Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4 IF-ED Reviews

Very nice lens for almost any tele work.

This is my favorite lens for wildlife photography. Both on my F5 and D200 it is very sharp (little bit less sharp, than AF-S 300/2.8, but still great and for much cheaper price). It's also much lighter and a pleasure to use in the field compared to giant Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 or AF-S 200-400/4. It's sutable for action and focuses much faster, than slow Nikkor AF 80-400 VR zoom.
With Nikon Teleconverter TC-17 attached, it's slow focusing, but autofocus works fine and results are very good.
Great lens, the best money/quality value.
contaxfan

I just want to add to my previous review of the excellent optics of this lens, that it would be nice to see the TRUE MTF data for this lens, because what is shown here in the "MTF data" is actually results of testing old Nikkor AF 300mm/4 lens, not the AF-S new version. Just go to the old photodo site and look at AF 300mm/4 Nikkor, it is exact the same data which was just copied for new AF-S version without any comparison and testing.
contaxfan

Tripod collar flexes and bends easy(valid also for updated version).Adding extension tube is recomendable.Close-up diopter CANON500D gives good results stopping down to f8,f11.
Full open the lens is good.Very good performance can be expected from f5 to f11.
Vinetting full open is anoying and gets good by f8.
Using slow shutterspeeds is not recomendable especially on a 5? even with mirror pre-lift on D3s or F5.
The only way how to get decent results with shutterspeeds in a range between 2?and 60? is to fix camera and lens on a long plate,using mirror pre-lift.
Close focus is a very usefull bonus.
Autofocus is fast enough for me,I never had anything to complain(usig the focus limiter).
I use this lens mainly for birds,reptiles,butterflys,plants and thousand things more.
Build in hood is handy incorporated.You never loose the hood and it?s quicker to turn and pull out than any other reversable hoods.
You can choose the aperture on lens(it?s not an G lens)
The only serious complain I got is that poor design of tripod collar.
I would like to see in future an updated version with an more reliable AF-S Motor,Vibration Reduction and a far better tripod collar.