The Nikkor 70-210mm f/4-5.6 AF-D

Ian Miller
Jun 26
2 min read

The Nikkor 70-210mm f/4-5.6 AF-D is a bit of a sleeper in Nikon’s older zoom lineup—compact, surprisingly sharp, and often overlooked in favor of newer glass. Here's a detailed rundown to help you weigh its merits:

🔍 Optical Performance

Sharpness: Respectable across the range, especially in the center. It holds up well even on higher-resolution sensors, though it won’t match modern primes or pro zooms.
Contrast & Color: Slightly cool rendering; contrast is decent but not punchy. Bokeh is fair—better at 135mm than at 210mm.
Distortion: Minimal at 70mm, increasing pincushion distortion toward 210mm.

⚙️ Build & Handling

Construction: Solid for its class—metal mount, decent heft (~590g), and a push-pull zoom design. Not weather-sealed, and it does pump air when zooming.
Autofocus: Fast for its era, especially the AF-D version with improved gearing. Noisy and not ideal for video, but snappy enough for stills.
Manual Focus: Not great—short throw and stiff feel make it tricky for fine adjustments.

📷 Compatibility

Works well on Nikon DSLRs with a built-in focus motor (like the D700, D3S, D800). On bodies without it (e.g., D3xxx, D5xxx), it becomes manual focus only.
Fully compatible with film bodies and FX digital.

👍 Pros

Affordable on the used market—often under $100.
Compact and lightweight for a full-frame telephoto zoom.
Close focusing (down to 1.2m) is better than many in its class.
Fast AF for a screw-drive lens.

👎 Cons

No VR (vibration reduction).
Variable aperture limits low-light use.
Push-pull zoom isn’t everyone’s favorite.
Sample variation exists—some copies are sharper than others.

Verdict:

Good—if the price is right. It’s not a pro lens, but for casual telephoto work, travel, or as a backup, it punches above its weight. If you find a clean copy, especially the AF-D version, it’s a solid addition to a Nikon kit.