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Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4 is Nikon's first autofocus telephoto zoom lens.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

Main technical characteristics of Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4:

The first thing that catches your eye is the interesting lens design. When changing the range of focal lengths, the lens does not move anything. The lens looks solid on the camera.

The design is austere, the whole body is made in black with white markings. Only the minimum aperture value and the aperture lock button are orange.

Sony has a similar lens - Minolta 70-210 / 4, which is called "beer can" due to the similarity of the lens and aluminum can. Since the Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF has the same specifications, it is sometimes also called "beer can".

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF is valued as a great portrait lens. Indeed, after a series of shots, you begin to appreciate his unique design and amazing picture. And Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF is very compact (as for a telephoto) and not at all heavy. My Nikon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 much more bulky and slow due to the fact that his trunk is lengthening. For lovers of faster aperture optics Note: Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF is darker Nikon 80-200 just 1 stop (2 times).

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

The main points you need to know about the Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF lens and their effect on the resulting image.

1. The lens from the film cameras, and this gives the ability to use it on full-frame cameras Nikon Most likely, if you are configured to use or already use this lens, then when switching to a full frame by type Nikon D800, D3s etc., the lens can prove itself in all its glory.
2. When used on Nikon DX APS-C cameras, the viewing angle will be narrower. The viewing angle will be equivalent to the viewing angle of a focal length lens 105-315mm when used on film cameras and / or in full frame. On my Nikon D90 и Nikon D200 the lens turns into a decent telephoto, and a rather large aperture allows you to do just great portraits.
3. At the lens general aperture. This is indicated in the lens name as F / 4. This means that no matter how cool the zoom is from 70 to 210mm, and aperture will be permanent. This makes the lens look like its colleagues from the professional lineup. The most important thing is that already with F / 4.0 the lens is completely 'working' in terms of creating sharp photos.
4. At the lens internal zoom. Internal zoom. When zooming, the lens does not extend its trunk - this is also an important professional feature of the lens. The zoom at the lens is exactly three times. There is a popular belief in what people do good zoom with a magnification of more than three - impossible due to physical factors.
5. When focusing, the front element both moves and moves forward. Leaves somewhere by 3cm. This is inconvenient for manual focusing and for the use of some filters (especially polarizing and gradient). With manual focusing, the focus ring rotates 180 degrees, this can be easily checked by a small groove in the ribbed ring of the focus. Auto Focus Slow.
6. The lens has a wonderful focus distance scale.
7. The lens has aperture control ring, it is necessary for old film cameras and a useful thing when used, for example, with other systems. If you need the usual automatic iris control, then rotate the ring to F32where it clicks itself. The diaphragm \ diaphragm control is made in the form of a button, and not a moving slider.
8. The lens has a standard 62mm filter. I advise you to immediately screw on it protective filter.
9. The lens has an aperture with 7 blades. The diaphragm petals are not rounded, and the diaphragm hole creates nuts in the blur zone.
10. True to the lens no depth of field indicatorsbut there is a focus correction in the infrared for 70 and 210mm.
11. Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF very well shot, without backlash. With its 760g of weight, it is very convenient to consider my cameras Nikon D200, D700but on Nikon D80 it is no longer so convenient to control the lens, since it takes the bulk of the camera-lens bundle onto itself.
12. This is one of the few lenses with zoom and focus. the rear lens group does not move... This will prevent the camera from sucking in dust, and in general - just a nice little thing.

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

• D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2xs, D2h, D2hs
• D3, D3x, D3s, D4, D4s, D5, D6
• Df
• D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90
• D7000, D7100, D7200,D7500
• D100, D200, D300, D300s,D500
• D600, D610, D750, D780
• D700, D800,D800E, D810, D810a, D850
• Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 ProS3 Pro UVIR, S5 ProIS Pro
• Kodak DCS PRO 14n, DCS Pro SLR/n

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

• D40, D40x, D60
• D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D3400, D3500
• D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600
• all digital mirrorless cameras Nikon ZDX, Nikon ZFX with Nikon FTZ/FTZ II adapter

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

Thoughts on the Nikon 70-210 mm f 4 AF:

The lens has a very small minimum focusing distance, you can take pictures of a completely normal macro with 210 mm 1: 4 magnification. The lens is not of the D type, because the camera will not know about the focusing distance to the object, maybe it will not be convenient for someone to work with the flash with this lens, but I did not personally feel the serious difference between D and none D. Lens focusing slow. Yes, the Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF has really slow focusing, the camera buzzes and twists the focuser for a very long time with its motor. When focusing, a rather strong and unpleasant sound is produced.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

About image quality:

The lens is almost completely devoid of distortion. The lens is sharp enough already with a full f / 4.0 aperture. Significant open diaphragm chromatic aberration, including strong friringo. The color reproduction is excellent, although they say that due to the old NIC (Nikon Integrated Coating) enlightenment, the lens can distort colors a little.

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

Sample photos on Nikon 70-210 mm f 4 AF

More examples of photos on this lens can be seen with me here, here, here, here и here. My wedding (the one where I was the groom, not wedding photographer) was shot on Nikon D610 + Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4.

After about 1986 years passed from 2012 to 26, Nikon came to its senses and released Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1: 4G ED SWM VR IF Nano Crystal Coat. But this is not the original 70-210 / 4, but still 70-200 / 4.

The only weakness of the lens is poor coping with backlight - the lens starts to catch hares and lose contrast. Perhaps a hood would help with this ailment. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised that a lens even at 30 meters can separate the background from the subject in the field of focus. Vignetting on crop is minimal, but at 210mm 4.0 it is still slightly noticeable. The bokeh of the lens is excellent, I'll even write “amazing”.

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated and Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

All Original Similar Nikon FX Telephoto Lenses

Below is a list of all Nikon Nikkor telephoto lenses without high aperture and with auto focus support:

1. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4, 1986-1987
2. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6, 1987-1993
3. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-300mm 1:4.5-5.6, 1989-1998
4. Nikon AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1991-1999
5. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6D, 1993-2000
6. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm 1: 4.5-5.6D ED, 1997-2005
7. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-240mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1999 2000
8. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D ED, 1998-2006
9. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D, 1998-2006 (?)
10. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G, from 2000 to 2014, black or silver
11. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED VR IF SWM, from 2006 to 2017
12. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-200mm 1: 4G ED SWM VR IF N Nano Crystal Coat, from 2012 to the present day
13. Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6E VR ED, 2017 to present

The names of the lenses are indicated according to their spelling on the case.

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Final World:

Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4 is a great telephoto lens with interesting characteristics. One of the few lenses that you can safely recommend as a portrait zoom lens. It has an excellent drawing, small dimensions and low price. If you are in the throes of choosing a zoom portrait, take Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4 you won’t be mistaken, just remember that autofocus will only be on older Nikon cameras.

See also the review of a modern similar lens Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1: 4G ED SWM VR IF Nano Crystal Coat.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.

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