Review of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

For the opportunity Nikon AF 300mm F / 2.8 IF-ED Lens Review many thanks to Nikolai

Review of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Review of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

TTX Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8
Focal length: 300 mm
Diaphragm: F / 2.8-F / 22
Number of aperture blades: 9 pieces
The weight: 2.7kg
Optical design: 8 elements in 6 groups using ED glasses
Maximum magnification: 1:8.3
Diameter of the inner filter: 39 mm

Nikon has been producing lenses of the 300 / 2.8 class since 1972. The Nikon Nikkor 300 / 2.8 autofocus lens lineup includes the following models:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 ED, November 1986Scheme 8/6
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 ED, November 1988Scheme 8/6
  3. Nikon AF-I Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8D ED, September 1992Scheme 11/9
  4. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8D ED, July 1996, scheme 11/8, black / white
  5. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8D II ED, February 2001, scheme 11/8, black / white
  6. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8G ED VR, September 2004Scheme 11/8
  7. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8G II ED VR N, December 2009Scheme 11/8

It is also worth noting the new Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm 1: 2.8E FL ED SR VR 2020 year.

 

View of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 on a modern camera

View of the Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 with a hood on a modern camera.

The review presents the very first autofocus lens Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED, second version. On the lens you can find the name Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8, but most often this lens is called Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 IF-ED... The second version of Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED differs from the first only in cosmetic additions and the absence of 'ears' on the aperture ring.

Two versions of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Differences

Two versions of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Differences

Focusing

Lens focusing method internalbecause the lens is called IF-ED (Internal Focusing). Automatic focusing at the lens very slowbut the lens has two focus focusing rings... The first focusing limit ring allows you to set the minimum focusing distance, the second - the maximum. If you set the limiters to the extreme positions, then focusing is available from 3 meters to infinity. The limiters have metal bolt locks. Retainer rings have their own scale in meters and feet: for minimum: from 3 to 7m, for maximum: from 15m to infinity. If you correctly adjust the focus limits, you can win a little in the speed of the auto focus, this is very important for professional use, especially when shooting sports.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

The lens has a focus mode switch, which is designed as a very narrow ring. To change the focus mode, you need to press the release button, which is located on this ring and move the ring to the 'A' or 'M' position. Switching focus mode with one hand is difficult. I find the disadvantage of this inconvenient method of switching focus mode.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Example photo on a Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Trying to film a sport.

With manual focus 'M', the focus ring can be rotated approximately 180 degrees at the limit of the focusing stops. The focusing ring is very large, comfortable, rubberized. In fact, the focus ring consists of two rings - one very wide and the other very narrow. The narrow part has a retainer, for which the retainer is intended I could not figure out. In auto focus mode 'A', the manual focus ring is locked.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

The lens has a focus distance scale, and the depth of field scale, however, only for F / 22 values ​​and an infrared shift indicator.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Example photo on a Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Focus on infinity.

Important: autofocus when using the Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED lens is only available on cameras with a focus motor. This lens can be used on both FX and DX cameras.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Diaphragm

The lens has a maximum aperture value. F / 2.8, this value gives aperture 4 times larger for F / 5.6 for a number of amateur lenses, such as Nikon 70-300mm f / 4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor. Large aperture and large focal length allow very good control of the depth of field. Due to the 9 blades and strong blurring of the blur zone, the bokeh of the lens remains pleasant at any aperture value. The lens has an aperture control ring and is Non-g lens.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Attention: for the lens to start working normally on modern Nikon digital-mirror cameras, you need to set the F / 22 value using the aperture control ring and click on the special switch near the aperture ring. After such a manipulation, aperture control will be available from the camera menu, and the lens will work like any other modern lenses. G-type.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Design

The lens is very well assembled. When you pick up the Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED, you immediately realize that you are dealing with good japanese assembly.

Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Method of using filters

Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8. Method of using filters

Interesting moments

  • The lens has tripod socket with 'foot'... The foot is small, it is difficult to grip the lens with your hands. The tripod socket is not removable, but has the ability to rotate around the axis and be fixed in a certain position. Due to the enormous weight of the lens, the tripod socket is the most essential thing.
  • The lens does not support the installation of any light filters on the front lens, for this the lens does not even have a front thread. Instead, the lens has another interesting way to use light filters - near the aperture control ring there is a special latch slot into which the filter is inserted. The diameter of this filter is 39mm. Gets out of the groove filter holder, any necessary filter with a diameter of 39 mm is screwed into the holder. True, the use of gradient filters is difficult, since with this design access to the filter itself, which needs to be rotated, is lost. Anyway, you need to be extremely careful when using the Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED, since you can not use the front protective filter for the lens.
  • The diaphragm is located near the lens behind all the lenses. If you remove the filter holder or put an empty holder, you can touch the aperture blades with your hands. A transparent filter is commonly used to protect the inside of the lens from dust.
  • The lens is included Hood HE-6. The lens hood is just awesome. The lens hood has a special lock, and does not twist on the lens, but is simply fixed. The hood can be installed back to front, thus reducing the dimensions of the lens + lens hood and always taking the hood with you. Since the lens does not have the ability to use protective filters, a lens hood can help protect the lens and lens glass from mechanical damage.
  • The tripod socket ring has 'lugs' for a strap. Due to the huge weight of the lens, the photographer wears a camera lens around his neck, not a camera with a lens :)
  • Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED is NON-D Lens, and therefore does not transmit information about the focusing distance. This is not a big problem for telephoto lenses.
Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Image quality

The lens showed excellent image quality. Even at f / 2.8 sharp shots are possible, aberrations are very well corrected. Vignetting on a cropped camera is minimal. The lens reproduces good colors, contrast, is not afraid of back and side light, has a pleasant bokeh. Without further ado, the quality is excellent.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Example photo on a Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm f2.8. IPIG Management

Sample Photos

All sample photos in the gallery below for a review of the Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED were made on camera Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro (Nikon F mount, copy Nikon D200) from crop factor 1.5x. EGF using Nikon DX cropped cameras is 450mm. Photo without treatment, on-camera JPEG, reduced to 3 MPimpressed data from EXIF.

All sample photos in the gallery below for a review of the Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm f / 2.8 IF-ED were made on camera Nikon D80 с crop factor 1.5x. EGF using Nikon DX cropped cameras is 450mm. Photo without treatment, on-camera JPEG, VI modereduced size to 2 MPimpressed data from EXIF.

Another gallery of photos with applied auto levels and enhanced sharpness can be found in album of the group Radozhiva. You can see portrait shots with the owner of this lens http://500px.com/Nikolayleto/stories/38207/masha-i-300mm.

Personal experience

The lens is really very heavy, take off very very difficult, especially on a cropped camera. The huge focal length requires short shutter speeds, about 1 \ 300s for the FX, and 1 \ 500 for the DX cameras due to hand shake. The large weight of the lens requires the use of good, reliable tripods, which can normally withstand over 3-4 kg of a bunch of cameras and lenses. 300 / 2.8 is most often used for photographing sports, nature. An interesting application of 300 / 2.8 is portrait shooting; a growth portrait is especially interesting. For me personally, the lens was too heavy for transportation and filming.

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

Sample photo on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

On sale Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 new not to be found. I recommend a newer model for use Nikon 300mm f / 2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR II Nikkor, prices for which you can see hereor in the price block located below:

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


Conclusions

Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 - a fast telephoto lens with good image quality and build quality, but slow autofocus.

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

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Comments: 21, on the topic: Review of Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8

  • Novel

    Holy Dzhigurdinki)

    I really, really want to see material about such a rare beast like 200mm F2. Thanks as always

    • Arkady Shapoval

      There is hardly a person in Ukraine who wants to help with a review of such a lens.

  • Gene jb

    Arkady, he asked for the stars, the moon….

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The lens is provided to me for review for a short period, today I got my hands on a Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 2.8 lens at 9 am, I don't see any stars or the moon today. Tomorrow I have to hand over the lens. Now a counter remark - after each post there is a request to help the project, have already viewed the review of about several thousand, only four have liked it, three are my friends, did you fulfill my request?

      • Ivan

        I saw 300mm on the lake at the weekend =) a man with TC x2 wound on D700 filmed birds ...
        I have a simpler set Sigma 150-500mm shooting birds =)

        On the topic of televisions, I advise you to shoot some more water separately. Drops are obtained :-)

        tried 55-300 / 150-500 / 90mm / 50/35 / 10-24 on crop =)

  • Figurehead

    I support, as well as 80-200 2.8 different versions (say 2 and 3) and thanks for the review!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It's my pleasure :)

    • rescuero

      I will support Polena’s request for a review of 80-200 f / 2.8, and yes, thanks for the review :)

  • Misha

    Thanks for your review. I would love to “like”, but I’m not registered on Facebook, classmates, or other twitter… I think I'm the only one who is not so “backward” in social terms ;-)

  • Ivan

    Superb lens. Perhaps only the weight bothers. The quality of the pictures is excellent.

  • Jury

    "An interesting application of the 300 / 2.8 is portrait photography, and the full-length portrait is especially interesting."
    And not one example !! PPC

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Refresh.

  • Nicholas

    Arkady, dyaky for the review, I can provide full-length portraits of growth portraits, but a heavy lens. A monopod is almost always necessary.
    Portraits, sorry Arkady, you can look at the link.

    http://500px.com/Nikolayleto/stories/38207/masha-i-300mm

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks for the link.

  • Elephant

    I want to have one, to save time for focus in new focus? Chi mozhin v_n ptіchku on the loath of evil?

  • Do_Oraemon

    This is all, of course, cool, but when you photograph a model from such a distance, you often look like an idiot. Very often I catch such views when I photograph growth portraits with a telephoto: D

  • anonym

    do not be offended - I like it regulatively :))

  • Vladimir

    I wonder how much Nikkor lags behind or surpasses his Jasper.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I am sure that Nikkor is better in every way.

    • Andrei

      It all depends on the specific instance. Jasper is guaranteed working and better in the open, and the transition between the subject and the overall plan is smoother, soft, beautiful. Bokeh is better than sonnar, I had a ms 180 / 2,8, I see the difference. Nikkor is relatively working in the open, but sharper by 5,6. Jasper on the open sometimes distorts the shades of color along the edges of the frame at a certain angle relative to the light source. You need to get used to it and simply do more frames by slightly changing the angle / angle.

  • Eugen

    Is the Nikon Nikkor 300 mm f / 2.8 IF ED Ai-S optically identical?

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