April 10, 2014
Nikon's new lens is the $899.95 AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR telephoto zoom. Designed for DX-format cameras, it is a compact, lightweight 16.7X all-in-one. Whether capturing still images or video, it's built to capture content with vibrant colors and sharp details, plus shoot sports, vacations and wildlife. It incorporates a Silent Wave Motor (SWM), three Aspherical and three Extra-low Dispersion glass elements, and Vibration Reduction image stabilization.
An All-In-One Telephoto Zoom Lens
With the introduction of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR lens, DX-format photographers have a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom lens, more than 30 percent lighter than the existing AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens. The 18-300mm lens boasts a 16.7X ultrahigh-ratio zoom range, offering a focal range from wide-angle 18mm to super-telephoto 300mm (27mm to 450mm equivalent in FX/35mm format). The new lensoffers compositional freedom that is ideal for everyday use, whether capturing close-ups, landscapes, portraits, architecture, nature, sports, and fast moving action. When recording HD videos, users will have the ability to capture wide establishing shots, medium close-up shots or extreme telephoto sequences that best complement their creative vision. With the lens, photographers that currently use DX-format D-SLR cameras, like the Nikon D3000 and D5000 series, now have a versatile telephoto zoom lens to upgrade their current lens arsenal or complement their kit lens.
Performance and Image Quality
Incorporating proven NIKKOR lens optics and technology, the new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR lens offers features designed to produce vibrant color, sharp detail with minimal distortion, whether capturing still images or recording HD video. Helping to ensure sharp photos and video even in low-light situations while also combatting the effects of camera shake, the 18-300mm comes equipped with Nikon’s renowned Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization, providing the lens with four stops* of stabilization to help make shooting a blur-free experience, even while handheld.Weighing just 19.4 ounces, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR is compact and lightweight, making it comfortable to carry. The lens contains 16 optical elements in 12 groups and includes three Aspherical (AS) and three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to produce maximum contrast while minimizing lens flare and ghosting. Its three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements minimize chromatic aberration at even the widest aperture settings. It also incorporates a seven rounded-blade diaphragm, which helps achieve a natural background blur. Like many of Nikon’s newer NIKKOR lenses, the 18-300mm has a Silent Wave Motor (SWM), designed to deliver fast, accurate and quiet autofocusing (AF) performance, plus Internal Focusing (IF), which gives it a more compact, streamlined lens design.
