Carsen-Polaris 55-300mm f/4.5

Initial Impressions This lens is the second lens I have purchased. It gives sharp images, especially with the vibration reduction turned on. I took a picture of a helicopter overhead that was small to the eye and the image showed the blades stopped in mid rotation and clearly the ID numbers on the side. I've only had the lens for a couple of weeks so I can't speak to the reliability. I seems quite sturdy with metal in the right places. I have some concern about the lens being manufactured in China (which was not mentioned in the original listing). This unit does have at least some plastic optical components, according to one description I saw after purchasing this unit. There is also some mention of it having "slow focusing", which I haven't observed so far (also limited experience with this camera, D7100). GeneRead full review

An Average Nikon Optic I am a keen photographer who bought this lens to provide a lightweight travel solution where a good zoom reach was needed for distant close-ups, such as the ceiling detail in old cathedrals, or landscapes when access was difficult. I have used the 70-300 VR before and found it far better for both contrast and sharpness. The 55 at the wide end also allowed for better all-round use. However, on full zoom, this Nikon lens if just not sharp and images also lack clarity of color and contrast. I have tried it under low light and full sun but cannot get the image quality I need. At moderate zoom lengths - say up to 200mm - it is fine. Even on clear, crisp days, the full zoom performance leaves me seriously wondering why I bought this lens in the first place. Yes, it is an economic solution, but not suitable for serious enlargement work. Perhaps I have a dud example? By comparison, my 18-140 is sharp, contrasty, and the images have a quality that the 55-300 seriously lacks. My advice - try this lens on your camera before you buy and check the full zoom capabilities too. I am just unable, despite a few weeks of testing, to get excited about this zoom at all.Read full review

Decent glass for the price. I'd been wanting a longer lens to use with my Nikon D7000 and decided to try this one. My first outing with it produced some great shots in relatively low light. The autofocus is slightly laggy at the farthest focal lengths, as I discovered while trying to capture some pelicans flying in formation, but overall, it's a good lens as one would expect from Nikon.