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

differences

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

Has a silent focus motor

Nikon AF-S

None

Focuses quickly and silently

Slightly lighter

255 g

467 g

Around 50% lighter

Slightly better wide angle

55 mm

70 mm

More than 20% better wide angle

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

Reasons to consider the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Much narrower aperture

f/32

f/5.6

At its narrowest, the 70-300mm f/4-5.6G goes 5 f-stops narrower

Better telephoto

300 mm

200 mm

50% more reach, less perspective distortion

Slightly more zoom

4.3x

3.6x

Around 20% more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Learn more about
the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

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

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

	Very narrow widest aperture size
	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 DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED:	255 g
70-300mm f/4-5.6G:	467 g

Inexpensive

AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED:	$164.95
70-300mm f/4-5.6G:	$149.95

Good wide-angle

AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED:	55 mm
70-300mm f/4-5.6G:	70 mm

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

competitors

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Wildlife lens

$397

Has image stabilization

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

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

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

Macro lens

$199

Has better macro

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

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

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

Macro lens

$199

Has better macro

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

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

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

Wildlife lens

$224 - $247

Has image stabilization

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

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

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

Wildlife lens

$587

Has image stabilization

Compare the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

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

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f

Travel lens

$329

Has image stabilization

Has way more large zoom range

Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

Compare the 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Nikon-f vs the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Sports lens

$2,397

Has a wider aperture

Has image stabilization

Is slightly more expensive

Is longer

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II vs the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

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

Travel lens

$847

Image stabilization

Much more zoom

Slightly more expensive

Slightly heavier

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

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

Wildlife lens

$180

Much narrower aperture

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

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

Travel lens

Image stabilization

More zoom

Worse telephoto

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

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G

Low light lens

$1,629

Much wider aperture

Is a prime lens

Less zoom

Worse telephoto

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G vs the Nikkor AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

Nikon Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

Sports lens

$999

Has a consant aperture

Wider aperture

Significantly wider aperture

Longer

Compare the Nikkor AF 80-200mm f/2.8D ED vs the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G

discussion Which do you think is better?

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

differences

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

Reasons to consider the Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G