Nikon finally brought out some reasonably priced VR lenses!

First of all the excellent Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED and now they have updated the small and light 55-200mm as a perfect companion to the standard 18-55mm kit lens.

This lens will go very well with the new D40 or D40x or an existing D80 or D50.

The AF-S DX VR 55-200MM F/4-5.6G IF-ED lens is a high-quality compact 3.6x DX zoom designed specifically to work with Nikon’s market-leading D80 and D40/ D40x cameras. The AF-S DX VR 55-200MM F/4-5.6G IF-ED is an affordable entry-level lens which features Nikon’s cutting edge Vibration Reduction stabilization system and exclusive Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet and precise autofocussing.

With optics designed for the Nikon DX Format digital SLR cameras, this high-performance compact lens delivers a picture angle equivalent to that of a 35mm format, 82.5-300mm zoom lens, which enables users to get close to unapproachable subjects.

Nikon’s Vibration Reduction function compensates for camera shake to produce sharper, clearer pictures in unsteady or poorly-lit conditions.

Other fantastic features include the Nikon ED glass and aspherical lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and other forms of distortion, while ensuring high resolution and contrast.

Comments from Amazon Reviews

This lens is sharp even at wide apertures, the VR (image stabilization) works great, autofocus speed is more than acceptable, and it it is very light and compact. The fact that it costs $250 and has effective VR is pretty amazing - no other company offers a lens with this feature for anywhere near this price.

This lens is fabulous. The perfect compliment to my 18-55 lens on my Nikon D80. It takes over where the 18-55 stops. Sharp and lightweight at 11 oz. The VR “no shake, no blur” feature is a must for me. I am usually out walking the dog or in a car or at a cycling event so I never have a tripod. I have no complaints about this lens.

Some more samples here and Ken Rockwell’s thoughts here.

So far from what I’ve seen it’s a capable lens, light weight, sharp wide open and very reasonably priced.

Here in Malaysia it’s on sale (street price) for around RM850.

I was quite interested in this camera, the first Nikon compact with VR (their name for image stabiliser or Vibration Reduction), I thought it could be a competitor for the one I have my eye on, the Canon Powershot A710 IS.

The main turn off for me was the lack of manual controls, being a full time SLR user, when I use my backup compact I want as much flexibility as possible.

The reviews are in though and it doesn’t seem to perform too well.

DCRP Review: Nikon Coolpix S10

If you want a fairly compact ultra zoom camera that can take some creative shots, then the Coolpix S10 is probably worth a look. If you want manual controls and lens accessories then it’s probably not the best choice. While I’m not jumping up and down with enthusiasm about the S10, it’s cool enough (pun intended) to earn my recommendation.

Nikon CoolPix S10 review

The selling points of this camera are the flexibility of the design and the powerful zoom. Neither of these will let prospective purchasers down, but anyone looking for a more general camera will be disappointed by the image quality overall and the problematic flash. The VR system is something that a big zoom really needs if in poor lighting condition, but it is hardly infallible so a few shots are generally required, rather than assuming it will have worked. It does help keep the ISO rating down, which is a good idea. While ISO800 images are noisy, they retain detail and sharpness. So, one for the person who like to get close to the action and wants a pocket-sized camera, but not for everyone else.

Nikon Coolpix S10 - Trusted Reviews

The Nikon Coolpix S10 is a well-made and attractively finished camera with some useful capabilities, excellent noise handling and is capable of producing good results under the right circumstances. However, lacklustre performance, terminally slow AF, poor low-light capability and awkward handling limits its appeal. It is also expensive compared to rival cameras with superior performance, so the overall outlook is bleak.

Nikon Coolpix S10 - CNet

The bottom line: Nikon’s S10 has some decent features, including a really nice lens, but it doesn’t live up to its potential and can’t compete with similarly priced superzooms.

Now I am a great fan of Nikon SLR cameras, but I’ve never much liked their compacts…this doesn’t leave me feeling impassioned to buy an S10 VR..