RingRubber-covered plastic.
Mid & Rear BarrelMetal.
Tripod CollarMetal. The collar doesn't come off the lens.
IdentityPrinted around the top of the barrel
InternalsSeem like all metal!
Dirt Seal at MountNo.
MountDull chromed metal.
MarkingsPaint.
Serial NumberLaser engraved in black-on-black on bottom of aperture ring.
Date CodeNone found.
Noises When ShakenModerate to strong clunking and clattering.
Made inJapan.
SharpnessIt's pretty sharp all over at all apertures and focal lengths. It is softer at 300mm, and much softer at 5 feet at f/5.6 at 300mm. It's much better at 300mm at f/8. At far distances it's as sharp as other Nikkor 300mm lenses. This is great, I have nothing to whine about here.
SunstarsWith a straight 9-blade diaphragm, it ought to make great 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light.
RecommendationsTop Intro Format Compatibility Specs By all means find one of these over the plastic 70-300 ED. Personally I use the smaller and faster focusing 70-210 or much more expensive 80-400 because I actually own them. This 75-300 was loaned to me by a fan for testing. This is an unusually well made, well performing lens available today for a bargain price. I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I only use a cap when I throw this in my bag, otherwise I leave a clear filter on my lens at all times. The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 62mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints. For less money, the B+W 62mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best. Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt. I got my 75-300 at this direct link to them at eBay. This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
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April 2018, August 2011, July 2002.