Nikon Nikon 2191 AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Review

So you're looking at the Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G. This thing is a classic 'do-it-all' travel zoom for full-frame Nikon DSLRs. It's been around for a while, and for good reason. It promises to cover everything from wide-angle landscapes to a decent telephoto reach, all without you having to swap lenses. That's the dream, right? One lens for the whole trip.

Honestly, this lens is for the photographer who values convenience above all else. Think travelers, hobbyists on vacation, or maybe even a parent documenting their kids' soccer game and the family picnic all in one afternoon. If your priority is having a single, relatively compact lens that can handle 90% of what you throw at it, this is your candidate. It's not trying to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but the most versatile one.

What's interesting here is how it holds up. Its versatility score is in the 99th percentile, which is wild. That means it's more flexible than almost any other lens out there. But that flexibility comes with some classic trade-offs, especially in the aperture department. It's a lens of compromises, and whether those work for you depends entirely on what you shoot.

Let's talk numbers. The optical performance lands in the 96th percentile, which is genuinely impressive for a superzoom. In practice, that means you're getting pretty darn good sharpness for a lens that stretches from 28mm to 300mm. The VR II stabilization is no slouch either, sitting in the 89th percentile. That's a huge deal for handheld shooting at the long end, letting you shoot at slower shutter speeds without introducing blur. It's a key reason this lens works for video, where its 73.8 score shows it's a capable option.

Now, the compromises. The autofocus is in the 47th percentile, so it's just okay. It's not lightning fast or whisper quiet, but it gets the job done for most subjects. The real limitation is the aperture. At f/3.5-5.6, it's in the 38th percentile. That means it struggles in low light compared to primes or faster zooms, and you won't get much background separation (bokeh scores 37th percentile). So while it's sharp and stable, it needs good light to really shine.

At around $970, this lens sits in a tricky spot. You're paying a premium for that incredible Nikon-branded versatility and optical performance. For a Nikon shooter who absolutely needs one lens to rule them all and wants the reassurance of native glass, it's a justifiable expense. However, that price puts it in competition with a used 24-70mm f/2.8 and a 70-300mm combo, which would give you better speed and potentially sharper results, just with the hassle of swapping. You're buying convenience, and Nikon charges for it.

The competitors listed are mostly fast primes (like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 or Meike 55mm f/1.8). That's comparing apples to oranges. The real competition for the 28-300mm is other superzooms. Look at the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD. It's often several hundred dollars cheaper, lighter, and has similar reach. The trade-off? The Nikon generally has better build quality and slightly superior optics and stabilization. For a more modern alternative, the Nikon 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR for Z-mount mirrorless is sharper and lighter, but you'd need a new camera system.

If you don't need the massive range, a used Nikon 24-120mm f/4G is a fantastic alternative. It gives you a constant f/4 aperture, which is better for video and low light, and it's often sharper across the frame. You lose the long telephoto reach, but you gain a stop of light and better overall image quality. It's a trade between ultimate convenience and better fundamental performance.

If you're a Nikon DSLR user who travels a lot, hates changing lenses, and shoots mostly in daylight or well-lit situations, this lens is a fantastic, one-lens solution. The image quality is better than it has any right to be, and the stabilization is top-notch. For family vacations, casual wildlife, or as a 'walkaround' lens, it's hard to beat.

But, if you shoot in low light often, love creamy background blur for portraits, or need fast, silent autofocus for video, look elsewhere. The slow aperture is a real limitation. Consider splitting your budget into a sharp standard zoom (like a 24-70mm f/2.8) and a telephoto zoom. You'll carry more weight, but you'll get significantly better performance where it counts. This lens is a master of compromise, and you have to be okay with that.