Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Lens

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Lens is a compact, high-performance telephoto zoom designed for Nikon F-mount FX-format cameras, offering a classic 70-200mm angle of view at a constant f/4 maximum aperture. It’s a lighter, more affordable alternative to Nikon’s f/2.8 telephoto zoom, well suited to travel, landscapes, people and events, sports, and nature photography where full f/2.8 brightness isn’t essential.

Optically, the lens covers a 70-200mm focal range with a constant f/4 maximum aperture throughout the zoom, down to a minimum of f/32. The 20-element, 14-group optical design includes three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one HRI (High Refractive Index) element, reducing chromatic aberration and color fringing for sharp, clear imagery, while Nikon’s Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating work together to suppress flare and ghosting. A rounded 9-blade diaphragm contributes to smooth, pleasing bokeh.

Autofocus is handled by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM), delivering fast, precise, and notably quiet autofocus performance, well suited to both stills and video, along with full-time manual focus override via a wide, smooth, well-damped focus ring. Internal Focusing (IF) keeps the lens’s overall length constant and the 67mm filter thread from rotating during focus, making it convenient to use with polarizing or graduated filters. Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) system compensates for camera shake by up to four stops (per Nikon’s rating; some independent reviews cite up to five stops), helping deliver sharper handheld results in difficult lighting conditions.

Build quality uses a high-quality plastic barrel with a metal lens mount and rubber gasket seal to help resist dust and moisture, giving the lens a lightweight yet durable feel. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.99-1.0m (3.28 ft.), yielding a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.274x, and accepts a 67mm filter thread, notably smaller than the 77mm thread found on f/2.8 zooms in this range. It measures approximately 78.0 x 178.5mm and weighs approximately 850g, nearly half the weight of Nikon’s f/2.8 70-200mm VR II lens, and is compatible with Nikon’s 1.4x, 1.7x, and 2.0x teleconverters (though the maximum aperture narrows to f/8 with the 2.0x converter).

As an FX-format lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR delivers its full 34°20′-12°20′ angle of view on Nikon full-frame F-mount bodies while remaining compatible with Nikon DX-format APS-C cameras at an effective 105-300mm equivalent focal range (22°50′-8° angle of view).

Key Features
– 70-200mm constant f/4 telephoto zoom for Nikon F-mount, FX-format
– 20 elements in 14 groups, including 3 ED elements and 1 HRI element
– Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating
– Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus with full-time manual focus override
– Internal Focusing (IF) — constant length, non-rotating front element
– Vibration Reduction (VR), rated up to 4 stops (some sources cite up to 5 stops)
– Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
– Metal mount with rubber gasket seal
– Minimum focusing distance of 0.99-1.0m (3.28 ft.); 0.274x maximum reproduction ratio
– 67mm filter thread
– Compatible with Nikon 1.4x, 1.7x, and 2.0x teleconverters
– Approximate weight: 850g
– Compatible with Nikon full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) F-mount cameras