Nikon’s new telephoto lens, the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, is a big unit in a small package. The lens features a Nikon designed Phase Fresnel (PF) element, similar to the Fresnel lens technology used in lighthouses and stage lighting to dramatically reduce the distance required to focus light from distant objects. This not only allows Nikon to make the new lens shorter (the 300mm f/4E PF lens is 147.5mm in length by comparison to the 300mm f/4D lens at 222.5mm), but it also dramatically reduces the weight of this new lens by half, to just 755 grams. To appreciate how small the new 300mm f/4 PF lens is, it’s similar in length and yet 145 grams lighter than the popular Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
The practical advantages of this new lens almost go without saying. It’s so compact you can keep it on your camera, or carry it about in a small bag all day without it being a burden. And if you are an adventure, wildlife or a landscape photographer who regularly travels over difficult terrain looking for the perfect shot, the ability to save 750 grams on gear might give you the option to carry an extra day’s food away with you. Portrait and street photographers can also enjoy this lens. Unlike most telephoto lenses, the 300mm f/4E PF is discreet enough that you can use it in a crowd without making people feel like a target.
Unlike its predecessor, the new Nikon 300mm f/4 PF lens also features Vibration Reduction which can reduce camera shake by up to 4.5 stops. Technically this can let you hold the lens to shutter speeds as low as 1/15s, and in testing I was easily able to achieve this in most conditions. A switch provides three different VR settings: Off, Normal and Sport. Two other switches are a focus limiter (Full or Infinity to 3m) and a focus mode switch (A/M M/A and M).
Two other key features are an electronically controlled aperture mechanism which helps to improve exposure consistency, and an internal focusing mechanism which is not only fast, but also maintains the balance of the lens during focusing. Minimum focus distance on the lens is 1.4 metres, with a maximum magnification of 0.24x. The one feature that is absent from the 300mm f/4E PF is a tripod collar, although the lens is small and light enough the most photographers will be satisfied using this unit with the camera itself attached to a tripod.
Image results from the new lens were exceptional. Wide open, the lens delivers solid corner-to-corner sharpness and this remains the case through to about f/16, when you start to notice slight softness due to diffraction. One of the key advantages of the Phase Fresnel element is that it cancels out most chromatic aberration (colour fringing), which is common in many lenses. While blue light typically folds inwards more than red light with conventional lenses, with Fresnel lenses it is the red light that folds in first.Add a Phase Fresnel and a conventional optic together and you come close to neutralising the chromatic aberration.
The one concern some people have with Fresnel lenses is the optic’s potential to scatter unwanted light in some extreme lighting conditions. After three months of testing in a range of conditions, from shooting into sunsets and working around bright event lighting, I haven’t yet experienced noticeable problems. In short, this lens is a gem. The only issue I’ve experienced is a slight problem with the vibration reduction when using the lens on my D810 SLR; this was a fault with the first batch of lenses which has since been resolved.
Is this lens as sharp as the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VRII? I haven’t had an opportunity to directly compare the two. What I can compare though, are the weights and prices of the two lenses. The 300mm f/2.8 VRII weighs 2.9 kg and costs $7,700 while the new 300mm f/4 PF is just a quarter of that weight, and has a street price of $2,700, a difference of $5000! Having used the 300mm f/2.8 regularly enough over the years, I appreciate the extra stop of light and the extra shallow depth-of-field, but it’s not a lens I would carry about all day, every day. By comparison, the 300mm f/4 PF is a lens light enough to live in my camera bag, and for that reason alone I’m going to get a lot of use out of it.
Specifications
- Lens: Nikon Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR
- Mount / Format: Nikon F/ Full Frame (FX) coverage.
- Angle of View: 8-10 degrees (5-20 degrees on DX format)
- Focus Range: 1.4-metres to Infinity. Focus lock from 3 metres to infinity.
- Max magnification: 0.24x
- Aperture: 9-Blade, rounded, f/4 – f/32 electronically controlled aperture.
- Vibration Reduction: Provides 4.5 stops of support. Three settings: Off, Normal and Sport.
- Filter Size: 77mm
- Hood: Nikon HB-73, Supplied
- Dimensions: 89 x 147.5mm
- Weight: 755-grams
Result
HANDLING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 star
The Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR is a dream to handle. Its compact size combined with internal focusing allows a user to concentrate on making images rather than trying to hold the lens. The Vibration Reduction also allows them to work with this lens handheld to achieve shots that would normally require more setting up.
FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5 star
A lack of the tripod collar (available as an optional extra) might upset some photographers, but in reality, you don’t need it. Otherwise, between the weather sealing, vibration reduction, electronic aperture control and a minimum focussing distance of just 1.4 metres, this lens can cope with most situations.
IMAGE QUALITY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 star
Regardless of the conditions, this lens is capable of delivering brilliant images that are corner-to-corner sharp. Although I never get preoccupied with it, the bokeh is simple and very pleasing. This lens shines, particularly in the mid-to-near distances, and it’s well suited to Nikon’s current range of high-resolution sensors.
VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5 star
With a price tag of about $2700 the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF lens is about $850 dearer than the old 300mm f/4D lens, but it’s a lens that you’re likely to get a lot more use out of, simply because you are going to take it everywhere.
FINAL WORD
The Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR is a ground-breaking lens, not just for Nikon, but for Phase Fresnel optics. Nikon has taken the idea that Canon originally introduced with the DO lenses a decade ago, and made it its own. Chances are we can expect to see even more of this technology in the future, but for now, the Nikon 300mm f/4E PF lens is the ultimate compact telephoto to own.
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