For the provided lens Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S) huge gratitude to Radozhiva's subscriber - Artem Kashcheev.
In short
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 is a manual telephoto lens immediately preceding the first autofocus analog Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 4.
Attracts to itself with a fairly compact size, good aperture, built-in telescopic hood, detachable tripod foot, high-quality assembly and good image quality.
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
History
I divide Nikkor 300 / 4.5 (4) lenses into three conventional lines / series:
Series 300 / 4.5:
- Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-P Auto 1: 4.5 f = 300mm, 1964-1969, several sub-versions with different focusing distance markings
- Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-H Auto 1: 4.5 f = 300mm, 1969-1971
- Nikon Nikkor-H Auto 1: 4.5 f = 300mm, 1971-1974
- Nikon Nikkor 300mm 1: 4.5 (K, NEW Nikon), 1975-1977
- Nikon Nikkor 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI), 1977-1981
- Nikon Nikkor 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S), since 1971
Series 300 / 4.5 * ED:
- Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (K, NEW NIKON), since 1977
- Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI), 1977-1979
- Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI, IF), 1978-1981
- Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S, IF), 1981-1999 (shown in this review)
Autofocus series:
- Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 4, 1987-2000
- Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 4D IF Silent Wave Motor, black / silver, since 2000
- Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 300mm 1: 4 E PF ED VR SWM IF Nano Crystal Coatsince 2015
The line of higher aperture solutions 300 / 2.8 is completely different.
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 Main Specifications
| Name of instances from review | Front body with white letters 'Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 232264'
On the case: 'Made in Japan' |
| Basic properties |
|
| Front Filter Diameter | 72 mm |
| Focal length | 300 mm (EGF for Nikon DX is 450mm) |
| Zoom ratio | 1 x (this is fix) |
| Designed by | for film cameras with Nikon F mount, AI-S compatible |
| Number of aperture blades | 9 petals. Petals form a regular polygon |
| Tags |
|
| Diaphragm | from f / 4.5 to f / 32.
The aperture control ring can be set to F / 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32. |
| MDF (minimum focusing distance) | 2.5 meters
the maximum magnification ratio is 1: 7.1 |
| The weight |
|
| Optical design | 7 elements in 6 groups, including 1 ED element
|
| Lens hood | Must screw into the thread of the filter |
| Period | From December 1982 to 1989, in 1987 added / replaced by version Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 4 |
| Manufacturer country | MADE IN JAPAN (Lens made in Japan) |
| Price | New do not sell. In a variant B. at. about 150-350 cu
Prices for modern inexpensive lenses for Nikon can be found at E-Catalog |
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 is AI-S compatible lens and can be easily installed on any Nikon digital SLR camera with F mount, as well as on any digital mirrorless camera with Z mount, but in the latter case you will need the original Nikon FTZ adapter.
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
Assembly, control, focus
The lens that I visited on the review is well preserved, its body made very high quality. The focus ring has a very wide anti-slip insert made of hard rubber or similar material.
The diaphragm consists of only nine blades. It's important: The lens iris is behind the last lens. From the bayonet side there is direct access to the aperture blades. The entire inner part of the lens barrel from the mount to the diaphragm blades is covered with a special dust-removing dark material similar to velor (this is about 10 centimeters of space in length).
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 has a built-in retractable telescopic hood. The hood is poorly fixed in the active position and can spontaneously slide under its own weight or if handled carelessly. The inside of the hood is also covered with a special dust-removing cloth.
The tripod foot is removable with a beautiful and pleasant rough surface. The fixing clip is large and convenient. There are three point marks for quick and correct orientation of the foot in a horizontal or vertical position.
Per se Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 is not very large and not very heavy, Uses 72mm diameter filters. The subsequent model has already switched to light filters with a diameter of 82 mm.
Focus ring Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 rotates approximately 270 degrees. Lens uses internal focus... Rotation of the focusing ring is smooth and pleasant, you can focus with one finger, which is rare for such telephoto lenses. The lens is very pleasant to work with.
The minimum focusing distance is 2.5 meters, at which the maximum zoom ratio is 1: 7.1.
On the case there is a focus distance scale, a depth of field scale and a mark for working in the infrared spectrum.
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
Image quality
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S) produces decent image quality. Moderate sharpness in the center of the frame at F / 4.5. Sharpness at closed apertures. But there are problems with chromatic aberrations. Vignetting is weak, there is no visible distortion effect. In backlight and side light, contrast can be lost. Overall, the lens has balanced image quality, but I would still like to perform better at F / 4.5. Version Nikon ED AF Nikkor 300mm 1: 4 much sharper at open aperture.
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
Sample photos on Nikon FX
Sample photos with RAW source files for review prepared by the photographer Natalya Romanenko (500px). Convert RAW source files with Nikon D700 the original Nikon Capture NX-D v 1.4.6 utility.
Download RAW c source photos Nikon D700 can at this link (20 files, 300 MB).
Sample photos on Nikon DX
Examples on Nikon D3200 with 24MP APS-C sensor with AA filter. Examples are shown without treatment. Easy conversion of source RAW files using the original Nikon Capture NX-D v 1.4.6 utility. Standard Picture Control SD (with default settings, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0). The 'Auto' function is enabled. distortion control'. Active D-lighting also included.
Original RAW ('.NEF' 12-bit) photos can be download from this link (20 photos, 400 MB).
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S)
My experience
Nikon Nikkor * ED 300mm 1: 4.5 (AI-S) is a very pleasant, beautiful lens to use. Compact enough. There is a certain charm in the little things. Quite acceptable for use with modern digital cameras, but at F / 4.5 it still feels like the high-density sensors are too tough.
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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
So for me, the sharpness is quite enough on the open, and some chromatism is also easy to remove. In short, a very good lens, it is far from the autofocus version, but in itself it is very good. Can be found in China from $ 120 in excellent condition, with an upper limit of $ 180.
I have a similar lens, really very light, but you need to set the shutter speed shorter, otherwise it is easy to catch the blur due to its weight. “You can focus with one finger” 👍 Contrast is very good at closed apertures, photos have some kind of 3D-look, probably due to the small number of lenses in the optical scheme. A very nice lens, especially if you buy it for a good price.
cute, but weak by modern telephoto standards.
That's right, but do not forget that the monitored lens in the price category is closer to the filters for these most modern telephoto cameras :)
It is quite an affordable (and I think - a worthy) option if a person cannot decide whether he needs a telephoto camera or not.
Arkady, thanks for the review!
At one time I really missed him :)