The lens is heavy, but can be hand held. The the photo quality is best at close range.

A valuable addition to my photographic equipment. A compact lens exhibiting excellent build quality and well priced.

Compact, Build quality

The age of the relatively affordable super telephoto zoom lens is upon us. Nikon's entry into the foray, the AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR ($1,339.95), combines crisp optics with a narrow aperture that helps to keep its weight manageable and its price down to earth.

Sharp optics; Long telephoto reach; Fixed f/5.6 maximum aperture; Optical stabilization; Includes removable tripod collar

Competing lenses zoom further; Edges soft at 200mm; Not compatible with some older D-SLRs

The age of the relatively affordable super telephoto zoom lens is upon us. Nikon's entry into the foray, the AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR ($1,339.95), combines crisp optics with a narrow aperture that helps to keep its weight manageable and its price down to earth. It is, after all, a bargain compared with the shorter, but faster, AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II. The 200-500mm's development and release is no doubt in response to a spate of third-party zooms that are cut from the same cloth. Our favorite of those, and the reigning Editors' Choice for this class of lens, is the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary, which outguns the Nikon, while undercutting its cost. DesignThe 200-500mm is a hefty lens, which is not surprising given its range of coverage. It measures 10.5 by 4.25 inches (HD), has a huge front element that accepts 95mm filters, and weighs 5.1 pounds. It's heavier than some of the competition—the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary is lighter at 4.3 poun...

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is a long telezoom lens that nets sharp results, but there are better values available.

Sharp optics; Long telephoto reach; Fixed f/5.6 maximum aperture; Optical stabilization; Includes removable tripod collar

Competing lenses zoom further; Edges soft at 200mm; Not compatible with some older D-SLRs

I can't say enough good things about Buydig service it was excellent. They sent me an RMA and a return label and credited my account right away. I have been a Buydig customer for years and this is the first time I have had to return anything. The lens gets two stars but Buydig gets Five!

Well made; solid build

Focus problems that Nikon could not determine why or figure out how to correct; It continuously back focused and since my particular camera does not have adjustment for that, subjects were always soft if they were at any distance; Ran any number of tests and this lens continued to underperform.

The AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED lens is an FX format powerful telephoto zoom, ideally aimed at sports and wildlife photographers. It has a constant but modest f/5.6 maximum aperture, which enables a fairly compact design for its focal length.

Big microcorrugated cardboard box.

It's been a tempting couple of years for sports and wildlife photographers, with a flurry of very affordable super-telephoto zoom releases. First Tamron impressed with its game-changing 150-600mm f/5-6.3, then Sigma released its own brace of widely acclaimed 150-600mm f/5-6.3 lenses.

With a long zoom range at a tempting price, Nikon's AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens could be outstanding. Phil Hall tries it out on a wildlife photography trip

I really can't recall the last time I became so emotionally involved with a lens. This affordable Nikkor telephoto zoom is sharp, easy to hold, and at under $1400 you simply cannot go wrong. If I sound excited, I am!