Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor review

For the opportunity Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor Lens Review AI-S many thanks to the store http://fotika.com.ua/

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor Review

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor review from Radozhiva.

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S Is a legendary manual fast telephoto prime lens with outstanding picture quality. But - all in order.

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor view from different angles. Aperture view

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor view from different angles. Aperture view

TTX Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S:

  • Focal length: 180 mm
  • Diaphragm: F / 2.8-f / 32.0
  • Number of aperture blades: 9 pieces
  • The weight: 800g
  • Front Filter Diameter: 72mm
  • Optical design: 5 elements in 5 groups, including one ED element
  • Bayonet mount: Nikon f

The lens has a rather long list of its ancestors and a descendant, which can be found here. By the way, I met somewhere that all 180mm Nikon fixes are modified Ernostar circuits, well, and Ernostar is nothing more than a modified Sonnar circuit. They say that modern autofocus versions of the lens are somewhat worse than the good old Ai-s.

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor view of the modern Central Control Hall

Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor view of the modern Central Control Hall

History

  1. Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-H 1: 2.5 f = 18cm (Nikon RF, aka Nikon S, and M39 version), from about 1953. It could also be used on SLR cameras using an 'N->F' adapter. It has several sub-versions with minor differences regarding distance marks and serial number.
  2. Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-HC 1:2.5 f=18cm, since about 1955. The same optical design. After this model, Nikon had a long pause of almost 20 years to release a further line of similar lenses.
  3. Only in 1970 was the first version of the '180 / 2.8' class lens for SLR cameras introduced - Nikkor-P Auto 1: 2.8 f = 180mm Nippon Kogaku Japanbased on 5 lenses in 4 groups. The 'P' stands for 'Penta' - that is, 5 lenses in the optical design. Produced before 1971, very few of these lenses were produced.
  4. In 1971 the name was updated - Nikon Nikkor-P Auto 1: 2.8 f = 180mm, but in fact it was exactly the same 'Nikkor-P' with 5 elements in 4 groups. Produced through 1974. Overview here.
  5. In 1975, the lens received special enlightenment and became known as Nikon Nikkor-PC Auto 1: 2.8 f = 180mm ('C' stands for 'Coating'), has the same optical design, and was produced until 1977.
  6. In 1977 came the classic AI version - Nikon Nikkor 1: 2.8 180mm (AI), which was produced until 1981. The same optical scheme was used. There are two sub-versions that are distinguished by a comfortable grip ring at the front of the hood.
  7. And in 1981, the legendary Nikon Nikkor ED 1: 2.8 180mm (AI-S). This lens has already begun to use the updated optical scheme with 5 elements in 5 groups, 1 element was made ED glass. This version was produced for a very long period along with autofocus options. It is believed that this version of the 180s was most successful at all times. Produced until 2005. My review of this model can be found here.
  8. The first autofocus 1986 / 180 was released in 2.8 -  Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED AF Nikkor (IF MKI), which, due to a large number of complaints from photographers, was very quickly replaced by the second version. Complaints related to the focus ring and the general depravity of the design compared to the old manual options. The optical scheme has already begun to use 8 elements in 6 groups. Easily distinguished by the plastic focus ring and sleek body.
  9. In 1987, the lens was updated to version Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED AF Nikkor (IF MKII) and was produced until 1987. The optical design is unchanged. Easily identified by the rubberized focus ring and sleek body.
  10. In 1987, the lens finally acquired a modern look. The version is called Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED AF Nikkor (IF MKIII), was produced until 1995. The optical design is unchanged. It is easy to distinguish by the rough coating of the case. Review here.
  11. Latest version got letter 'D' in its name and has been produced from 1994 to the present day -  Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8D ED AF Nikkor (IF MKIV). The optical design is unchanged. Easily identified by the 'D' in the lens name. An overview can be found here.

A visual view of autofocus lens options can be found in the 'Portrait lens for Nikon cameras'.

If we group all the lenses according to optical schemes, then we can distinguish 4 groups:

  • rangefinder 180 / 2.5 with optical scheme 6/4 (1953-1963)
  • with optical scheme 5/4 (1970-1981)
  • with optical scheme 5/5 (1981-2005)
  • with optical scheme 8/6 (1986-2018)

Full frame

The lens is suitable for use on APS Nikon FX full-frame cameras. On crop APS-C Nikon DX 1,5X EGF will match 270mm, which turns Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S in an excellent telephoto.

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Focusing

The focusing of the lens is manual only. The focusing ring is very large and comfortable. Focusing is very smooth. This lens has true oil focusing. The focus ring rotates exactly 180 degrees. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate, only the lens trunk is extended by 3-4 centimeters. You can use any filter without any problems. When focusing, the entire lens unit moves. The lens has a slight overshoot beyond infinity, which may be useful in astrophotography.

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Lens hood

The lens has a built-in telescopic metal hood, which is always on the lens and which must not be forgotten.

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Diaphragm

The lens has a 9-blade aperture, which helps to form fairly even circles in the field of sharpness. For 180mm, the maximum aperture value of F / 2.8 can greatly blur the front and background. The lens is great for portraiture, however, the sharpness of the lens for a portrait can only serve as a hindrance. Aperture control is carried out only using the aperture ring on the lens. This will allow you to easily use the lens on other systems (not on Nikon cameras).

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo. Close-up

Nikon 180mm F2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo. Close-up

How to use the Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor manual lens AI-S find in the pro section old AI-S lenses. I used Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor without any problems AI-S on cameras Nikon D200, D80, D40true to junior cameras you need to monitor the exposure yourself.

Nikon 180 mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180 mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Image quality

With Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor you can forget about chromatic aberration, distortion, to whom and enjoy the wonderful sharpness already with F / 2.8 at any focusing distance. The color rendering is excellent. The bokeh is pleasant, even, although ghosting of lines is sometimes found. Good quality image allows you to get ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element in the design of the lens. I can judge the image quality only on the crop camera, on the crop there is no vignetting on any apertures.

Nikon 180 2.8 ED - sample photo

Nikon 180 2.8 ED - sample photo

Sample Photos

All photos were taken on Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S and camera Nikon D200... Reduced size to 1613 x 1080 pixels, data printed from EXIF. Photos without processing.

A few more photos taken with the Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S (including on closed apertures)

Personal impressions

I really liked the lens. A very convenient focus ring, a sharp image across the entire field of the frame at F / 2.8 and a huge focal length allow you to take very nice photos. The lens should appeal to fans blur background and foreground... I believe that this old Nikon 180mm f / 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S will easily bypass modern super zooms like the Nikon 70-200mm f / 2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor in image quality. Perhaps the only drawback of the lens is a decent weight, but it can serve as a good service when handheld photography.

Nikon 180mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

For publicity: many interesting manual optics can be found on the pages of the online store http://fotika.com.ua/

Nikon 180mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Nikon 180mm F 2.8 ED Nikkor sample photo

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Conclusions

Nikon 180mm F / 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S is truly an amazing fix telephoto. Excellent sharpness, good design and pleasant ergonomics captivate the lens.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Dmitriy

 

 

Comments: 89, on the topic: Review Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor

  • Sasha

    Good day Arkady! I have this lens and Nikon D200, in the camera settings (lens without CPU), the focal length is 180mm. set or 270mm. Or the settings in this section are optional, because I twist the settings wheels (focal length and aperture) even though they were previously set in the camera menu (I hope I put it clearly).

    • Arkady Shapoval

      After all, 180mm is written on the lens, which means they need to be hammered into the camera settings.

  • Sasha

    Arkady, I relied on your words :: The lens is suitable for use on full-frame APS Nikon FX cameras. On the APS-C crop, the Nikon DX 1,5X EHF will correspond to 270mm, which turns the Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8 ED Nikkor AI-S into an excellent telephoto. ::

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Well, EGF and FD are different things.

      • Sasha

        Understood thanks.

  • Sasha

    And what about the settings in the menu? Do you need this lens?

  • Sasha

    Arkady, I can ask confusedly. I'll try differently: do you need to set the aperture on this lens on the lens itself (for different types of shooting) or set it to F2.8, for example, increase or decrease by D200?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Try it, no extra questions will arise. The aperture on the manual lenses is adjusted using the aperture ring on the lens.

      • Sasha

        Arkady, I know. But what is the best or correct way? To change the aperture on the lens all the time, or by leaving one aperture value (for example F2.8) on the lens, to change it on the camera? Thank you very much for your answers and attention, but do not blame me for your questions ...

        • Arkady Shapoval

          You try first, then ask. The maximum value is set, the aperture is changed by the aperture ring, while the camera understands the new values ​​automatically.

          • Sasha

            Thank you, Arkady, what can you say about the so-called “Main rule of aperture selection” - That the best pictures are obtained at medium apertures of the lens.

            • Ivan

              It turns out usually with those who are friends with the head. Not about you

  • Vlad

    Arkady good day! And didn’t you come across the test of the predecessor of this NIKON NIKKOR P AUTO 180 2,8 lens? I really wanted to know your opinion, is there any difference between it and the one presented in this review.

    • Ruslan.

      I’m not Arkady, but I’ll answer))
      There is a difference and it is very noticeable.
      And of course, not in favor of the version without ED glass.

    • Jury

      I have such a lens, an old one, with strong scratches on the enlightenment of the front lens and scratches on the back. Compare it with Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8D ED AF Nikkor MKIV. If you photograph text, tables, the difference is visible with the naked eye, in favor of a new glass, but in real life, even with such a lens tired of life, you can get a good portrait, for example.
      This photo is from NIKON NIKKOR P AUTO 180 2,8, open

      • Jury

        Crop, without processing, just conversion to LR

    • Jury

      This photo is from Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8D ED AF Nikkor MKIV, open

      • Jury

        Crop, without processing, just conversion to LR

  • Vladimir

    Arkady, please tell me if I need to saw something on the lens mount when installing Lushnikov’s dandelion on it? Thanks.

    • KalekseyG

      In the protective edging of the rear lens, you have to grind off a piece

  • Vladimir

    Thanks for the answer. And how to do it more competently technically. Maybe somewhere there is a video instruction or an overview of installing a dandelion on this particular lens. If possible, please share. For early thanks.

    • dody

      d40 buy and don’t worry

      • KalekseyG

        And what will change from the use of d40. )))))) A cut can only be done by first attaching a chip, marking a place, closing the rear lens from sawdust and forward

        • Vladimir

          Already done everything. He took off the edging (unscrewed three screws), made a drink in it under a dandelion. The gauge that came with the dandelion on this lens is very inconvenient to apply, (on others without a protective skirt or fringing, the caliber rises normally).
          Glue the dandelion very accurately (somewhere up to half a millimeter).
          Everything worked as it was announced. The lens is super, but with a dandelion in general a song!
          It works in all modes, only the focus needs to be twisted manually, but focusing is very easy (the ring is very convenient). The camera trap also works, sometimes byvat is indispensable.
          In general, I am very pleased with the result of installing the dandelion, not to mention the lens itself.
          PS Do not cut it without removing the protective skirt, just as you don’t close the lens, small metal filings and debris can still get caught when working, which is understandable.

      • Ivan

        5

      • Ivan

        Along the way, here at all, neither earlier nor later no one fumbles about ai non ai and about camera compatibility. How about a wall of peas

      • anonym

        Doddy wrote the same thing to do in order not to .. have brains for himself. And then the brains of e..t are already other owners of the cuts raking their consequences. Fuck you in labor lessons to see files then ass .. chili.

        • KalekseyG

          Doddy crap wrote. How will the D40 help?
          The conversation is not about the skirt. She is here and so approaches everyone.

        • Vladimir

          Well, and what are the consequences of cuts, enlighten, anonymous.
          A piece is cut out in the skirt, to the place of which a chip is glued. If everything is done correctly, then there will be no negative consequences, and aesthetically and technically everything is beautiful.
          Of course I would have had a camera of an older model, I would have thought about installing a chip, although there it gives a sound confirmation of focus and you do not need to press the lens every time in the menu.
          But I have a D 5200 and now the lens works in absolutely all modes, and the flash and exposure are everything, just twist the focus. You can, of course, get the hang of it and shoot in a completely manual mode, put the exposure on the eye, stick the tables on the carcass, so as not to forget. This is everyone’s business. But I now have a choice, I can shoot in both manual and automatic mode. Without a chip, there is no choice. So it goes.

          • Onotole

            People tend to be afraid of everything unfamiliar to them - this time.
            People tend to judge everyone by themselves - that's two.
            This is precisely the fusion of these two features of human psychology that we observe in the Anonymous.
            Obviously, he himself does not know which side to hold the same file in his hand, and believes that the others do too. That is why he is afraid of using it, and even when someone else does, he is also afraid. And you can never convince him that the collective farm-collective farm is different, that if you have a working tool and relatively straight hands, you can do everything in such a way that you cannot distinguish it from a factory one.

            • Vladimir

              Yes!

            • Vladimir

              I think, all the same, that this is not a collective farm but an upgrade.
              Although sometimes an upgrade can be a collective farm, I agree.
              In this case, I was very pleased with the result.

          • KalekseyG

            Well, not a piece is cut out in a skirt! What are you talking about? Skirt at the diaphragm ring.

            • Vladimir

              I don’t know how this ring is called where the cut is made to install the chip, but I think that the technical term in this context is unprincipled. In general, that black ring, which is fastened with three screws on the bayonet, and without making a recess in it, you will not install a dandelion.

        • Vladimir

          And labor lessons, my young opponent, can sometimes be very useful in life, and work with a file or file, however, like other tools, a man should be able to. Even if this man is sitting in the office or on his mother’s neck with a folder.
          Believe me.

          • Vladimir

            This is me anonymous.

  • Vladimir

    And I also forgot, both on older models and on younger ones, with the help of a dandelion there is a wonderful opportunity to fine-tune the lens. Like this.

    • Vladimir

      Software Alignment!

      • KalekseyG

        Yes, a cool thing. And sawing the protection (side) of the rear lens.

        • Vladimir

          Yes, probably so, I repeat that I do not know what is called correctly, there may be a protective rim.
          But I already did it and everything works.

          • KalekseyG

            Excellent, well done. Hands are unlike those who have only words and thoughts about the collective farm.

            • Vladimir

              Thank you!

  • Osh

    In a full frame, this lens at a fully open aperture gives very little vignetting, one might say - completely insignificant, which disappears already at f4. Also, on a fully open one, you can find fault with the sharpness in the corners, but exactly what to "find fault", since no one, I think, will shoot a landscape at such a focal point at 2.8. It does not matter in portrait photography.
    Once I came across information that with the advent of the first autofocus lenses, the price of the MF dropped dramatically ... I don't know. Perhaps with some other glass. At the time of its release, it cost more than $ 600, if I am not mistaken, and its price was gradually decreasing. By this year, you can find such a lens in a new condition at a price of 320-350 green.

  • Dmitriy

    Can you please tell me if you can stick a dandelion on such a lens? There is a metal semicircular protrusion on the bayonet. Do you need to cut it down to install a dandelion?

    • Michael

      this is the desired ledge. dandelion should not interfere. you don't need to saw anything

      • Dmitriy

        Here in this side on the right you need a notch for a dandelion. The side is located on a ring that is screwed to the bayonet by four swamps.

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