By Laurie Excell

Nikon (http://www.nikonusa.com) has answered the call of FX (full-frame) camera users to provide a lens comparable to their ultra-popular NIKKOR AF-S 18–200mm f/3.5–5.6G VR II DX-format lens with their new AF-S 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR. All it took for me to order one was a day spent wandering Las Vegas and hassling with changing lenses and the bulk and weight of a backpack.

The new 10.7x zoom (US$1,049.95) gives me everything I need for a casual day of shooting in one lens. I can photograph the sweeping landscape in one frame and zoom in for tight details in the next without having to switch lenses. Talk about flexibility and the ability to move about unencumbered with too much gear. With current travel restrictions, it’s a great lens for those who need to travel light and yet need the versatility of many focal lengths.

The VR II technology has two VR modes: Normal and Active. Active mode is designed for shooting from a moving platform, such as a car or boat, to help avoid camera shake, which results in blurry images. The lens incorporates two extra-low dispersion (ED) and three aspherical elements, assuring sharp, distortion-free images.

With a minimum focus distance of 18 inches, I can move in tight for close-up details easily. Add a lock switch for the zoom, and I can now carry the lens over my shoulder and not have the lens barrel drift to its longest focal length. I simply flip the switch and I’m back to shooting with the full zoom range. The AF-S 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR is a compact, lightweight, versatile, all-in-one zoom solution. It even has a 77mm filter size like Nikon’s pro lenses.

Rating: 9 out of 10

(This review is brought to you courtesy of “Layers Magazine”: http://layersmagazine.com/).