Esther T. New: Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR Review

It has been 15 years since Nikon produced the last iteration of its budget 300mm lens, so the new Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR was something many enthusiasts and professionals have been patiently waiting for. Although the previous generation Nikkor 300mm f/4D AF-S is an excellent lens optically, it lacks image stabilization, new generation coating and other new technologies that Nikon has been integrating into modern lenses. I have personally been a huge fan of the 300mm f/4D AF-S lens and have owned it for many years, loving the lens for its superb optical performance, fast autofocus, light weight and compact size, making it my ultimate travel lens for wildlife photography – a perfect companion for hand-held shooting. Because it was so good with the 1.4x teleconverter, I practically always kept the teleconverter attached to the lens, making it a very nice 420mm f/5.6 combination. When Nikon finally announced the new 300mm f/4E VR lens, I got very excited, because Nikon completely redesigned the lens. In fact, with close to a 50% reduction in weight and a 30% reduction in physical size, we are not dealing with another redesign or update – this is a completely different lens.

UPDATE: The review has been updated – missing Imatest charts and lens comparisons have been added based on two additional lens samples.

The Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR is physically just like the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR, earning it “world’s lightest 300mm full-frame lens” title. Nikon was able to achieve this by using a Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element, which can effectively reduce the need to use complex lens elements for correcting chromatic aberrations and ghosting. Basically, the use of a Phase Fresnel lens element is what allowed Nikon to significantly reduce both size and weight of the lens. In addition to these benefits, Nikon also utilized a number of newest technologies in the lens, including: new Fluorine Coat technology for repelling dust, water and dirt; electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism for precise and consistent control of aperture when shooting fast action in high-speed bursts; Vibration Reduction image stabilization technology that allows up to 4.5 stops of compensation; Nano Crystal Coat for reducing internal lens element reflections and reduction of ghosting and flare; Silent Wave Motor for smooth and silent autofocus operation and a number of other improvements. With the ability to be coupled with all three Nikon teleconverters, the 300mm f/4E VR is quite a versatile choice capable of extending its reach all the way to 600mm. Overall, considering how much this lens offers for its $2K price tag, it is truly revolutionary. Let’s take a look at the lens in more detail.

NIKON D750 + 300mm f/4 + TC-20E III @ 600mm, ISO 3600, 1/1250, f/9.0

1) Lens Specifications

Focal length: 300mm
Maximum aperture: f/4
Minimum aperture: f/32
Lens construction: 16 elements in 10 groups
Picture angle: 8°20′ (5°3′ with Nikon DX format)
Closest focusing distance: 1.4m
No. of diaphragm blades: 9
Filter/attachment size: 77mm
Diameter x length (extension from lens mount): Approximately 89 x 147.5mm
Weight: 755g

Detailed specifications for the lens, along with MTF charts and other useful data can be found in our lens database.

Nikon 300mm f/4E FL VR Sample Images (25)

NIKON D750 + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 2200, 1/1250, f/4.0

2) Lens Handling and Build

Although the Nikon 300mm f/4E VR feels a bit plasticky compared to its predecessor (which is just a solid chunk of metal and glass), it really is no different in construction than any of the new Nikkor primes that we have seen in the last few years. The outer shell of the lens is made fully from hard plastic – aside from the metal mount and the filter thread, everything else seems to be made out of plastic, giving it somewhat of a cheaper feel. I would not be concerned about that though, as it is clear that Nikon’s intention was to make the lens as lightweight as possible. Had Nikon used a metal outer shell, the lens would not have offered the same significant weight savings when compared to its predecessor.

The filter thread stayed the same at 77mm, which is great news for those who already own 77mm filters, or want to move up to this lens from the “D” version. The lens mount features a rubber gasket to minimize dust and debris from making it into the camera chamber. The single ring on the lens is made out of plastic and has a rubber layer on top of it for better grip. The ring has the same smooth feel as on other modern AF-S lenses, allowing one to move past infinity or closest focus point with slightly more resistance. There are three switches on the side of the lens. The first switch is used for moving between Auto / Manual (A/M), Manual / Auto (M/A) and Manual (M) focusing operation. The second switch is for setting either full focus range (FULL) or limit focusing to subjects at 3 meters and further. The third switch is for operating Vibration Reduction on the lens – you can toggle between OFF, NORMAL or SPORT. All three samples that I tested indicated that it was made in China (my Nikkor 300mm f/4D AF-S was made in Japan). Although I have no problem with the lens being made in China and understand that it is cheaper for Nikon to produce lenses there, I am not particularly psyched with sample variation at this point – see more notes in the next page of this review.

Nikon 300mm f4E FL VR Sample Images (12)

NIKON D750 + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 400, 1/4000, f/5.6

Handling-wise, the lens is simply amazing. When I first mounted the lens on my Nikon D750, I could not believe how light it was when compared to my 300mm f/4D – it did not feel at all like a 300mm lens, more like a 70-300mm VR zoom in terms of size and weight. The lens was so light and easy to hand-hold, that I never bothered to put it on a tripod. I even let it hang off the mount on my Nikon D750 when hiking, which is something I certainly do not feel comfortable doing with my 300mm f/4D. In this regard, the 300mm f/4E VR is a game changer, as it handles a world better than any other lens in its class. It balances perfectly on any standard-size Nikon DSLR I attached it to, whether it was the Nikon Df, D750 or the D810 – its weight is distributed evenly across the lens and it does not feel front-heavy like some of the telephoto and super telephoto lenses. Because the lens is so light, you don’t have to lay it on your left hand entirely when hand-holding, so you can completely avoid touching the focus ring. In fact, I was mostly balancing the lens with my thumb and index fingers when shooting! The best part is walking around with the lens in your hands. No more need for hanging your camera off your neck and keeping your hands on the lens at all times. I mostly held my camera by its grip with my right hand and let the lens just hang off the mount when hiking, just like I do when using smaller lenses, which was great.

To appreciate size differences between the new 300mm f/4E VR and the 300mm f/4D AF-S, take look at the below side by side comparison:

Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED vs Nikkor 300mm f/4E VR

This is by no means an over-exaggeration – this is how small the new 300mm f/4E VR really is when compared to its predecessor!

While Nikon sells the optional RT-1 tripod collar ring, I would not worry about getting one. If you do need to use the lens on a tripod, just use the camera tripod mount instead, as your camera mount will easily be able to handle the lens even with teleconverters attached. Unlike the 300mm f/4D, the lens does not have a built-in hood. A plastic HB-73 bayonet lens hood is provided, which attaches easily on the lens and locks securely in place. The hood is also made out of plastic and is rather thin, probably designed this way also for weight reduction reasons.

Lastly, there is another advantage of the new lens design – it now has a rear element! The previous generation 300mm f/4D did not have a rear element (you could literally see the diaphragm of the lens from its rear) and you could end up with quite a bit of stuff inside the lens if you were not very careful. The new 300mm f/4E VR is free from this problem and you can now safely use the lens in any condition. Although the rear element is not very close to the mount, it won’t prevent you from being able to clean it when it gets rather dusty. Because the rear element does not move and there are no openings on its back, you can safely use a rocket blower to get rid of dust.

Overall, the lens handles amazingly well, which is something you will certainly appreciate, particularly when hiking with the lens or transporting it.

Nikon 300mm f4E FL VR Sample Images (23)

NIKON D750 + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 125, 1/1600, f/5.6

3) Autofocus Speed and Accuracy

One of the main reasons why I love my 300mm f/4D AF-S is its fast and accurate autofocus motor. With the new 300mm f/4E VR getting the latest generation silent wave motor, I wondered if the lens would be any faster or more accurate than its predecessor. So I put both lenses side by side and did my AF speed measurements. After a number of comparisons, I came to the conclusion that the 300mm f/4E VR has a slightly faster focus motor than the older model. How much faster? Considering that the new lens focuses a little bit closer at 1.4 meters versus 1.45 meters (which translates to overall more focusing distance), the difference is pretty small – most people won’t notice any difference in focus speed between the two. If you have never used the 300mm f/4D, keep in mind that the motor is not as fast as the focus motor found on the 300mm f/2.8G VR or 70-200mm f/2.8G VR lenses – it feels noticeably slower. But that’s a given, as Nikon would not want a small compact lens to compete with its pro-level line.

When using just the lens without teleconverters, going from infinity to close focus and back is about the same on both 300mm f/4D and f/4E lenses, whether shooting at full range or limiting the focus to 3 meters and longer range. A quick tip: make sure to set the focus delimiter switch to “∞-3m” instead of “FULL” when photographing wildlife. This will speed autofocus up considerably. Only switch back to “FULL” when the subject is closer than 3 meters.

NIKON D750 + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 100, 1/1600, f/4.0

When mounting the TC-14E II or TC-14E III, the 300mm f/4E VR focuses a little bit faster. I tried both combinations of TCs and the two 300mm f/4 lenses showed the same result – the 300mm f/4E VR was a bit faster. Performance with the TC-17E II is a bit disappointing in terms of AF speed, but if you have been happy with the TC-17E II on the 300mm f/4D in AF speed, you will not be more disappointed with the 300mm f/4E VR. To go from infinity to close focus and back, it takes about a total of 3.5-4 seconds. You can cut that significantly by moving the focus limiter switch to 3 meters, which is what I would certainly advise to do when photographing distant subjects and when using teleconverters. Performance with the TC-20E III is even slower. When going from infinity to close focus and back, it will take on average about 5 seconds. I tried to time this on both lenses and they were about the same in speed. The 300mm f/4E VR might be a tiny bit faster, but it is close enough to be the same that I would argue there is no difference.

NIKON D810 + 300mm f/4 + TC-20E III @ 600mm, ISO 100, 1/100, f/11.0

If you are wondering about the sharpness when using teleconverters, that information is provided on the next page of this review.

What about focus accuracy? That’s where the 300mm f/4E VR clearly wins, without a doubt. I have been using the lens on my D750 and D810 cameras and the hit rate is noticeably better when compared to what I normally get with my 300mm f/4D AF-S. The lens seems to snap into focus better and tends to keep focus grabbed when subject moves, reacting to sudden movements faster and better than its predecessor. My 300mm f/4D AF-S sometimes gets stuck when focusing and refuses to do anything, until I move the focus ring. The 300mm f/4E VR is free from this issue and acquires focus without hesitation every time. The focus motor on my 300mm f/4D AF-S also feels much louder and produces a squeaking sound when focus moves back and forth – the 300mm f/4E is very silent in comparison.