what i know about photography: Quick Review: Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR

Two weeks ago I managed to finally get my hands on the new Nikon 300mm f/4e PF ED VR. It is backordered nearly everywhere -- Adorama, B&Photo, etc -- due to the pesky VR problem at the initial release.

In case you have not heard about the VR issue, I will fill you in. Shortly after the initial release of the lens in December 2014 many users began complaining that VR induced image blur when shooting at around 1/125s or lower shutter speeds. Users complained that handheld shots with the VR OFF were much sharper than shots taken with the VR ON. Nikon stopped shipping the lens, issued a firmware update and then shipped new lenses with the firmware update. If you are interested in learning more about the VR issue experienced by users and Nikon's response to the issue feel free to check out this link.

In light of the foregoing, I was rather hesitant to purchase the lens without first trying it out. Well, two weeks ago I was home visiting the family and I decided to stop by Creve Coeur Camera, my hometown camera store. The store happened to have a copy of the lens and offered to let me try it out in store before buying -- a huge plus! A quick side note, one of the perks of buying from a local camera store is the ability to try out the lens; while you may not earn the 2% rewards you would otherwise receive through B&H or Adorama, it can be nice to actually test out a lens to ensure it does not have any problems before purchasing.

I tested the lens on my Nikon Df and took photos around the store at various shutter speeds. Needless to say, I decided the lens was amazing and that I had to buy it immediately. Last week I took the lens out for a little more testing around the National Mall. The results from that little field trip are below:

Handling?
The lens is very light for the focal length. With the exception of the metal mount and the filter thread, everything is made out of plastic, which helps keep the lens as light as possible. Nikon was also able to reduce the weight of the lens by making use of the Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element, which reduces the need to use more complex lens elements. While you can attach a tripod collar to this lens, I really do not think you need one.

ISO 100 f/9.0 1/125s

Autofocus + VR?
The autofocus is fast -- crazy fast. And, it is accurate. The lens establishes focus quickly and it keeps focus when the subject is moving. There are no issues with VR with this lens at all.

ISO 160 f/9.0 1/15s (with VR)

ISO 160 f/9.0 1/20s (without VR)

As you can see from the above, the photo with VR turned "on" is definitely sharper than the image with the VR turned "off." The first photo was taken with VR ON at 1/15 s and the second with VR OFF at 1/20. Both images are relatively sharp, however, the image taken with the VR ON is definitely the sharper of the two.

Specifications?

Focal length: 300mm

Maximum aperture: f/4

Minimum aperture: f/32

Lens construction: 16 elements in 10 groups

Picture angle: 5°20′ (80°10′ with Nikon DX format)

Closest focusing distance: 1.4m

No. of diaphragm blades: 9

Filter/attachment size: 77mm

Diameter x length (extension from lens mount): Approximately 89 x 147.5mm

Weight: 755g

Cost: ~$1999.00

ISO 100 f/9.0 1/250s

Final Thoughts?

This is a great lens for the price. I tend to prefer prime lenses e.g. a photographic lens whose focal length is fixed as opposed to zoom. Prime lenses tend to focus faster, produce sharper images, and perform better in low light due to the larger apertures. Therefore, a 300mm prime lens that I could carry from the Washington Monument to the Reflecting Pool was my dream. Take a look at more sample images from my outing on the National Mall and draw your own conclusions.

More Sample Images