Incredible for the money
In 2009 I switched from being a Canon shooter to Nikon. I had been conditioned to having a 70-200 f2.8 lens in my arsenal, and naturally, when I began researching the Nikon lens range to accompany my D700, the Nikon 70-200/2.8 was a natural contender.
I did however ask some friends and other professional photographers their opinions, and it was US Nature Photographer EJ Peiker who sold me on the 70-300 f4.5-5.6G VR. And I am eternally grateful that he did.
Nikon D3x + Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
1/800 @ f6.3 195mm ISO 100
For a start, it is less than 1/3 of the price. It is light, yet solid. Having used this lens since 2009 in the Himalaya, the wild coasts of Spain, Thailand and Indonesia, I can truly say it has never let me down. It can be incredibly sharp, with some minor vignetting at f4.5 which is easily removed in Lightroom or similar.
Sure, an f4.5 maximum aperture has some limitations, but I use this lens to great effect on moonlit nights, and it performs admirably. It takes a 67mm filter instead, but with a simple, cheap step up ring it takes my 77mm filters.
Nikon D700 + Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
1/640 @ f7.1 135mm ISO 100
Highly Recommended.
