On the official website of Nikon (for 2014!), The Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G still figured as an actual lens. After 2014, discontinued.
As far as I know, Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G и Nikon ED AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D have the same optical system except that the last one of the elements is made of 'ED' glass.
It is also worth noting that Nikon ED AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D uses the same optical design as Tamron AF 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 LD DI Macro (as well as versions 372D, 572D, etc.).
Basic lens information
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G - very simple telephoto. The entire body is made of plastic (including bayonet), which is why it turned out quite easy. The touch - assembled good, some flaws I found. Zoom ring very broad and rubberized, labeled 70, 100, 135, 200 and 300 mm. When you zoom in, the lens, like many other inexpensive telephoto lenses, lengthens, but the front lens does not rotate, only the rear lens moves, creating a slight 'vacuum cleaner' effect.
But when focusing lens trunk, together with a thread for attaching the filters, and with slots for attaching the lens hood, and rotates and travels forward. Also, the lens that I got for the review was not sick with the 'typical telephoto disease' - a trunk that self-extends under its own weight.
The maximum length of the trunk of the lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G
The auto focus speed is small, 300 mm of focal length noticeably less than 70 mm. The focusing ring is plastic, with the marks of the focusing distances in meters and feet, rotated only 90 degrees. The lens can focus from 1.5 meters, while 300 mm can easily shoot small objects with a maximum magnification of 1: 3.9.
There is no focus mode switch on the lens, the transition to manual focus and vice versa is carried out using the switch on the camera, which is located near the camera mount. There is no focusing distance limiter, which is sometimes very important when working with telephoto lenses.
Plastic mount Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G
It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.
Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:
D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2xs, D2h, D2hs D3, D3x, D3s, D4, D4s, D5, D6 Df D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90 D7000, D7100, D7200,D7500 D100, D200, D300, D300s,D500 D600, D610, D750, D780 D700, D800,D800E, D810, D810a, D850 Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 ProS3 Pro UVIR, S5 ProIS Pro Kodak DCS PRO 14n, DCS Pro SLR/n
Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:
D40, D40x, D60 D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D3400, D3500 D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600 all digital mirrorless cameras Nikon ZDX, Nikon ZFX with Nikon FTZ/FTZ II adapter
Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.
You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G with a hood
The lens uses a lens hood that can be set both in normal operating condition and in the transport position. In the latter state, the hood completely blocks access to the focus ring at 70 mm of the focal length, but at 300 mm the focus ring is open. It is also very good that the lens uses a 9-blade aperture.
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G with hood in transport mode
The lens has a weak apertureBy adding a large focal length and the absence of a stabilizer, you can get difficulties when shooting with your hands. To combat movement, I use the ability to shoot at high ISO, using automatic sensitivity control function ISO. On camera Nikon D700, when shooting in aperture priority mode, I set the ISO threshold equal to 6400, the maximum shutter speed is 1/400 s (for reserve), the minimum allowable ISO value is 200, and I don't know of any problems when shooting handheld. But to use such a lens with weak (in terms of ISO capabilities) cameras, for example, with Nikon D80, And even in cloudy weather - is not easy and requires some skills :)
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G at 300 mm when focusing on MDF with Nikon AF N8008s camera
Nikon AF 70-300 / 4-5.6G designed for full-size cameras, and on Nikon DX cameras EGF lens will be 105-450mm, which will allow you to easily shoot many distant objects.
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G on the ZK
Overall - a good lens, but rather weak on the open apertures in the range of 200-300 mm. In the 70-200 range, you can easily get very high quality photos. Personally, I was a little confused that in JVI color distortion is visible - the lens gives a pronounced yellow-green color to the image. Nikon lenses usually do not suffer a similar 'bottle-tinged'.
Boo. Nikon AF 70-300 / 4-5.6G can be easily found for $ 150 The lens can serve as a replacement Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor ED 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6G SWM (for those who have a DX camera with a focus motor). Of the inexpensive such lenses, I also recommend looking away Tamron LD DI AF 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 Tele-Macro (1: 2) A17.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 393 MB, 43 .NEF (RAW) photos from camera Nikon D700.
Lens prices in popular stores can look at this link.
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Results
The Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6G is one of the most affordable telephoto lenses in Nikon's full-frame camera lineup. For simple tasks - at the time, well, it's a great alternative to more expensive and qualitative Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6G VR ED IF SWM (for FX) and Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6G ED VR SWM HRI (for DX).
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram