Nikon Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens Review
The refurbished Nikon 55-200mm is a lightweight, affordable telephoto zoom for DSLR beginners, but you'll sacrifice image quality and autofocus speed.
Overview
Look, if you're shooting with an older Nikon DSLR and you need a cheap telephoto zoom, this refurbished 55-200mm is the one to get. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done. The one thing to know is that it's shockingly light and compact for a 200mm lens, making it a perfect 'just in case' lens to toss in your bag for travel or hiking. Just don't expect it to be sharp or fast.
Performance
Honestly, the performance is exactly what you'd expect for the price. The autofocus lands in the 45th percentile, so it's a bit slow and hunts in low light. The optical quality is down in the 34th percentile, which means soft corners and noticeable chromatic aberration, especially at 200mm. The only real surprise is how good the stabilization is for such an old, cheap lens. It's in the 86th percentile and genuinely helps you get sharper shots at slower shutter speeds.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- It's incredibly light and compact. You'll forget it's in your bag. 93th
- The image stabilization is surprisingly effective. 90th
- The price is right, especially for a refurbished copy with a warranty. 87th
- It covers a useful telephoto range for things like wildlife or sports from the sidelines. 86th
Cons
- Image quality is soft, especially at the long end. 26th
- The variable f/4-5.6 aperture is slow. You'll need good light. 29th
- Autofocus is sluggish and noisy compared to modern lenses. 35th
- Plastic build feels cheap and it's not weather-sealed at all.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 55 |
| Focal Length Max | 200 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/4 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | SWM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 200 |
Value & Pricing
At $114 for a refurbished model, the value is solid. You're not getting a great lens, but you are getting a functional telephoto zoom with stabilization. For a beginner or someone on a tight budget who already owns a Nikon DSLR, it's a no-brainer way to try out longer focal lengths.
Price History
vs Competition
Don't compare this to prime lenses like the Viltrox 35mm F1.7. That's a different tool for a different job. The real competition is other budget zooms. The Panasonic Lumix 14-140mm is a much more versatile all-in-one travel zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras, but it costs more. For Nikon DSLR users, the main choice is this or the newer AF-P version, which has faster, quieter autofocus. If you can find the AF-P version for a similar price, get that instead.
| Spec | Nikon Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Nikon Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR Lens (Nikon Z) | Panasonic Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II | Sony YONGNUO Upgraded YN50MM F1.8S DA DSM II Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 55-200mm | 17-70mm | 55mm | 16-50mm | 14-140mm | 50mm |
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 255 | 544 | 281 | 329 | 27 | 249 |
| AF Type | SWM | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | — | STM |
| Lens Type | Telephoto | Zoom | — | Zoom | Telephoto | — |
Verdict
This is a classic 'you get what you pay for' lens. It's a cheap, lightweight way to reach 200mm on a budget Nikon DSLR. The image quality and autofocus are mediocre, but the stabilization works and the price is low. If you're a beginner who needs more reach than your kit lens and don't want to spend much, go for it. If you care about sharp photos or shoot in low light, save up for something better.