Nikon's budget DX telephoto with VR — covering 82-450mm equivalent for affordable wildlife shooting.
The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR was released in 2010 as Nikon's budget DX telephoto zoom with extended reach. Covering an 82-450mm equivalent range with VR stabilisation, it offered DX shooters significantly more telephoto reach than the 55-200mm at a modest price increase, making it popular for casual wildlife and sports photography.
Optical performance is decent for the price class. Sharpness is good at shorter focal lengths and acceptable at 300mm, though it softens noticeably at the extreme telephoto end. VR stabilisation provides approximately 3 stops of correction, helpful for handheld shooting. The ED element helps control chromatic aberration. AF-S motor is reasonably quick.
Nikon F mount, DX format. Filter thread is 58mm. Weight is approximately 530 grams — moderate. Build quality is functional plastic with a metal mount. No weather sealing. The lens extends significantly at 300mm. The zoom lock switch helps prevent creep when the lens is pointed downward. Compatible with all Nikon DX and FX bodies in DX crop mode.
Common and affordable on the used market. Check for smooth VR operation and AF function. The 300mm reach provides genuinely useful telephoto coverage for casual wildlife. Not suitable for demanding work at the long end, but hard to beat for the price. The AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR offers improved performance in a newer design.