Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8

FX AF-S E FL ED SR VR

Intro   Format   Compatibility   Specifications

USA Version   Performance   Compared

User's Guide   Recommendations

Nikon 120-300mm

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR (112mm filters, 114.6 oz./3,250 g/7.2 pounds, 6.6'/2m close focus, $9,497). bigger. I'd get mine at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win 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. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

January 2020   Better Pictures   Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses   Nikon Manual-Focus Lenses   All Reviews

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Introduction

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New   Good   Bad   Missing

Adorama Pays Top Dollar for Used Gear

Amazon

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Crutchfield

I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below.

The Nikon 120-300mm is a 50% longer focal-length version of an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens, with the same fast f/2.8 maximum aperture.

Making the focal lengths "just" 50% longer with the same maximum aperture require an inordinate amount of engineering, materials, size, weight and expense. This 120-300mm is a whale of a lens, 50% bigger in every dimension than a 70-200mm f/2.8, only focuses half as close as the 70-200mm f/2.8 FL (6.6'/2m versus 3.6'/1.1m), it's over twice as heavy as the 70-200mm f/2.8 FL and costs over three times as much as the state-of-the-art Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL, all to get just 50% more focal length.

This is a man's lens, a 7¼ pound beast that goes way beyond what a kid with a 70-200mm f/2.8 FL can do. Show up with this on your camera and they know you're the boss; a full-time pro, not just some weekender, blogger or YouTuber. The public gets out of your way, and the people who can help you whisk you up to the VIP area. It's also great for video, giving a more useful range with a fat f/2.8 aperture than a 70-200/2.8.

Size, weight, close-focus distance and expense aside, this is a much better lens to pair with a 24-70mm because the 200-300mm range you gain is much more useful than not having the range from 70-120mm. You should never try to cover every millimeter; if you do you wind up carrying too much. (more at How to Assemble a System.)

This 120-300mm lens sees the same angles-of-view on full-frame as an 80-200mm sees on DX. Used on a DX camera, this lens sees the same angle-of-view as a 180-450mm lens sees on FX (see crop factor).

Just turn the focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override.

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

New

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com Nikon's first 120-300mm f/2.8.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com Nikon's first use of an SR glass element (Short-wavelength Refractive, same as Canon's BR Blue Refractive compound) to reduce spherochromatism, also used in the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 introduced the same day.

 

Good

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Outstanding optical quality.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Programmable front control buttons:

  green ball icon © KenRockwell.com AF LOCK, or

  green ball icon © KenRockwell.com AF ON, or

  green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Instantly return to previously-saved focus distance.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Ultra-fast autofocus.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Direct mechanical zoom.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Image Stabilization.

 

Bad

red ball icon © KenRockwell.com Big, heavy and expensive.

 

Missing

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com Only stops down to f/22, not f/32 or f/45.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No 52mm rear filter drawer.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No protective front glass plate; buy and use a 112mm B+W MRC 010 UV filter instead.

 

Format

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User's Guide   Recommendations

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

This is a full frame FX lens, and I'm reviewing it as such.

It works great on DX cameras, too, on which you may make the usual inferences.

 

Compatibility

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I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

This 120-300/2.8 is optimized for use on Nikon's DSLR cameras.

It works on all FX DSLRs, and works well on DX Nikons introduced since about 2007.

For use on Z mirrorless cameras, use the FTZ Adapter.

It has a new electronic diaphragm; that's the "E" designation, so it won't work properly on older (pre-2007) DSLRs or on any 35mm camera; they won't be able to work with the electronic diaphragm and will only shoot wide-open at f/2.8, which may or may not be a problem.

If you don't mind shooting wide-open, go ahead and shoot it on older cameras if you like. Even on a 1959 Nikon F you can focus manually and shoot wide open.

It won't work with any of the Nikon 1 series (even with the FT1 Mount Adapter) or Pronea cameras — but who cares?

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for more.

 

Specifications

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User's Guide   Recommendations

 

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Name

Nikon calls this the AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR:

    AF-S and SWM: Silent Wave Autofocus Motor.

    NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.

    E: Electronic diaphragm. Silent operation, but only works with cameras introduced since about 2007.

    FL: Fluorite element(s) for sharper images in telephoto lenses.

    ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.

    SR: Short-wavelength Refractive, a new optical material that helps reduce spherochromatism.

    VR: Vibration Reduction.

  

Also has:

    IF: Internal focusing; nothing moves externally as focused.

    G: Gelded; has no aperture ring.

    Nano Crystal Coat (N): Magic anti-reflection coating that has a variable index of refraction that's far more effective against ghosts and internal reflections than traditional multicoating.

    ARNEO Coat: Magic anti-reflection coating that's especially good for use in high-speed lenses.

    ∅112: 112mm filter thread.

 

Optics

Nikon 120-300mm internal optical construction

 

Nikon 120-300mm internal optical construction. ED, Fluorite and SR elements.

25 elements in 19 groups.

1 ED extra-low dispersion elements, which help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.

2 Fluorite elements for extreme sharpness.

1 SR (Short-wavelength Refractive) glass element to reduce spherochromatism.

Internal focussing.

Nikon Super Integrated multicoating (SIC), Nano and ARNEO anti-reflection coatings.

Fluorine front element coating to resist dirt and smudges.

 

Filters

112mm front filter thread.

No rear filter holder.

 

Coverage

FX, 35mm and DX.

 

Diaphragm

9 rounded blades.

Electronically actuated.

Stops down to f/22.

 

Focal Length

120-300mm.

When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 180-450mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

See also Crop Factor.

 

Angle of View

20.3º ~ 8.2º diagonal on FX.

13.3º ~ 5.2º diagonal on DX.

 

Autofocus

Internal focussing.

No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.

 

Focus Scale

Yes.

 

Infinity Focus Stop

No.

 

Infrared Focus Index

No.

 

Close Focus

6.6 feet (2 meters).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

1:6.25 (0.16 ×).

 

Reproduction Ratio Scale

No.

 

Image Stabilizer

Rated four stops improvement.

 

Caps

LC-K103 Neoprene-padded Velcro front cover. 

Standard Nikon LF-4 rear cap.

 

Hood

HK-41 Lens Hood (same hood as 180-400mm), included.

 

Case

CL-L2 soft padded case, included with many Nikon ultra teles.

 

Size

5.1" ø maximum diameter × 12" extension from flange.

128 mm ø maximum diameter × 303.5 mm extension from flange.

 

Weight

114.6 oz.

3,250 g.

7.2 pounds.

 

Announced

9:12 PM, 05 January 2020, NYC time.

 

Promised for

February 2020.

 

Included

HK-41 Lens Hood (same hood as 180-400mm), included.

LC-K103 Neoprene-padded Velcro front cover. 

Standard Nikon LF-4 rear cap.

CL-L2 soft padded case, included with many Nikon ultra teles.

LN-2 strap, included with many Nikon ultra teles.

 

Nikon's Model Number

20088.

 

Price, USA

January 2020

$9,497 at Adorama, at Amazon and at B&H.

 

Getting a Legal USA Version

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USA Version   Performance   Compared

User's Guide   Recommendations

This section applies in the USA only.

In the USA, be sure your box contains a card printed "4 YEARS USA EXTENDED SERVICE COVERAGE" and that the serial number on the card matches the one on your lens exactly.

If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. (The serial number on the box doesn't have to match, but if it doesn't it means you bought from a shady dealer who took lenses out of boxes and then resold them as new.) This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-USA versions have no warranty in the USA, and you won't even be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!

Nikon USA enforces its trademarks strictly. It's unlikely, but possible that US customs won't let your camera back in the country if you bought a gray-market version in the USA, carried it overseas, and try to bring it back in. (If you take the chance of buying one overseas, be sure you have a receipt to prove you bought it overseas and be prepared to pay duty on it.)

If a gray market version saves you $3,000 it may be worth it, but for $1,000 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.

Always be sure to check your box while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed.

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem, but if you take the risk of getting yours elsewhere, be sure to check everything while you still can return it. Never buy at retail because the boxes are unsealed and it's an almost certainty that a lens as exotic and desirable as this will have been taken out on a few weekend "test shoots" by the salesmen before being sold to you. Never buy retail, unless you want to pay full price for a lens dropped - and returned - by others.

 

Performance

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USA Version   Performance   Compared

User's Guide   Recommendations

 

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Sharpness

Performance          top

Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.

If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/16 at ISO 1,600 at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.

Just like every Nikon f/2.8 tele since the 1970s, this lens is ultra sharp. Its MTF is actually rated better than the fixed 300/2.8 VR II, but in real-world use you'll never see a difference; all Nikon's f/2.8 ultra teles are all ultra-sharp. Anyone who thinks he sees a difference is seeing flaws in his test and comparison procedure; these lenses are essentially optically perfect — as you should expect from a $10,000 lens:

Nikon 120-300mm MTF
Nikon 120-300mm MTF
MTF at 120mm at f/2.8. bigger.
MTF at 300mm at f/2.8. bigger.

 

Compared

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USA Version   Performance   Compared

User's Guide   Recommendations

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

(images not to scale)

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 FL

Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR II

Nikon 180-400mm

 
Introduced
2016 August
2020 January
2009 December
2018 January
Speed
f/2.8
f/2.8
f/2.8
f/4
VR rated
Four stops
Four stops
Three stops
Four stops
Close-focus

3.6'

1.1 m

6.6'

2 m

8'

2.2 m

6.5'

2 m

Max. Repro. Ratio

1:4.76

0.21 ×

1:6.25

0.165 ×

1:6.4

0.16 ×

1:4

0.25 ×

Front protective optical plate
none
none
Yes
Yes
Front filter thread
77mm, metal
112mm
none
none
Rear Filter Slot
none
none
52mm
40.5mm
 
Outside Diameter

3.4"

88.5 mm

5.1"

128 mm

4.9"

124mm

5.0"

128 mm

Length (from flange)

7.9"

202 mm

12"

304 mm

10.5"

268 mm

14.3"

362 mm

MTF, short end (click to enlarge)
Nikon 70-200 2.8 FL MTF
Nikon 120-300mm MTF
(there is no short end)
Nikon 180-400mm MTF
MTF, long end (click to enlarge)
Nikon 70-200 2.8 FL MTF
Nikon 120-300mm MTF
MTF
Nikon 180-400mm MTF
 
Weight, w/collar

50.3 oz.

1,425g

3.1 pounds

114.6 oz.

3,250 g

7.2 pounds

102.3 oz.

2,900 g

6.4 pounds

123.5 oz.

3,500 g

7.7 pounds

Price per pound, 01/2020
$890/lb.
$1,320/lb.
$860/lb.
$1,610/lb.
Price, 01/2020

 

(images not to scale)

Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8

 

Nikon 80-400mm VR

Nikon 200-500mm

 
Introduced
2020 January
2013 March
2015 August
Speed
f/2.8
f/4.5-5.6
f/5.6
VR rated
4 stops
4 stops
4½ stops
Close-focus

6.6'

2 m

5.7'

1.75 m

7.2'

2.2 m

Max. Repro. Ratio

1:6.25

0.165 ×

1:5.5

0.18 ×

1:4.5

0.22 ×

Front protective optical plate
none
none
none
Front filter thread
112mm
77mm, plastic
95mm, plastic
Rear Filter Slot
none
none
none
 
Outside Diameter

5.1"

128 mm

 3.8"

95.5 mm

4¼"

108 mm

Length (from flange)

12"

304 mm

8"

203mm

10½"

268 mm

MTF, short end (click to enlarge)
Nikon 120-300mm MTF
Nikon 80-400mm VR MTF
Nikon 200-500mm MTF at 200mm
MTF, long end (click to enlarge)
Nikon 120-300mm MTF
Nikon 80-400mm VR MTF
Nikon 200-500mm MTF at 500mm
 
Weight, w/collar

114.6 oz.

3,250 g

7.2 pounds

55.1 oz.

1,563 g

3.4 pounds

81¼ oz.

2,300 g

5.1 pounds

Price per pound, 01/2020
$1,320/lb.
$675/lb.
$275/lb.
Price, 01/2020

 

User's Guide

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User's Guide   Recommendations

Nikon 120-300mm

Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8E VR. bigger.

A/M - M/A - M Switch

A/M: Auto Focus. You have instant manual focus override by turning the focus ring at any time. It will try to ignore minor accidental knocks.

M/A: Auto Focus. You have instant manual focus override by turning the focus ring at any time, and will respond even to the slightest turn of the focus ring.

M: Manual Focus only.

 

Full / ∞-6m Switch

This is a focus limiter.

Leave it in FULL.

The ∞-6m position prevents the lens from autofocusing closer than 6 meters (20 feet). Use this setting only if you're having a problem with the lens attempting to focus on irrelevant close items, or if for some reason the lens is "hunting" from near to far looking for distant subjects.

 

Vibration Reduction (VR) Switch

OFF / Normal / Sport

I leave it in Normal. 

Use Sport if you're trying to track objects which change direction unpredictably. 

Only turn it OFF for long exposures on a tripod longer than about a second. Even on a monopod or tripod with normal exposure times I leave it at NORMAL to catch tripod wiggle.

 

AF-L  /  MEMORY RECALL  /  AF-ON

Nikon forgot to label this switch as the AF BUTTON FUNCTION. This sets what the four little rubber buttons around the front of the lens do.

AF-L is what I use. Pressing any of the buttons locks focus. I use this as things get in the way of a moving subject as I track it around, or if I want to set portrait focus and recompose.

AF ON turns the four front AF buttons into AF ON buttons.

MEMORY RECALL lets us save and recall a distance, like home plate or the bird feeder. Once saved, tap any of the front buttons and the lens immediately refocuses to that distance.

To use the MEMORY RECALL:

1.) Be sure the slide switch is set to MEMORY RECALL.

2.) Focus on your preferred subject.

3.) Press the MEMORY SET BUTTON.

4.) To recall the set distance, tap any of the four front AF buttons. You don't need to hold it; one tap and it will spin all the way to your set distance.

 

This switch turns the beep on and off when using memory recall focus.

 

Recommendations

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USA Version   Performance   Compared

User's Guide   Recommendations

This is a huge and expensive lens for just 50% more reach from an 80-200 — and you lose half the close-focus distance at the same time. We all have different needs; personally I only need f/2.8 when shooting film or using teleconverters, so I prefer my Canon 100-400mm IS II because it covers a longer and shorter focal lengths and focusses closer than any 70-200mm, about 2-3/4 feet (0.84m), so I can shoot more better with the much less expensive Canon lens. For Nikon, also consider the Nikon 80-400 VR.

See also Is It Worth It. If you shoot every day, are often stuck at the 200mm end of your 70-200mm and often actually shoot at f/2.8 and not closer than 6½ feet (2m), this 120-300mm is probably the awesome new lens for which you have been waiting. If you shoot less often so the price matters, if you don't usually shoot at f/2.8 or need to get closer than 6½ feet (2m), then the 70-300 VR AF-P or 70-200/4 are probably better choices. The Nikon 80-400 VR and Nikon 200-500mm VR don't focus any closer, but they do get even longer if you don't need f/2.8, and they cost much less. The 200-500mm is the bargain of the century if you don't mind f/5.6; it's super sharp at a super low price.

This is an easy enough lens for a man to hand-hold if you're a serious shooter, although if you're standing or sitting in one place for hours a monopod makes it much easier.

I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of the cap on my 120-300 so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.

I'd use a 112mm B+W MRC 010 UV filter to protect this lens.

I'd get my Nikon 120-300mm at Adorama, at Amazon or at B&H, or eventually get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

This 100% all-content 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. xx 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 xx. 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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09-10 January 2020