Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Pro Reviews

Optical quality proved best at longer telephoto settings and, overall, it's a good buy at the price.

Being priced at under £209, this lens represents a bit of a bargain, especially as it is so lightweight and the sharpness in the centre is good from maximum aperture. This lens is already popular amongst those looking for a lens to compliment their 18-55mm kit lens when their camera is purchased. The high performance this lens is capable of may also lead this lens to becoming part of the kit bag of more advanced photographers too.

Really a budget or starter lens, reasonably priced, but lacking the fast maximum aperture and expensive glass of more professional lenses

If we haven't said it enough through this review, lenses that used to cost this much didn't have much to offer other than the savings in the wallet. The Nikon 55-200mm VR isn't a perfect lens - there are some obvious issues with vignetting, and its focus mechanism is a bit of a step backwards from even slightly more expensive AF-S models. However, it's sharper than most alternatives, controls chromatic aberration well, and distortion isn't a real issue. Paired with Nikon's basic 18-55mm kit lens, you would have a full range of focal lengths in two lenses, for half the overall price of the Nikon 18-200mm super-zoom. With a real improvement in optical characteristics from its predecessor design and the addition of VR image stabilization technology, you can't do much better for the price.

The Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR is a great entry-level telephoto zoom for Nikon DSLR owners. It’s compact, very light, offers respectable quality, quick and quiet AF, decent VR, and best of all is available at a great price. If you have a DX 18-55mm kit lens, are happy with the build quality and simply want a longer range, it’s absolutely ideal.