Nikon 55-200mm vs 70-300mm Lens Guide: Choosing Your First Tele Zoom

If you’re a Nikon shooter looking to upgrade from the basic lens that came with your camera, you’ve probably looked at the 55-200mm and 70-300mm telephoto zoom lenses.

These two lenses are popular step-up options, but which one is the right choice?

Decoding the Nikon 55-200mm Lens Variations

If you’ve shopped for the 55-200mm lens, you’ve probably noticed there are quite a few variations with different designations like G, DX, ED, VR, etc.

What do they all mean?

DX vs FX

• “DX” means the lens is designed specifically for Nikon’s APS-C (DX) sensor DSLRs like the D3000, D5000, D7000series etc.
• Lenses without “DX” are made for full-frame (FX) sensors but can still be used on DX bodies with an automatic crop.

G vs Non-G

• “G” lenses have no aperture ring - the aperture is controlled from the camera body.
• Non-G lenses have an aperture ring on the lens barrel itself.

ED vs Non-ED

• “ED” stands for Extra-low Dispersion glass elements that reduce chromatic aberrations and improve sharpness, especially at 200mm.
• Non-ED versions lack these special optics.

VR vs Non-VR

• “VR” is Nikon’s image stabilization (Vibration Reduction) that allows handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds.
• Non-VR lenses do not have this stabilization feature.

The main 55-200mm variations are:

• AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II (DX, G, ED glass, VR)
• AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED (DX, non-G, ED glass, VR)
• AF Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED (FX, non-G, ED glass, non-VR)

The VR II is the newest with updated optics and stabilization.

The IF-ED is an older DX version, while the non-DX, non-VR is for full-frames.

The Case for the Nikon 55-200mm Lens

Compact and Lightweight

Weighing just over 300g, the 55-200mm is relatively small and easy to carry around all day long.

Wide Aperture at 55mm

With a maximum aperture of f/4 at 55mm, this lens lets in more light at the wide end compared to the 70-300mm.

This gives a bit more flexibility for low-light shooting and blurring backgrounds.

Older but Reliable Autofocus

The 55-200mm uses an older style autofocus motor which is tried-and-true, if a bit noisier than Nikon’s newer lenses.

But it works with all Nikon DSLR bodies.

Advantages of the Nikon 70-300mm Lens

Longer Zoom Range

As the name says, the 70-300mm zooms in much further than the 55-200mm.

Its 300mm reach opens up more framing options for sports, wildlife, and other distant subjects.

Sharper Images

Nikon’s 70-300mm lens has been praised for its excellent sharpness and image quality across the zoom range, outperforming the 55-200mm, especially at the longer focal lengths.

Newer, Quieter Autofocus

Using a newer autofocus motor, the 70-300mm focuses quickly, quietly, and smoothly—ideal for video as well as photos.

However, it won’t autofocus on some older entry-level Nikon DSLRs.

So Which One Should You Pick?

The 55-200mm could be better if:

• You want a lightweight, portable telephoto zoom
• You need the wider aperture at the short end
• You’ll be using an older DSLR body

Go for the 70-300mm if:

• You want the extra zoom for distant subjects
• Optical quality is your top priority
• You’ll mainly use it with a newer DSLR

Both lenses are excellent options and a huge step up from a basic kit lens in terms of zoom range and image quality.

Think about your needs, budget, and whether that extra 100mm of zoom reach is worth it.

Either way, a telephoto zoom like these will open up many new photography opportunities!

I hope that helps.

-Hakan.