NIKON AF-S 200-500MM F5.6E ED VR

Keenly priced for an own-brand Nikon lens, it leads the field in some ways but lags behind in others

Considering the price tags attached to some of Nikon’s recent lenses, this one looks a bit of a bargain. The constantaperture design is unique in this test, and makes the Nikon a third of an f-stop faster at the long end of its zoom range. However, it has a smaller 2.5x rather than 4x zoom range, with focal lengths that don’t go as short or as long as in the competing lenses.

Build quality is good with a solid construction and weather-sealed mounting plate. The zoom mechanism can be locked at its shortest setting, while other switches are on hand for focusing modes, long-distance autofocus range limiting and VR (Vibration Reduction). The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system is manual priority, in that it instantly swaps to manual focusing if you twist the focus ring while in autofocus mode. It therefore works in continuous AF mode, as well as enabling you to swap to manual if AF is struggling to lock onto a subject.

Like a number of recent Nikon lenses, this one has an electromagnetically controlled aperture. Compared with Nikon’s more conventional mechanical lever, this enables greater exposure consistency when shooting in fast continuous drive mode. The downside is that it’s incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs, up to and including the D200, D3000 and D5000.

Autofocus is fast and accurate. Sharpness is mostly impressive but dips a bit in the middle sector of the zoom range. Colour fringing is slightly worse than with the other lenses on test at the long end, but image quality is good overall.

Far left 500mm Despite a dip in the middle sector of the zoom range, sharpness comes back on song at the long end left 200mm With a minimum focal length of 200mm, you can’t squeeze as much into the frame as with competing lenses left IT’S A HIGH-TECH...