Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

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

AF-S DX Nikkor-Zoom 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Maker	Nikon
Lens mount(s)	F-mount
Technical data
Focal length	18 - 300 mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)	27 - 450 mm
Crop factor	1.5
Aperture (max/min)	f/3.5 - 22 (wide) f/5.6 - 32 (tele)
Close focus distance	0.45 m/1.48 ft.
Max. magnification	1/16.7
Diaphragm blades	9 (rounded)
Construction	19 elements in 14 groups
Features
Short back focus	No
Ultrasonic motor	Yes
Lens-based stabilization	Yes
Macro capable	No
Unique features	3 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements 3 Aspherical elements Super Integrated Coating Internal Focusing
Application	Wide (DX relative) Standard (DX relative) Telephoto superzoom (DX relative)
Physical
Min. length	120 mm/4.7 in.
Diameter	83 mm/3.3 in.
Weight	830 g/29.3 oz.
Filter diameter	77 mm screw-on
Accessories
Lens hood	HB-58 (bayonet) (supplied with lens)
Case	CL-1120 (soft case) (supplied with lens)
Angle of view
Diagonal	76˚ - 5˚20'
History
Introduction	June 2012[1]
Retail info
MSRP	$999.95[2] USD

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

Much like its counterpart, the lens is designed to be an all-in-one solution to eliminate a photographer's need to change lenses in different scenarios and reduce the amount of gear the photographer needs to carry.[5] The main differences from the f/3.5-6.3G are its heavier (830 g/29.3 oz. vs. 550 g/19.4 oz.), larger (length 120 mm/4.7 in. vs. 99 mm/3.8 in.) (diameter 83 mm/3.3 in. vs. 78.5 mm/3.0 in.), it takes larger filters (77 mm vs. 67 mm), and its aperture is slightly faster (5.6 vs. 6.3).[6][7]

The lens (and the f/3.5-6.3G, since it has the same focal length) has the largest zoom range of any other lens (interchangeable camera lenses only) currently manufactured.[1]

Features

The lens is equipped with the following features:[8]

Nikon's Silent Wave Motor for quick and almost completely silent autofocus operation (denotes the "AF-S" on the lens body).[9]

VR II[10] for image stabilization and has two stabilization modes for different conditions (denotes the "VR" on the lens body).

Nikon's Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass to remove chromatic aberrations (denotes the "ED" on the lens body).[11]

Aspherical elements to remove other kinds of aberrations that may occur.[12]

Lens elements are made with Nikon's multiple layer Super Integrated Coating (SIC) for improved color in photographs as well as reducing ghosting and flaring.[13]

Nikon's Internal Focusing (IF) to prevent the lens from changing size during focusing operation.[14]

Specifications

Reproduction ratio	0.32x
Rangefinder	Yes (built-in focus distance scale and shown in camera viewfinder and display)
Formats	DX FX in "DX Crop Mode"
Lens type	G
Focus	Automatic Manual Automatic with manual override

References

1. "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.
2. "$999.95"."AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
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. "Lenses with long zoom ratios are popular with travelers who don't want to carry a lot of gear, and photographers who simply want to enjoy the benefits of an SLR without having to make frequent lens changes"."Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR". PCMag.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
6. "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". Photographyblog.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
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". Photographyblog.com. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
8. "Vibration Reduction", "Silent Wave Motor", "AS" (Aspherical lens), "Super Integrated Coating", "ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass", and "IF" (Internal Focusing)."AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR - Features". NikonUSA.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
9. "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.
10. "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.
11. "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.
12. "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.
13. "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.
14. "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.