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Nikon AF-n Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED-IF. I bought this one at Adorama, and you can also get them at Amazon and Ritz. It helps me keep adding to this site when you use theselinks to get yours, too. Thanks! Introduction There have been five versions of 180mm f/2.8 Nikkor lenses: 1.) 1970-1981: 180mm f/2.8 AI and non-AI versions (manual focus, not ED) 2.) 1981-present: 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-s (manual focus) 3.) 1986-1988: AF 180mm f/2.8 ED-IF (plastic barrel, narrow focus ring) 4.) 1988-1993: AF-n 180mm f/2.8 ED-IF (metal barrel) This is the one I test in this review. 5.) 1993-present: AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF (current "D" version you can get here) I'm reviewing version 4.) here. I got it cheap when Adorama found a bunch of brand-new non-D versions and sold them cheap, I think about $400, in 2000. All the AF versions have the same optics and autofocus ability. The differences are exterior finish and the presence or absence of the D-coupling feature helpful for more accurate exposure with flash. Nikon introduced this version after everyone hated the nasty plastic version 3. Therefore this version 4 lens is a bit of overkill (just like the 300/4 AF) and is very sturdy. It also has one of the best feeling manual focus rings this side of a real manual focus lens. The "D" version is the same, except that it weighs an once more and has the almost pointless "D" feature. One reader writes that his "D" version has the same gearing at the non-D (infinity to 35' in one full turn of the AF screw), so I would suggest the non-D if it gets you a bargain. D only adds a little more flash exposure accuracy (more on D here.) It weighs half what the 80-200/2.8 AF-S lens does. Specifications It has 8 elements in 6 groups. It is 3.1" (78mm) around by 5.7" (145mm) long. It weighs 27 oz (750g), specified. I measure the 180/2.8D at 27.040 oz. (766.5g) It focuses by moving the internal elements (IF). It focuses to 5' or 1.5m. It has a handy built-in hood, unless you are using a step-up ring. It takes 72mm filters, not today's standard 77mm filters. You can use a 72 -> 77mm step-up ring with no problem, other than it renders the built-in telescoping hood useless. It has a nine-bladed diaphragm stopping down to f/22. Case: CL-38 (180 AF) Nikon Product Number: 1940 (AF-D) , in catalog as of spring 2008. Performance AF speed is good, it's about 60% as fast as the 80-200/2.8 AF-S. Just make sure to have the lens' selector set to AF, otherwise you will slow down the entire system while the camera tries to drive the damped manual focus ring at the same time. The 70-210/4-5.6 AF-D is a little faster than the AF 180/2.8 and a little slower than the 80-200/2.8 AF-S. One full turn of the AF screw focuses the lens from infinity to 35 feet. I'm unsure if the current D model focuses any faster than this non-D version. It is a pain to switch between AF and manual focusing: you need to move the switch on BOTH your camera body AND the lens itself just like the original AF 300mm f/4. Manual focusing is uniquely good among Nikkor AF lenses. The manual focus is actually damped as it ought to be, and does not run free and dry as the other AF lenses do. This is a particularly good choice if you only want to run in manual focus mode. It also screws up the AF action if you forget to disengage the manual focus ring with the A/M switch! It has very little light falloff at f/2.8, which is much, much better than the 80-200/2.8 AF-S or other 80-200 f/2.8 zooms. It is free from ghosts, again better than the 80-200/2.8 AF-S. Distortion is just about invisible. If you look too hard at a photo of a wall you can almost convince yourself that there is a little pincushion distortion, but it really is just about invisible. On my F100 there is a little AF error at closer than about 40 feet. AF is fine beyond 40 feet. However, if your subject is closer than 40 feet the camera tends to focus a little bit closer than it should, lowering sharpness when shooting at f/2.8. Recommendations This is the most compact f/2.8 lens in its focal length. Choose it if you need a fast, compact lens with swell optical and mechanical quality and if focus accuracy isn't too important to you at close distances. That accuracy is important to me, so I returned this lens. If buying used, watch out for filthy rear aperture blades. This lens has no glass behind the diaphragm, so if you are buying a lens from a professional photographer he probably got all sorts of crap on those blades that he cannot clean off. Have a close look; if they are filthy they can get stuck and give overexposures that will ruin your photos. Personally for about the same amount of money you can get the 80-200 AF, which I would suggest for convenience's sake. |
