I just returned from a trip to Trinidad and Tobago and considered renting that 28-300mm lens just for the trip. Glad I didn't because most of my shots were in the 24-70mm range. I took my 70-300mm VR and only used it at 300mm for a couple of bird shots then took it right off. My scenic shots taken within the 70-300mm range are not as impressive as those taken within the 24-70mm range. This leads me to the conclusion that I probably could have done the whole vacation with the 24-70mm and my SB900 (which was invaluable for low-light beach portrait shots). I did occasionally wish I had something wider than 24mm.

I say all that to say this...that 28-300mm lens is really inviting because of the range but you know your style the best, so really consider how much you'd use the far reaches of that lens before getting it.

Best regards.

kanuck said:
I am going to be purchasing this lens in the next week or so. It was finally launched on October 4th where I live and I WANT IT haha I'm going to trade in my 70-300mm VR towards it. Can't wait!

Sounds like a good move. That 28-300 is compact when closed down. The 70-300 isn't that heavy, but it is bulky, for sure.

tcole1983 said:
Well that would leave me with the 12-24, 28-300, 35 f1.8 and 105 f2.8. Should keep me happy for a while until I wanted to dump more money into a faster 17-50/55 range lens or another fast prime. Lol my lens collection will have vastly out paced my d5000 body though. That would maybe be my next upgrade :-)

That's a great kit there. I have just about the same, except I don't have a super wide DX lens.

I have the 18-135, 105mm VR and 35mm 1.8. Honestly, with what I shoot, I can do just about 99% of what I need to do. Maybe I could stuff a 70-300 there too, but I don't need much reach for the time being.

My camera body needs upgrading, it's a D40 and it's really aging. Not in a bad way though, so I'll use it until it dies and then perhaps get a D7000 or whatever its replacement would be.

NSXType-R said:
Sounds like a nice two lens kit, pair it with a 35mm 1.8 and you'd have a nice stretch.

Or you could get the wide (12-24 or 10-24), add a 70-300 and a 35mm 1.8. I wouldn't really miss anything between 24-35 and 35-70.

I wonder, which performs better at 300, the 28-300 or 70-300.

Kanuck should do an update on this, he bought one and hadn't shared his thoughts on this lens.

How selfish. :D

Well that would leave me with the 12-24, 28-300, 35 f1.8 and 105 f2.8. Should keep me happy for a while until I wanted to dump more money into a faster 17-50/55 range lens or another fast prime. Lol my lens collection will have vastly out paced my d5000 body though. That would maybe be my next upgrade :-)

tcole1983 said:
Anyone else using this, or OP have any more input on the lens. I was looking into maybe getting rid of my 18-200 and getting this plus a 12-24 f4.

Sounds like a nice two lens kit, pair it with a 35mm 1.8 and you'd have a nice stretch.

Or you could get the wide (12-24 or 10-24), add a 70-300 and a 35mm 1.8. I wouldn't really miss anything between 24-35 and 35-70.

I wonder, which performs better at 300, the 28-300 or 70-300.

Kanuck should do an update on this, he bought one and hadn't shared his thoughts on this lens.

How selfish. :D

Anyone else using this, or OP have any more input on the lens. I was looking into maybe getting rid of my 18-200 and getting this plus a 12-24 f4.

kanuck said:
Shivaswrath you are so lucky if you found the lens for $999! I paid 1.400.000 Korean Won or about $1250 for mine. Luckily I got $450 for my 70-300mm VR lens so I paid $800 for it. That price you found is the lowest I have seen anywhere. Its a great lens trust me :)

Kanuck - haven't purchased it yet, but it's $930 out there right now!!

I think it's a great alternative to the 70-300, and from what I've seen, sharper than the 70-300 VR2 at 300mm. . .(which doesn't take much). . .

I know that the 28-300mm lens is intended for FX bodies, but I have just purchased one for my D300. I am going to give my wife my 18-200mm for her D5000, sell her 18-70mm and my 70-300mm and keep my 10-24mm to go with the new 28-300mm.

Based on all of the reviews it just seems better to combine two lenses into one, provide my wife with a more current lens with more reach and I will be somewhat prepared to go to FX some day. This has always been my concern; that the future DX bodies will not always have the same quality of the pro bodies and I will have to to go to a prosumer FX body.

What are others thoughts?

Shivaswrath you are so lucky if you found the lens for $999! I paid 1.400.000 Korean Won or about $1250 for mine. Luckily I got $450 for my 70-300mm VR lens so I paid $800 for it. That price you found is the lowest I have seen anywhere. Its a great lens trust me :)

Freaking moose peterson loves it too, nice shot on his D3x. . .and the 28-300 dropped to $999 recently on amazon, wtf, should I get this too, haha!

The non VR 80-200 is great I hated the push pull but the D is excellent. I don't think there is a 70-300mm VR II out yet by the way. The 70-300mm VR I is a wonderfully light and sharp lens I loved it.

Thanks, kanuck. I really considered that lens but since I'm getting the 16-85mm (DX) I guess I'll go ahead and get the 70-300mm VRII or possibly save up for a non-VR 80-200 f/2.8.

Thanks for the link NSXType-R, his shot looks good, it was taken with the D3X I see. Nice to see its still sharp even at 24mp so the lens must be the real deal. I love it's weight and I'm happy with the sample I bought.

kanuck said:
Wow Moose likes it also? Really? Thats really saying something. He loves his Nikon Teles, he made the Nikkor 600mm famous. Probably the best wildlife shooter alive today.

Yup.

http://www.moosepeterson.com/blog/?p=17121

Wow Moose likes it also? Really? Thats really saying something. He loves his Nikon Teles, he made the Nikkor 600mm famous. Probably the best wildlife shooter alive today.

I hear good things about this lens too, especially from Moose Peterson.

Hey, sorry it took awhile but so far so good the 28-300mm is very nice. The lens creep lock works wonders after using the "creep machine" 18-200mm VR 1 back in 2007. However, Nikon went really cheap with the hood on the 28-300mm it doesn't lock into place very well. The actual zoom ring could have been wider and its location feels a little unfamiliar compared to the similar sized 24-70mm. Optically its great except for the considerable barrel distortion which is unavoidable with a zoom that covers this range I think. Not nearly wide enough either, but I just bring the old trusty 14-24mm. The lens is fun to use and excellent on a tripod even with VR off. I'd recommend the lens as a do all walk around for sure. Anything serious though its the 35mm ZF, 14-24, 50mm lenses for me.

I may have gotten a good sample, but it seems very sharp as well. I usually buy used lenses from my local shops but this time I obviously had no choice with the 28-300mm lens. Anybody else on here have this lens yet? :))

kanuck said:
I am going to be purchasing this lens in the next week or so. It was finally launched on October 4th where I live and I WANT IT haha I'm going to trade in my 70-300mm VR towards it. Can't wait!

Your thoughts thus far?

I am going to be purchasing this lens in the next week or so. It was finally launched on October 4th where I live and I WANT IT haha I'm going to trade in my 70-300mm VR towards it. Can't wait!

Nice review...im still inclined to grab a 35 1.4 and 70-300, just so my pics are a bit more sharp

Yes, I agree with your position and that is why I compared it with my 14-24 lens to prove or disprove 28 being wide enough. I think it is proving to be for walkabout (or camera on the passenger seat) kind of opportunities. However, for the real landscape shots my AFS 14-24 f/2.8 has been invaluable.

Still not wide enough. Would maybe be nice paired with a wider lens. I was shooting today and even 18 was not wide enough.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR is receiving extremely favorable reviews. Some reviewers are even espousing that you can throw all the other lenses in your bag away - especially for walkabout or impromptu shooting.

Is this new lens Nikon's equivalent of the ‘Swiss Army Knife’,

I have had the lens for three days and below is a link to what I have experienced so far.

http://web.me.com/jeffreylubeck/Jeff_Lubecks_Personal_Website/28_300_Comparison.html