From reviewer
I have a VR 70-300 today and get right on my D700 screwed. Since I knew that the image stabilizer lens that has two modes, in contrast to my 24-120 VR, and that one of them only a partial function, I thought it would be good, “Active” mode ( “active “Now is a nice word and sounds in any case better than” normal “…). I wondered then, of course, that the image stabilizer is not as great works. Like me the instructions but then taught, is “active” part of the function, while “normal” the picture is stable.
Then I made a sheet of 300mm and photographed me is almost the first heart in the pants slipped. So milky and blurred … uuuu?????h. But then I realized that at 300mm each pixel has a relatively small angle to dissolve, and that it might not be such a good idea was, through my window pane UNTRIMMED to photograph … 
So windows up, again photographed, top sharp!
Some tests focus on deviations were initially using Meterstab also not promising. Back Focus 5cm … oh jeh. After I then quarter hour had played around, even the AF fine adjustment of the extreme D700 had changed, but then returned to zero was fitted to the Focus suddenly exactly, and also whether the AF from infinity or from the Nahgrenze loslief. I can not say I understand, because bottom line, I’ve changed nothing. My guesses:
1) the lens was delivered by mail and had a temperature slightly above zero degrees; possible that I did so immediately after unpacking operated outside its specification have (cold motors / actuators, closer camps), maybe it was somewhere barely visible mist ?
2) perhaps had the brand new stock arriving only a little bit? Sounds strange, but who knows …
In any case, then my further tests extremely well. The lens has to test images at 300mm very easy pincushion, a little less than the 24-120 VR at 120mm. Surprisingly, I found that at the short end at 70mm NO apparent distortion occurs. Chromatic aberration, or color bleeding on the edge you can see, but only at magnifications above 100% clear, and only when a test image with white lines on black background. In “real” motives should be the color bleeding hardly notice unless you have eagle eyes. It has already been repeated by some people pointed out that only the current technology (> 100% magnification on the PC) is absolutely regular laymen allows lens to detect errors!
The lens is approximately 700g also very easy for its focal length range, which is more likely to shake badly, but for less critical inhibitions sure the lens is even more to use. I had before even considering buying the Sigma 150-500 to take, but about two pounds in one lens for my taste is already hard on the border of self-punishment, YMMV.
The image stabilizer is especially useful when a tele like this is remarkable when you consider how bad the picture for a long focal length without VR can tremble.
I wish to highlight even further the low price in relation to the outstanding performance to justify 5 stars. Who needs high precision (and also with the naked eye can see, or, in practical operation can meet), which will probably be a pro lens like the 70-200,2.8 access. For depth you need in any event no open aperture 2.8, unless you’d like ants optional. Maybe 2.8 will help a bit even when auto focus, who knows.
Now I have but a small fly in the ointment: the close focus of 1.5 m hurt something. Perhaps I would indeed low distortion at 70mm like to use for head portraits. Does not stop. But the Canon 500D Nahlinse is indeed a good buy, to a tele in a macro to convert. You need only a suitable adapter ring from 77mm to 67mm lens.
But overall I’m after my first tests, I also have taught that the greatest error image sits behind the camera with the 70-300 on my D700 themselves fully satisfied and do not feel its potential to have given away. If still horse feet occur, are published here.
Addendum: the positive imaging performance unbelassen (the experiment with Canon Nahlinse was also very good), but I find it easy unangenehn that the lens when extended to 300mm hisses luftpumpenm??ig something (which is probably more often occurs in telephoto zoom), and somehow quite hohl sounds like an empty Coladose. Is not really bad, but I think there is content but the relationship with the selling price on. Just so no one in my review of disappointment falls prey …
translated from amazon.de customer review.
