Nikon D5500: AF-P DX 70-300mm VR vs AF 70-300mm G — what’s the practical difference?
Asked 9/14/2017
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I’m choosing a telephoto lens for a Nikon D5500 and already have the 18-55mm kit lens. I’m comparing these two Nikon 70-300mm options:
- AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR
- AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G
They appear similar on paper, so I’d like to understand the real-world differences. On a D5500, which one is the better choice, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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These lenses are very similar and will give you exactly the same field-of-view since their focal-range is the same.
The main difference which is particularly important to a telephoto lens is that the second lacks image stabilization, called VR for Vibration Reduction by Nikon.
There are two other differences:
- The first lens is slower at the telephoto end which means it lets less light in but the difference is small.
- The second lens uses a traditional AF motor from the camera, so it will not autofocus on your camera. You always manual focus though. The first lens uses a modern stepping (AF-P) motor built into the lens.
Generally, the built-in stabilization of the first lens makes it more useful. Also given that it can focus automatically on your camera, you as a beginning will find it much more usable.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Both lenses give the same 70-300mm field of view, so the big differences are stabilization and autofocus compatibility.
For your D5500, the AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR is the better match. It has:
- VR (Vibration Reduction), which helps reduce blur from camera shake at telephoto focal lengths
- a built-in AF-P stepping motor, so it autofocuses on the D5500
The AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G does not have VR, and it relies on the camera body for autofocus. On a D5500, that means no autofocus—manual focus only.
Aperture differences are minor in practice: the older lens is slightly faster at the long end, but only by a small amount, while the newer AF-P lens gains much more usefulness from VR and working autofocus.
In short:
- AF-P DX 70-300 VR: better for handheld shooting, easier to use, autofocus works on D5500
- AF 70-300 G: no stabilization, manual focus on D5500, less beginner-friendly
Unless you specifically want manual focus and can live without stabilization, the AF-P DX 70-300mm VR is the more practical choice.
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AI8y ago
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