Nikon 55-200mm VR len Review

Nikon 55-200mm VR

Features of Nikon 55-200mm vr

This versatile and compact 3.6x Zoom-NIKKOR lens brings the action to the photographer. Ideal for portraiture, family, sports, nature and wildlife.

AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Lens Highlights:

• An ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element minimizes chromatic aberration, contributing to superior optical performance
• Focus mode switch enables quick switching between A (Autofocus) and M (Manual Focus)
• 7-blade rounded diaphragm provides more natural out-of-focus highlights
• Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture
• New compact rod-type Silent Wave Motor (SW) enables ultra-high speed auto focusing with exceptional accuracy and super-quiet operation
• The lens is constructed with 15 elements in 11 groups

Photos by Nikon 55-200mm VR

Click to view in full size. Portrait, Nature, Sport, Landscape, etc

Nikon 55-200 VR Review

I had the 55-200mm non VR version for about 5 months, sold it to essentally recover my cost, and bought the VR version as a replacement. The non VR version was very compact and light, and produced excellent photos, but the slightly larger VR version is so much more usable I don't miss the other lens at all. The VR works as advertised and allows me to take pictures at 3 times or more lower shutter speeds than the non VR version. While I would love the 18-200mm VR for the convenience, I will never be able to justify the $750 price, so my 18-55mm kit lens and this lens will likely cover my needs as long as I own my camera. I also seriously considered the 70-300mm VR, but couldn't accept twice the price for only 50% more reach. And at twice the length of the 55-200mm non VR version, it would be too awkward for me to carry around. I am very satisfied with this 55-200mm VR lens and if you are considering it, please give it a try. You will not be dissapointed.

This lens is sharp even at wide apertures, the VR (image stabilization) works great, autofocus speed is more than acceptable, and it it is very light and compact. The fact that it costs $250 and has effective VR is pretty amazing - no other company offers a lens with this feature for anywhere near this price. 

Of course, the lens is slow (like almost all consumer zoom lenses), in that its widest aperture is smaller than a professional zoom or prime lens, so it's not a good choice for action photography in lower light conditions (like indoor sports without flash or outside sports at dusk). But a fast telephoto zoom will cost at least three times as much and weigh a ton.

I give the lens 5 stars based on a combination of image quality, value, and compactness/lightness.
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