Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED Lens

The Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED Lens is a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom lens designed exclusively for Nikon’s DX-format (APS-C) DSLR cameras, giving photographers an affordable, ultra-compact way to extend their shooting capabilities beyond a standard 18-55mm or 18-70mm kit lens. Introduced in 2005, it’s well-suited to portraiture, sports, and wildlife photography where isolating subjects at a distance matters.

Optically, the lens covers a 55-200mm focal range, delivering an approximately 82.5-300mm full-frame-equivalent field of view on Nikon’s DX-format sensor, with a variable maximum aperture that steps through the zoom range from f/4 at 55mm to f/5.6 at 200mm. The 13-element, 9-group optical design includes two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, greatly reducing chromatic aberration and color fringing for improved clarity and color accuracy, while Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating suppresses flare and ghosting to maintain contrast in bright or backlit conditions. A rounded 9-blade diaphragm contributes to the lens’s background rendering.

Autofocus is handled by an internal Silent Wave Motor (SWM, denoted “AF-S”), delivering quiet autofocus operation on any Nikon DSLR body, along with full-time manual focus override that lets photographers instantly switch to manual focus by simply turning the focus ring, even while in AF mode. The lens does not include Vibration Reduction (VR), a feature later added in the VR and VR II versions of this lens, which are generally considered preferable for handheld telephoto shooting.

Build quality is lightweight plastic construction, keeping the lens compact and portable at approximately 255g and measuring approximately 68 x 79mm, making it an easy companion to Nikon’s entry-level and mid-range DX-format DSLR bodies. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.95m (3.1 ft.), yielding a maximum reproduction ratio of approximately 1:3.4 to 1:3.5 at 300mm, and accepts a 52mm filter thread. It does not include weather sealing.

As a DX-format-specific lens, the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED is designed exclusively for Nikon’s APS-C DX-format DSLR cameras; it can also be mounted on Nikon FX-format bodies, where the camera automatically applies a DX crop mode.

Key Features
– 55-200mm telephoto zoom (3.6x) for Nikon DX-format (APS-C) DSLR cameras
– Approximately 82.5-300mm full-frame-equivalent field of view
– Maximum aperture f/4-5.6 (variable)
– 13 elements in 9 groups, including 2 ED glass elements
– Super Integrated Coating
– Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus with full-time manual focus override
– Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
– No Vibration Reduction (VR)
– Minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.95m (3.1 ft.)
– Maximum reproduction ratio of approximately 1:3.4-1:3.5 (at 200mm)
– 52mm filter thread
– Lightweight plastic construction (approximately 255g)
– Not weather-sealed
– Designed exclusively for Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras