LAST EDITED ON Nov-26-07 AT 12:33PM (MST)[p]It really depends on what she needs it for. I can not recommend it, as it's not really an AFS, it has a crappy focus ring, it has NO M/AF function, it's either on manual or auto, and I dont like lenses that protrudes beyond the barrel. It's not really an afs lens, it more like a af lens.
I's not a horrible lens, but depending on what she wants it for, it may or may not suit her needs.
Here's Thom Hogan's summary:
Drawbacks
*
Vignetting. We'd forgotten about it when we moved to digital SLRs, as the older lenses had much larger image circles than necessary, but with a small DX lens that barely covers the APS-sized sensor, it's back.
* Variable aperture. The big issue is that at 200mm this is an f/5.6 lens, which means that autofocus in low light can be compromised slightly.
* Build quality. Build quality doesn't exceed the price point.
* What happened to AF-S? Much slower to focus than most AF-S lenses, and you can't manually override the focus.
* Where are we? No distance scale.
Positives
* Very good optics. Other than that vignetting, no fatal flaws worth mentioning, actually. Considering the price, good performance, and probably well-matched to the D40, D40x, D50 or D70s, or even D200 purchaser. The VR version is preferred, but the original is no slouch (and now an excellent value).
* The 80-300mm for the digital world. Yes, the low-cost telephoto zoom is back in full force. If that's what you want with your DSLR, this is a lens you should consider. Just don't expect 70-200mm type autofocus performance.
* Price/Performance exceeded . This is a sharper, more featured lens than you'd expect for US$250.
