Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm 1:4-5.6 G ED VR II Lens (f/4-5.6)

Overall Rating:

This lens replaced the first VR version: the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm 1:4-5.6 G ED VR IF. It is 10 years old and made in Thailand. It features one ED lens element. At its debut, it cost $350 (USD).

Performance

The Vibration Reduction (VR) is nice making this inexpensive, slow lens into a good hand-held performer. It is of a varifocal design (has to be refocused after zooming), and focus speed is not bad but not instant like with the AF-P 70-300mm VR lens and is faster than the 55-300mm VR. There is an A/M switch on it that must be turned to M to enable manual focusing.Attempting to manually focus the lens when this switch is set to A will damage it. The front element does not turn while zooming or focusing.

Not surprisingly, this 55-200mm lens is not blisteringly sharp. It is consistent throughout, however. Otherwise, it is a good performer with the exception of barrel distortion (0.6%) on the short end, f=55mm. At f/8, diffraction begins to set up. Color fringing is well controlled as is vignetting no doubt thanks to its DX format and focal length. Flaring is minimal due to the modern coatings used.

It sharpens-up considerably when stopped down some but a slow lens like this should perform at its best wide-open.

This lens exhibits focus breathing so it may not be the best choice to use with a depth of field calculator.

Construction

This very compact lens has a 35mm equivalent range of 83mm-300mm on the DX/APS-C sized sensor. It is an all plastic design. This includes the lens mount.

Bokeh

The bokeh could be worse. It's not incredibly creamy but decent beyond the 55mm focal length.

Infrared

Like many consumer grade lenses by Nikon, this one is good at infrared.

Apertures

Specifications

• Focal length: 55-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/4
• Minimum aperture: f/32
• ø52mm filter ring
• Lens construction: 13 lens elements in 9 groups (one ED element)
• Picture angle: 29° at f=55mm and 8° at f=200mm
• Distance scale: 1.1m/3.6ft. to infinity
• 1:4.3 (0.23×) maximum reproduction ratio at 3.6 ft. f=200mm
• Price: $350 (USD) (2015)

Images

Related links:

• Nikon Nikkor Lens Reviews
• All Lens Reviews