Rankings
The Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR is a versatile super-zoom offering an unmatched focal-length range in a lightweight, weather-sealed package with strong image stabilization. While it excels for travel and video work, its variable aperture and modest edge performance limit low-light and high-resolution demands.
The Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II is a lightweight, retractable telephoto zoom aimed at APS-C users. It offers solid optical performance, VR, and a silent AF motor, though its plastic construction and lack of weather sealing limit rugged use.
The Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is a lightweight, retractable kit lens offering silent autofocus and effective image stabilization, ideal for beginners and travel, though its plastic build and variable aperture limit low-light performance.
The Nikon AF-S DX 55-300 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is a budget-friendly telephoto zoom that delivers solid image quality and useful vibration reduction for DX-format shooters. Its plastic construction and slower AF make it less suitable for demanding professional use.
The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR offers solid sharpness, effective vibration reduction and a quiet stepping-motor AF, making it a versatile, budget-friendly telephoto for DX-format shooters.
The Nikon AF-Zoom 70-300mm f/4-5.6G is a budget-friendly, lightweight telephoto zoom offering decent performance at the short end, but its lack of VR, slower screw-drive AF, and softness at longer focal lengths limit its usefulness for handheld wildlife or sports.
| Attribute | | | | | | Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 28 mm | 55 mm | 55 mm | 18 mmbest | 70 mm | 70 mm |
400 mmbest | 200 mm | 300 mm | 55 mm | 300 mm | 300 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 4 f | 4 f | 4.5 f | 3.5 fbest | 4.5 f | 4 f |
| ↓ lower better | 725 g | 335 g | 580 g | 205 gbest | 476 g | 425 g |
| ↓ lower better | 141.5 mm | 100 mm | 123 mm | 62.5 mmbest | 163 mm | 116.5 mm |
| ↓ lower better | 18.7 cmbest | 110 cm | 140 cm | 25 cm | 110 cm | 150 cm |
0.37 x | 0.23 x | 0.28 x | 0.38 xbest | 0.22 x | 0.26 x | |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | — | — | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | ||||||
Image Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | false |
Mount & Compatibility(2) | ||||||
Mount Type | Z-mount | Nikon F | F-mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon F-mount |
Autofocus Motor Type | STM | Silent Wave Motor | SWM | AF-P stepping motor | AF-P stepping motor | Screw-drive |
Optical(7) | ||||||
Focal Length (Min) (mm) | 28 mm | 55 mm | 55 mm | 18 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm |
Focal Length (Max) (mm) | 400 mm | 200 mm | 300 mm | 55 mm | 300 mm | 300 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f-number) (f) | 4 f | 4 f | 4.5 f | 3.5 f | 4.5 f | 4 f |
Minimum Focus Distance (cm) | 18.7 cm | 110 cm | 140 cm | 25 cm | 110 cm | 150 cm |
Maximum Magnification Ratio (x) | 0.37 x | 0.23 x | 0.28 x | 0.38 x | 0.22 x | 0.26 x |
ED Elements | true | true | true | — | true | false |
Coating Type | — | Super Spectra | Super Integrated Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Super Integrated Coating | Super Integrated Coating |
Build & Durability(1) | ||||||
Weather Sealing | true | false | — | — | — | — |
Physical(3) | ||||||
Weight (g) | 725 g | 335 g | 580 g | 205 g | 476 g | 425 g |
Length (mm) | 141.5 mm | 100 mm | 123 mm | 62.5 mm | 163 mm | 116.5 mm |
Filter Thread Diameter (mm) | 77 mm | 52 mm | 58 mm | 55 mm | 58 mm | 62 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the lens for its unmatched versatility, compactness, and solid VR performance, noting it outshines older super-zooms in resolution but criticize the variable f/8 aperture and edge softness at longer focal lengths.
Everyday users love the convenience of an all-in-one lens for travel and wildlife, but many note the slower AF in dim light and the need to manage the rotating front element when using polarizers.
“Perfect travel companion”
“Great for beginners”
“Perfect starter lens”
Professional reviewers commend the lens for its portability, solid optical performance and the addition of VR, while noting the plastic mount and lack of a built-in hood as drawbacks.
Everyday users love the lightweight travel companion and effective VR, but complain about the missing hood, cheap plastic feel, and reduced sharpness at 200 mm wide open.
Professional reviewers commend the lens for delivering sharp, high-contrast images across most of its range and for its effective VR II system, while noting the slower AF motor and lack of full-time manual focus.
Everyday users appreciate the lightweight build, long reach, and VR performance, but complain about sluggish low-light autofocus and the extending barrel that invites dust.
Professional reviewers commend the lens for its compactness, effective 4-stop VR, and quiet AF-P motor, noting good center sharpness at mid-apertures while calling out edge softness and modest overall image quality compared to higher-end lenses.
Everyday users overwhelmingly view the lens as a versatile starter kit, praising its lightweight build, silent autofocus for video, and reliable VR, while noting plastic feel, compatibility limits, and softness at the frame edges when used wide open.
Professional reviewers consistently commend the lens for its strong optical performance at a modest size and price, highlighting its sharpness at mid-range focal lengths, effective 4-stop VR, and quiet AF-P motor, while noting resolution loss at the long end and a plastic build.
Everyday users overwhelmingly rate the lens highly, praising its lightweight feel, silent autofocus, and the dramatic improvement VR provides in low-light situations, though they note zoom creep and a less solid feel.
Professional reviewers praise the lens for its low cost, compactness, and decent sharpness at the short end, while consistently criticizing the lack of VR, slower AF, and softness beyond 200 mm, noting that newer AF-S VR versions outperform it.
Everyday users appreciate the affordability, light weight, and usable performance for casual portraits, travel, and tripod-based wildlife, but many complain about softness beyond 200 mm, the absence of image stabilization, and the noisy, slow screw-drive autofocus.
