BENOISON 420-Nikon--F 420-800mm

A dirt-cheap 420-800mm manual lens that rewards patience and punishes laziness. Great for moon shots on a tripod, terrible for anything that moves.

The reach is the story here. 800mm on a full-frame Nikon body for under $100 is wild, and our database puts the stabilization at the 80th percentile, which helps more than you'd expect at these focal lengths. But the optical performance lands in the bottom fifth, and that's the trade-off. Users report sharp results when they nail focus with a tripod and good light, but chromatic aberration shows up at 800mm and the slow aperture means high ISO or nothing when the sun drops. Manual focus at 800mm is a workout, not a feature.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is the obvious alternative if you want autofocus and usable apertures, though you lose the extreme reach and it's a different mount. The Nikon NIKKOR 2166 is another option for Nikon shooters who want native glass with electronic communication. But neither of those gets you to 800mm. The BENOISON is in a weird niche: it's the cheapest way to get super-telephoto reach on a Nikon DSLR, and it makes no apologies for being a manual lens. If you're comparing it to a modern zoom, you'll be disappointed. If you're comparing it to other sub-$100 ways to shoot the moon, it's basically alone.

For $68 USD, this is a novelty that can actually deliver if you know what you're getting into. It's not a professional tool, and our professional score of 26.8 out of 100 makes that painfully clear. But as an occasional moon or bird lens for a hobbyist who doesn't want to spend $500+, it's hard to argue with the price. Just don't expect it to replace a real telephoto.

This is a 420-800mm manual focus lens for Nikon F mount that costs less than a decent dinner for two. The one thing to know: you get absurd reach for the money, but you earn every shot. There's no autofocus, no electronic contacts, and an aperture that starts at f/8.3 and only gets slower. If you're patient and own a tripod, it's a fun budget toy for moon shots and backyard wildlife. If you want a lens that just works, keep scrolling.

If you're looking for a lens that autofocuses, communicates with your camera, or performs in low light, this isn't it. Go get a used Nikon 55-300mm or a Canon 55-250mm STM instead. You'll lose the extreme reach but gain a lens you'll actually enjoy using.

Buy it if you want a cheap, fun, manual telephoto for occasional moon and nature shots and you're willing to work for the image. Skip it if you need autofocus, low-light performance, or anything resembling professional results. This is a hobbyist's lens, not a workhorse.