Reach is easy to buy and hard to hold still · review
Nikon’s long-running DX telephoto zoom for F-mount DSLRs, with VR II stabilization and a 58mm filter thread, at about $420 from a camera dealer.
The 55-300mm has served Nikon DX DSLR owners for years. It reaches 300 mm and carries VR II stabilization with tripod detection.
It is f/4.5 at 55 mm and f/5.6 at 300 mm. An equivalent focal length is a calculation: it describes the field of view on a full-frame camera. The focal length engraved on the lens never changes. On DX, 300 mm frames like about 450 mm on full frame.
A 58 mm filter thread keeps filters cheap. Focus is driven by a Silent Wave Motor.
Willoughby’s sold it at about $420 with four units left. Mirrorless Nikon Z owners need the FTZ adapter.
Prices quoted in this text were read on November 2, 2026. The live price is at the top of the page.
| Mount | Nikon F, DX (APS-C) |
|---|---|
| Focal range | 55-300 mm, a 5.5× zoom |
| Aperture | f/4.5 at 55 mm, f/5.6 at 300 mm |
| Stabilization | VR II, with tripod detection |
| Close focus | 4.6 ft (1.4 m) |
| Filter | 58 mm |
| Optics | Two ED elements and one high refractive index element |
| Autofocus | Silent Wave Motor (SWM) |
| Amazon reference | B003ZSHNCC |
| EAN | 0017515216673 |
Only with Nikon’s FTZ mount adapter. It is an F-mount DX lens.
Nikon says VR II recognizes when the lens is on a tripod and adjusts, so stabilization does not fight a steady support.
To 4.6 feet (1.4 meters).
At $420, it is the 2 cheapest of the 4 models in this category published here.
8.3/ 10
A dependable first telephoto for Nikon DX DSLRs. Nikon Z owners should look for a Z-mount lens instead of adapting it.
photo equipment from the same category, at nearby prices. Only what all of them publish is shown: a column with holes compares nothing.
| Model | Price | Mount | Aperture | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon AF-S DX 55-300mm VR | $420 | Nikon F, DX (APS-C) | f/4.5 at 55 mm, f/5.6 at 300 mm | VR II, with tripod detection |
| TTARTISAN 500mm F/6.3 Manual (E) | $369 | Sony E, full frame (other mounts sold separately) | f/6.3 to f/32 | None |
| Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM | $749 | Canon RF, full frame | f/5.6 at 100 mm, f/8 at 400 mm | Optical IS |
| Sony E 70-350mm G OSS | $898 | Sony E, APS-C | f/4.5 at 70 mm, f/6.3 at 350 mm | Optical SteadyShot |
This model is listed on Amazon.com, at ≈ $420 at the last reading. Listed is not the same as in stock: availability changes daily, and the buy box shows the live price.
Details checked on November 2, 2026.
Nikon DX DSLR owners who want a first telephoto for sports, pets and wildlife.
Amazon reports what buyers took in the month before this page was last checked: at least 50.
The figure is a floor, rounded by Amazon, and read through Keepa — it says what buyers picked, not what a maker claims.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for photo equipment and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
Canon RF, full frame · 100-400mm · f/5.6 at 100mm, f/8 at 400mm · optical IS · USM autofocus · 635 g (22.4 oz)
Canon’s light telephoto zoom for RF bodies, reaching 400 mm with optical stabilization at about $749. Its f/8 at the long end asks for good light.
Best for: Canon RF owners starting in wildlife, sports or aviation photography.
≈ $749
Sony E, APS-C · 70-350mm (105-525mm equivalent, per Sony) · f/4.5 at 70mm, f/6.3 at 350mm · Optical SteadyShot · XD linear motor · 22 oz (625 g)
Sony’s APS-C super-telephoto zoom, reaching 350 mm with optical stabilization and fast linear-motor autofocus, sold by Amazon.com for about $898.
Best for: Sony APS-C owners shooting wildlife, birds and sports.
≈ $898
Sony E, full frame · 500mm prime · f/6.3 to f/32 · manual focus · two ED elements · tripod ring · 82mm filter · no stabilization
A manual-focus 500 mm prime for Sony E with a tripod ring and an 82 mm filter thread, for about $369. It has no autofocus and no stabilization, and only 8 ratings.
Best for: Patient photographers on a tripod: the Moon, distant landscapes, perched birds.
≈ $369
