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For photographers who struggle with hand‑shake, Nikon delivers two versatile zooms that bring vibration reduction (VR) to the fore. The AF‑S DX NIKKOR 18‑300mm f/3.5‑5.6G ED VR serves APS‑C bodies, while the AF‑S NIKKOR 24‑85mm f/3.5‑4.5G ED VR expands the lineup for full‑frame DSLRs.
The 18‑300mm lens builds on Nikon’s popular 18‑200mm, extending reach by an additional 100mm to a 16.7× optical zoom. Nikon promises VR to deliver up to four extra stops of handholdability—a claim we will evaluate in our lab.
Focusing is performed internally, but the barrel extends to nearly twice its normal length at 300mm—typical for super‑zoom designs. Key optical features include a 9‑blade aperture, 18 elements in 14 groups, three extra‑low dispersion (ED) elements, and three aspherical elements to minimize chromatic aberration.
Zoom‑creep is mitigated by a dedicated lock on the barrel, ensuring stability during transport. With its broad focal‑length range and modest maximum aperture at 300mm, the 18‑300mm is poised to become a staple for DX‑body users. It will retail in the U.S. on June 28 for $995.95.
The 24‑85mm, designed for full‑frame cameras, is priced at $599.95—an attractive alternative to the higher‑priced 24‑70mm f/2.8, which lacks VR.
Like its DX counterpart, the 24‑85mm claims up to four stops of VR‑enhanced handholdability. Its optical layout features a 7‑blade aperture, 16 elements in 11 groups, three ED elements, and one aspherical element.
We look forward to testing both lenses in our laboratory once they are available. Our goal is to verify that the added VR and expanded zoom ranges do not compromise optical performance.
