70-300mm F4-5.6 Nikon AF ED (62) AUTO FOCUS ZOOM TELEPHOTO LENS

Do not confuse this lens with the much cheaper 100+ 70-300 G lens, that can't be compared with this. This lens is built with Nikon's ED (extra low dispersion) elements. Before nikon came out with Nano Crystal coating and all, ED was the thing to look out for in nikon lens. Top lenses like the 70-200VR even feature 5 ED glass elements. Back to this lens, it offers very good sharpness and contrast wide open thanks to the ED element. It is also much smaller and lighter than its replacement, the 70-300VR. If you want a lens bought light on your shoulder and wallet, yet not compromise on image quality, this is your lens. Only disadvantage to speak off.. F5.6 at 300mm, and the AFD motor, which is abit slower than AFS for fast moving action sports. If you need those feature, nikon's 3.2 grand 70-200VR2 is your answer.

Quoted from : http://www.bythom.com/70300lens.htm

I was expecting to be disappointed with this lens. Other reviews I'd read had a decidedly ho-hum reaction to the 70-300's performance. I suspect the ED elements had them expecting state-of-the-art optics, something that would challenge the 80-200mm f/2.8.

First, the good news: in terms of Nikon's consumer offerings, this lens is at the top of the heap. I'd call it a distinct improvement on the 75-300mm it replaced. From its widest setting to about midrange, it performs well even at f/5.6, with results at f/8 and f/11 virtually indistinguishable from the considerably more expensive 80-200 f/2.8, except, perhaps, at the very corners. On a D1 I wouldn't have any qualms at using this lens wide open at any zoom setting between 70-200mm. Distortion was visible at the telephoto end, but not enough for me to worry about in the types of photography I do; if you're into using telephotos for architectural work, well, you're going to see enough pinbarrel at the 300mm end to keep you from smiling.

On the down side, the results at f/22 and f/32, as is usual for telephotos, is not particularly good. And as you near 300mm, you'll see some softness at all apertures, and the edges are distinctly soft. You can keep both problems reasonably in check by using f/8 or f/11. Chromatic aberration is distinctly present in the sample image, above, though reasonably well controlled (e.g., while present, other telephoto zooms I've used show more).

Contrast is good, though not as good as the 80-200mm f/2.8. Contrast appears better than the other Nikkor telephoto zooms I've used, though I haven't used this lens in enough different situations to make that a blanket statement. Autofocus has been quick and sure in almost every situation I've used it in. Even in the Paris shot, above, the lens didn't hesitate (those lights are all blinking, by the way, at different intervals, so it isn't as high contrast a situation as you'd think).

Overall, I am quite pleased with the lens, especially on a D1. I'd rank this zoom by itself midway between the other consumer telephoto zooms and the top-of-the-line AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8.

Image taken with lens:

As mentioned, lens in good condition.