Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR

Last updated
AF-S DX Nikkor-Zoom 18 - 300mm f/3.5 - 6.3G ED VR
Maker Nikon
Lens mount(s) F-mount
Technical data
Focal length18 - 300 mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)27 - 450 mm
Crop factor 1.5
Aperture (max/min)f/3.5 - 22 (wide)
f/6.3 - 40 (tele)
Close focus distance0.48 m/1.6 ft.
Max. magnification1/16.7
Diaphragm blades7 (rounded)
Construction16 elements in 12 groups
Features
Short back focus Symbol thumbs upzel.svg No
Ultrasonic motor Yes check.svg Yes
Lens-based stabilization Yes check.svg Yes
Macro capable X mark.svg No
Unique features3 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements
3 Aspherical glass elements
Super Integrated Coating
Internal Focusing
Application Wide (DX relative)
Standard (DX relative)
Telephoto superzoom (DX relative)
Physical
Min. length99 mm/3.8 in.
Diameter78.5 mm/3.0 in.
Weight550 g/19.4 oz.
Filter diameter67 mm screw-on
Accessories
Lens hoodHB-39
CaseCL-1018
Angle of view
Diagonal76˚ - 5˚20'
History
IntroductionMay 2014. [1]
Retail info
MSRP $899.95 (release) [1]
$699.95 (current) [2]  USD

The 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G lens (not to be confused with the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6Glens) is a telephoto superzoom lens manufactured by Nikon for its line of DX DSLR cameras.

Contents

As with other DX format lenses, the smaller image circle makes it compatible only with APS-C-sized image sensors. If used on a 35mm film SLR, vignetting will occur; [3] however, the lens can be used on an FX DSLR because the camera can be automatically or manually set "DX Crop Mode", eliminating vignette, but also reducing the image area from an FX-size sensor to a DX-size sensor [4]

The lens is designed to be an all-in-one solution. [5] This lens does not replace the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G. [6]

The differences between the lens and the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G are as follows:

Lens18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G [7] 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G [8]
Max. F-stop6.35.6
Length (mm/in.)99/3.8120/4.7
Diameter (mm/in.)78.5/3.083/3.3
Weight (g/oz.)550/19.4830/29.3
Filter size67 mm77 mm
MSRP$699.95$999.95 [9]

Since it has the same focal length as the f/3.5-5.6G, it shares the record of having the largest zoom range of any other lens (interchangeable camera lenses only) currently manufactured. [10]

Features

The lens has the following features: [11] [12]

Nikon's Silent Wave Motor to drive the autofocus mechanism quickly and almost completely silently (denotes the "AF-S on the lens body). [13]

Nikon's VR [14] (Vibration Reduction) for image stabilization (denotes the "VR" on the lens body).

Nikon's Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to remove chromatic aberrations that may occur (denotes the "ED" on the lens body). [15]

Nikon's Internal Focusing (IF) to prevent the lens assembly from changing sizes during focusing so it can remain compact. [16]

Aspherical lens elements to remove other types of aberrations that may occur. [17]

Nikon's Super Integrated Coating on the lens elements to improve color on photographs and reducing ghosting and flaring. [18]

Specifications

Maximum reproduction ratio0.32x
Rangefinder Yes (shown in camera viewfinder and display only)
Lens typeG
FormatDX
FX in "DX Crop Mode"
FocusAutomatic
Manual

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References

  1. 1 2 "The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR lens will be available in May 2014 for suggested retail price (SRP) of $899.95". "THE NEW AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300MM F/3.5-6.3G ED VR LENS IS A VERSATILE YET COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS THAT ALLOWS USERS TO GET CLOSE TO THE ACTION - Price and Availability". DPreview.com. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  2. "$699.95" "AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  3. "In the Nikon system, both crop sensor DX lenses and full frame FX lenses will function on crop or full frame bodies; HOWEVER (and it’s a big however), if you put a DX lens on a full frame body, you’ll see that a significant portion of the edge of the frame is black. This is caused by the smaller DX lens not reflecting the image onto the full area of the full frame sensor". "The Difference Between Full-Frame and Crop Sensor DSLR Cameras". Improvephotography.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  4. "Essentially, DX Crop Mode avoids the heavy vignetting that we would otherwise experience when using a DX lens on an FX camera by only recording the image using a smaller section in the center of the sensor. Of course, this results in an image with a reduced resolution". "What is the Difference Between Nikon DX and FX Lenses?". Photographybay.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  5. "'With the addition of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR to the NIKKOR lens line-up, DX-format photographers have a compact and lightweight all-in-one telephoto zoom that can handle any photo or video challenge,' said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc". "THE NEW AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300MM F/3.5-6.3G ED VR LENS IS A VERSATILE YET COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS THAT ALLOWS USERS TO GET CLOSE TO THE ACTION". DPreview.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  6. "Nikon has unveiled the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 ED VR (27-450mm equivalent). It doesn't replace that company's existing 18-300mm lens, rather it's a third of a stop slower at the long end and 30% lighter, weighing 19.4 ounces". "Nikon debuts lighter 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 to DX lens lineup". DPreview.com. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  7. "Filter attachment size - 67mm", "Diameter x length (extension from lens mount) - Approx. 78.5 mm x 99 mm", "Weight - Approx. 550g (19.4 oz.)" "Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Review - Specifications". Photographyblog.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  8. "Filter-attachment size - 77 mm", "Dimensions - Approx. 83 mm diameter x 120 mm (distance from camera lens mount flange)", "Weight - Approx. 830 g (29.3 oz)" "Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Review - Specifications". Photographyblog.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  9. "$999.95" "AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  10. "The AF-S Nikkor 18-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR was announced in June 2012, and holds the distinction of being the longest-range superzoom available for any interchangeable-lens camera system". "Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR review". DPreview.com. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
  11. "ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass", "IF Lens", "Silent Wave Motor", "Vibration Reduction". "AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR - Overview". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  12. "Super Integrated Coating - Yes". "AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR - Tech Specs". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  13. "The AF-S motor is driven by the electronics of your camera". "AF-S (AF-Silent Wave Motor): 1998". KenRockwell.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  14. "Based on this procedure, vibration reduction effects providing the equivalent of a shutter speed of approx. three (with VR) or four (with VRII) stops faster are confirmed". "VR mode options: Normal mode". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  15. "ED glass helps eliminate secondary chromatic aberration (green-magenta color fringes) which is what previously prevented the design of practical super speed, super sharp super teles". "ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Glass: 1975". KenRockwell.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  16. "Nikon discovered that one could focus the lens by just moving some elements around inside the lens barrel". "IF (Internal Focusing): 1976". KenRockwell.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  17. "Spherical surfaces are not the optimum shape for lenses. In fact, "spherical aberration" is the phrase used to describe a lens defect that results when one only uses a single spherical element". "Aspherical Elements: 1968". KenRockwell.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  18. "Multicoating not only allows a reduction of lens flare and ghosting, but also increases light transmission". "NIC (Nikon Integrated Coating): 1970, SIC (Nikon Super-integrated Coating)". KenRockwell.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.