Many of Nikon's cheap kit lenses perform amazingly well for their price point. The Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is not one of those. It's the kind of cheap kit lens that gives them a bad reputation. It weighs only two-thirds as much as the 70-300VR and performs a third as well. In good lighting, from 70-200mm it can give decent, but never stunning results. During two years in my possession the lens just didn't find itself on the front of my camera due to a terrible plastic feel and dismally slow auto-focusing. If you want to focus this lens manually don't bother. The focus ring is up front, small, sloppy and has minimal focus throw.

  I'm not one to be scared away from a lens because it's cheap and poorly made. The Nikon 75-150mm is a personal favorite. Let's see how the 70-300G works in the field under friendly conditions.
 
  Build: 3/10                  - Cheap plastic, feels like it may fall apart at any moment.
  Handling: 4/10            - Terrible focusing ring and rough zooming action.
  Performance: 5/10      - Modestly sharp from 70-200mm.
  Value: 5/10                 - It's cheap at ~ $100
  Overall: 4/10               - Low cost and performance to match.


  It's cheap, light, and one lens that I have not once regretted parting with. Images never have a crisp feel and the lens never really satisfies in any aspect. I'd save my money on this one and save up for the 70-300VR, or go with a 75-150 Series E, older Nikkor 70-210 or even a similarly priced Tamron 28-300 non-VC, which is similar in size and weight, slightly sharper and has a lot more range.