The 18-300mm G lens (not to be confused with the 18-300mm G lens) is a telephoto superzoom lens manufactured by Nikon for its line of DX DSLR cameras.

As with other DX format lenses, the smaller image circle makes it compatible only with APS-C-sized image sensors. If used on a 35mm film SLR, vignetting will occur;"In the Nikon system, both crop sensor DX lenses and full frame FX lenses will function on crop or full frame bodies; HOWEVER (and it’s a big however), if you put a DX lens on a full frame body, you’ll see that a significant portion of the edge of the frame is black. This is caused by the smaller DX lens not reflecting the image onto the full area of the full frame sensor". however, the lens can be used on an FX DSLR because the camera can be automatically or manually set "DX Crop Mode", eliminating vignette, but also reducing the image area from an FX-size sensor to a DX-size sensor"Essentially, DX Crop Mode avoids the heavy vignetting that we would otherwise experience when using a DX lens on an FX camera by only recording the image using a smaller section in the center of the sensor. Of course, this results in an image with a reduced resolution".

The lens is designed to be an all-in-one solution."'With the addition of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR to the NIKKOR lens line-up, DX-format photographers have a compact and lightweight all-in-one telephoto zoom that can handle any photo or video challenge,' said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc". This lens does not replace the 18-300mm G."Nikon has unveiled the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 ED VR (27-450mm equivalent). It doesn't replace that company's existing 18-300mm lens, rather it's a third of a stop slower at the long end and 30% lighter, weighing 19.4 ounces".

The differences between the lens and the 18-300mm G are as follows:

Lens 18-300mm G"Filter attachment size - 67mm", "Diameter x length (extension from lens mount) - Approx. 78.5 mm x 99 mm", "Weight - Approx. 550g (19.4 oz.)" 18-300mm 3.5-5.6G"Filter-attachment size - 77 mm", "Dimensions - Approx. 83 mm diameter x 120 mm (distance from camera lens mount flange)", "Weight - Approx. 830 g (29.3 oz)" Max. F-stop 6.3 5.6 Length (mm/in.) 99/3.8 120/4.7 Diameter (mm/in.) 78.5/3.0 83/3.3 Weight (g/oz.) 550/19.4 830/29.3 Filter size 67 mm 77 mm MSRP 699.95 999.95"$999.95" msrp-currency= USD

Since it has the same focal length as the G, it shares the record of having the largest zoom range of any other lens (interchangeable camera lenses only) currently manufactured."The AF-S Nikkor 18-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR was announced in June 2012, and holds the distinction of being the longest-range superzoom available for any interchangeable-lens camera system".

Features

The lens has the following features:"ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass", "IF Lens", "Silent Wave Motor", "Vibration Reduction"."Super Integrated Coating - Yes".

Nikon's Silent Wave Motor to drive the autofocus mechanism quickly and almost completely silently (denoted by "AF-S" on the lens body)."The AF-S motor is driven by the electronics of your camera".

Nikon's VR"Based on this procedure, vibration reduction effects providing the equivalent of a shutter speed of approx. three (with VR) or four (with VRII) stops faster are confirmed". (Vibration Reduction) for image stabilization (denoted by "VR" on the lens body).

Nikon's Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to remove chromatic aberrations that may occur (denoted by "ED" on the lens body)."ED glass helps eliminate secondary chromatic aberration (green-magenta color fringes) which is what previously prevented the design of practical super speed, super sharp super teles".

Nikon's Internal Focusing (IF) to prevent the lens assembly from changing sizes during focusing so it can remain compact."Nikon discovered that one could focus the lens by just moving some elements around inside the lens barrel".

Aspherical lens elements to remove other types of aberrations that may occur."Spherical surfaces are not the optimum shape for lenses. In fact, "spherical aberration" is the phrase used to describe a lens defect that results when one only uses a single spherical element".

Nikon's Super Integrated Coating on the lens elements to improve color on photographs and reducing ghosting and flaring."Multicoating not only allows a reduction of lens flare and ghosting, but also increases light transmission".

Specifications

Maximum reproduction ratio 0.32x Rangefinder Yes (shown in camera viewfinder and display only) Lens type G Format DXFX in "DX Crop Mode" Focus AutomaticManual

References