The 75-300mm focal length can be considered as a new zoom member in the MF/AF Nikkor lens family back during the initial first few years after converting their attention to go full swing on development of autofocusing for both camera and lenses. Prior to the AF Zoom Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8s ED of 1988 which complimented the successful debut of the Nikon F4[s], the only tele-zoom in the AF zoom Nikkor lens group was only the AF 70-210mm f/4.0S [and the AF Zoom Nikkor 70-210mm f/4~5.6S later introduced a year in 1988]; so, strategically,at the tele-zoom category, there was a need to fill up with more lens types and choices for photographers too. Nikon has hence, cleverly modified the old classic Zoom Nikkor 50-300mm f/4.5 ED which was the first lens in the market to offer an amazing 6X zoom ratio and reintroduced with an affordable package in this new 4X zoom option. The AF Zoom Nikkor 75-300mm f/4.5~5.6S was introduced as an autofocus Nikkor zoom in 1989. It adopts a single all in one control for zoom action while autofocus in the camera control the other aspect. The manual focusing control ring at the outer section of the lens reverts the lens as a two-touch zoom during manual focus.
The manual focusing control ring at the outer section of the lens reverts the lens as a two-touch zoom during manual focus.
The lens aperture of this zoom lens uses variable aperture method to keep the zoom lens compact. Meaning ? At the widest focal length [75mm onwards] the maximum aperture is a f/4.5 while the longest end of the focal length is reduced to f/5.6. If it has been a constant aperture of f/4.5 throughout, the dimension of the zoom will inevitably much larger in size and weight. The immediate impact of such a design is it might restrict its usage in all round application in less favorable light. The only effective way in compromising such flaw is to use a higher speed film [or in the case of Digital SLRs, adjust the ASA to higher value]. Internally, the lens uses a rather heavy and complex optical construction in a 13 elements in 11 groups design - typical of a high zoom ratio lens. The front lens element is quite large in proportion to othere zoom lens type with larger aperture. The filter attchement size is a popular 62mm and makes it easy to share with other system filter accessories. Nikon has a dedicated lens hood HN-24 for this lens which can also be used on a few others Nikkor zoom lenses such as the AF zoom Nikkor 70-210mm lens group.