Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR vs 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

differences

Reasons to consider the Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Image stabilization

Nikon VR

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Better telephoto

300 mm

200 mm

50% more reach, less perspective distortion

More zoom

5.5x

3.6x

Around 50% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Learn more about
the Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Reasons to consider the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Wider aperture

f/4

f/4.5

At its widest, the 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops

Shorter

79 mm

123 mm

Around 40% shorter

Slightly lighter

255 g

0.6 kg

2.3x lighter

Learn more about
the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Silent focus motor
	Silent and fast

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Very narrow widest aperture size

AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:	f/4.5
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX:	f/4

	Both are variable aperture lenses
	Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Light weight

AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:	0.6 kg
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX:	255 g

	Good wide-angle
	55 mm

Inexpensive

AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:	$396.95
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX:	$179.95

Short

AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR:	123 mm
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX:	79 mm

LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Nikon Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Wildlife lens

$150

Has a higher max f/stop

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$224 - $247

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$199

Has better macro

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX

Travel lens

$330

Has a slightly longer telephoto lens

Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f

Macro lens

$199

Has better macro

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

Travel lens

$847

Has better image stabilization

Has much large zoom range

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Wildlife lens

$587

Less zoom

Slightly worse wide angle

Compare the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$449

Wider aperture

Worse image stabilization

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

Low light lens

$217

Much wider aperture

Is a prime lens

Worse telephoto

Less zoom

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Wildlife lens

$159

Image stabilization

Slightly more zoom

Much wider aperture

Slightly longer

Compare the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$99

Wider aperture

Better wide angle

Worse telephoto

Slightly less zoom

Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX vs the Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these lenses here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

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Nikon Nikkor
AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
vs
Nikon Nikkor
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX

differences

Reasons to consider the Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Reasons to consider the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX