Excellent review. Really appreciate it, you did a bang up job! I bought the 3.5f 400mm on the recommendation of a friend, and THEN and only then, watched your review. I am, to say the least, relieved.
I had to watch your review again and comment again. I have not purchased this lens as of yet but one day will . I did just get an f/mount Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro lens from the 1980s wow I’m so impressed with it . If you haven’t do a review on this lens . By the way I just subscribed, loved the detailed review.
Best lens I've ever used. Simply amazing in it's ability to produce great images. As someone else mentions below, I use it with the Nikon TC-16a teleconverter to get the last little bit to autofocus. It does take practice to focus most of the distance first, but once you adjust, it can be done quickly
1080p - yay! :P Another great review JK, thank you. The only other comparably-built lens in the current Nikon catalogue is the awesome NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 AIS.
I just purchased a 400mm f2.8 and 800mm f5.6 AIS lens (used to own a 300mm f2.8) and it's wonderful to see a recent review of these incredibly robust and impressive lenses made at a time when Nikon and Canon were at the peak and golden age of their rivalry. Thank-you for so thoroughly giving an excellent example from this period the attention it so deserves.
I think this was the time when Nikon hit some of their finest optical quality and some lens designs (300/2.8, 400/2.5 etc etc) have only ever had new features (AF, AF-S, VR etc) added since then. I certainly don't see a modern AF=S VR 400/2.8 outperforming my 400/3.5 in terms of optical quality! :-)
@@jklenses8611 That's wonderful to hear in terms of the performance as I've always wondered whether the AI-S could compete with modern $18k Nikon super telephotos, and the images you show here certainly are testament to that quality.
@@jklenses8611 Congratulations! Yes I used to do bird photography with my 300mm f2.8 and my old D800 and the ease of focusing with the bright viewfinder image and shallow depth of field surprised me...I was getting in-flight shots nailing focus most of the time. As an aside, I have used my 400 f2.8 in the studio (from around 25 ft away) on a couple of occasions with models and the results were as stunning as any 85mm or 105mm prime lens (!). These lenses can do anything...
I had one more than 20 years ago. A fabulous lens that I do miss. One of Nikon's legendary lenses. I used it on a 16mm movie camera along with another great lens the 50-300 4.5 ED which was great for the bird docos I was involved in.
I think its colors are absolutely legendary. Its one of the best lenses Nikon has ever made and that is not only my opinion. It is about 1000€ in decent condition which is almost charged for a new 50mm 1.8 nowadays. The 400 3.5 has 8 elements, my AF-S 600 f4D has 10 elements and also is on a totally other level with the colors and contrast compared to pretty much all other lenses. Im mainly shooting birds with it as I am just not fast enough to catch those tiny creatures wide open. 400 3.5 is probably the best portrait lens on earth, you dont need any AF for portraits.
PREACH, my man! You 100% echoed my thoughts about these lenses. I cannot understand why nobody cares about these magnificent lenses. I use the AI-S 300 and 600 mm for filmmaking on my ZCAM. Now looking into buying a 400 F3.5 and F2.8. Just saw a near mint F3.5 for 750 euros. What a steal :-).
Just wanted to say shortly after I posted a year ago I did purchase this lens. WOW I love it . I’ve mostly used it for outdoor video of live music. I have shot live music photos with it too. People just look sublime and the bokeh is too . Love love love
I purchased this lens on eBay last fall from Japan. I'm in the Chicago area. I have a Z6 camera with the FTZ adapter. While I have been technically photographing things for many years (since 1980, my first Nikon FE camera) - I am enjoying learning (though lots of embarrassing mistakes too). LOL. What this lens, being manual, has helped me with is learning - and getting out of auto mode. This is incredible glass (though I"m no expert). I do actually find it sometimes difficult to feel like I get great focus; I tend to think it is more "me" than the lens and I'm also learning to zoom in on Live View to focus on my subject there - but especially opened up it can be a short depth of field which is both the beauty and occasionally the challenge in a fully manual operation. Love your review. I learned a lot of perspective I did not have and this encourages me to hang onto this lens. OMG - it's heavy.
Hi Chris, I have a Z7 and with the FTZ adapter using the old nikon 600 MF f4. Turn on focus peaking and your focusing should be Quick and easy even wide open aperture
rikard linse Hi Richard! Yes I do that as well. It’s helpful - but not always perfect. And it’s the quick focus requirements with action like birds and then working with shallow depth of field. I have learned a lot (and have more to learn). Will go look up that lens ;-). Thanks for reaching out
3 роки тому+4
This guy is so much better than Rockwell or that other angry guy :D
First of all thanks for the really detailed and organized review. I love it. If you have more old lenses please continue with these reviews as you just earned a subscriber. I purchased this lense few months ago along with the 500mm f4 ai-p I didn't expect for the 400mm to be heavier than the 500mm. But i gotta say That wide open the 400m is amazingly sharp. The 500m is good wide open and very usable but it benefits alot from stopping it down where the 400mm is very sharp even at f/3.5 Nikon made some amazing lenses back then. I'm currently waiting for fedex to deliver my 180mm 2.8 ais and I'm sure i won't be disappointed
I was a brand new photographer 2 1/2 years ago. The 180mm f/2.8 ais was one of the first primes I purchased. I have not been disappointed. At a used price it always feels like a steal. The unique focal length, compression, construction, etc makes it a pleasure to use. Just love the feel in the hands.
@@jklenses8611 Thanks for the review. I enjoy looking at older lenses and appreciate your efforts. So I have two questions for you: First, you didn't mention anything about the CA and lens flare.
@@dance2jam CA is no problem since it can be removed in a single click in PP. Flare is a different story, and in my experience these older Nikkors are more prone to it than their modern equivalents, so more care needed. Having said that, Live View mode will alert you to flare, so a judicious hand can be used in front of the lens to minimise offending incident light.
@@dance2jam The Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI/AIS I own is a cheaper, much lighter alternative with similarly superb build and optical quality (though of course you lose a whole stop of light). I'm considering the Nikkor 180 f/2.8 AIS myself, but the *ED glass version only, given its clear superiority over the earlier version.
The 500 f4 AI-P is the pinnacle of that lens series. It should have been an autofocus model - Canon was the lead in Af and Nikon was behind without a 500 alternative _ but they launched an Ais with electronics (that allows the lens to be used in the automatic modes P, S). The 300 and 400 f2.8 Ais, the f3.5; the 600 f4 and f5.6 Ais, even the 800 f5.6 , all of them only have 2 ED glasses; the 500 f4 AI-P was the last design and has 3 ED elements (they all have the same topology, 7 or 8 elements in 6 groups) Later models (Af-I and then AF_S) increase the complexity of the optical design and add more ED lenses. . Having said all that, even though the ED glass does its job, the 400 f3.5 (like the 300 f2.8 Ai/Ais and the 500 f4 Ai_P) show some traces of chromatic aberration in difficult situations, especially under hard light (branches against the sky, out of focus areas in high contrast (like the sea or another source of moving water, on the snow, shiny metal things, etc.) They are ridiculously sharp, the colors are saturated and natural, but they aren't apochromatic. The 400 f3.5 and the 500 f4 Ai-P work perfectly with the TC301 (2x), there is hardly any loss (just close 1 stop, but they are perfectly usable at full aperture if you don't need to crop) . pd: the internal filter has no effect on the optical performance, all of them can be used perfectly without the filter (it's just a flat glass, it doesn't change anything)
Great video! I’m not sure if you have any familiarity, but how would you rank this 400mm against the 500mm f4ais and 300mm f2.8 ais in terms of sharpness and overall quality? Thanks!
Thanks for your excellent review of this lovely lens. I use mine on an Olympus OMD-EM1 body making this lens into an 800mm F3.5 beast, and benefiting from the cameras in body image stabilisation and manual focus peaking/magnification feature. I have Olympus pro lenses, but none of them come close to the quality that this lens can churn out.
What you said about the paper-thin depth of field making manual focus a delight was very interesting to me. If the in-focus areas stand out as clearly as you said, would it be far fetched to imagine that almost like real-life focus peaking?
@@jklenses8611 To me the Nikkor 400 3.5 IF-ED AI-s is the third bowel of porridge. just right. The Nikkor 400 2.8 IF-ED AI-s is quite a bit heavier and really needs to be on a monopod. While the Nikkor 400 3.5 IF-ED AI-s can be carried and hand held all day. I wish the hood was a little longer. Other than that.... One of Nikon's best.
Is the Nikon 600mm F5.6 ED IF in the same category as the 400mm F3.5 as far as image quality. I am considering buying one in mint condition with all the filter inserts at a decent price.
Not sure if anyone will respond, but if you or anyone else reading this who has this lens, do you know how it handles stars? What I specifically want to know is how bad (if any) the chromatic aberration is. Do bright stars appear to have violet halos?
Piękna recenzja i w 100 % prawdziwa. Ten obiektyw można pokochać, Ja kocham. Ma prawdziwą złotą obręcz. Nie żółtą, tak jak w nowych AF-s, S. Coś jest w tych obiektywach ze złotą obręczą. Tylko nieliczne dają tą magie jak na Twoim zdjęciu z pociągiem.
You make a very good point about lens element count and the quality of bokeh. Always a distractingly busy , rather ugly feature of lenses with masses of elements.
JK, may I ask what you paid for this lens (ballpark), and whether you had to import your copy to the UK from Japan (they take care of their gear there!), and if so, roughly how much shipping and duty amounted to?
Hi! I think it was about 8000USD with 20USD postage. As you’ve spotted it’s from Japan and is in effectively ‘As New’ condition throughout. Import into the UK involves paying the dreaded 20% VAT on the total (item + postage) price along with a few tens of GBP in random import/excise costs. Have imported from Japan several times (often only place to find really excellent examples of older/less common Nikkors) and every one has been a spectacular lens at a reasonable price (depending on USD/GBP exchange rate). BTW I’ve also noticed that a lot of Japanese sellers don’t enable ‘Best Offer’ but are often amenable to a reasonable offer below the advertised price - always worth a message to ask! Hope this helps… 😊
@@jklenses8611 Belated thanks JK. Beautiful lens indeed! I've just bought the Nikkor 300mm, f/4.5 ED IF AI-s. Awaiting delivery from Japan (of course).
It certainly does - it was designed to work with 35mm film! There's obviously a huge argument about how many MP 35mm film is equivalent to but even the lowest estimates put it well above bodies like the D800 series... :-)
Actually you can get autofocus on this lens with a modified nikon tc16a 😉 I use it with a tamron adaptall 300mm f2.8 which make it a 480mm f4.5 with autofocus and it's optical quality is not bad. So for 700 euro you get almost a 500mm f4 with semi af ^^
@@julien-jd9nz Thanks for the reply. I did do some research and it looks like a pin needs to be moved and a new chip. Plus found that the optics are designed for up to only 300mm lenses and the focus range is just a small sub-range of the lens's native range.
@@theradarguy yep all of that's is true but it's work just fine with longer lens and since nothing is moving externally it's quite easy to make adjustments of the focus ring and at the same time let the tc16a do the tracking
Hi, do you know if the Nikon C-PL1s 39mm drop-in filter is part of this lens' optical design and needs to be inserted for the lens to work properly, or does it function properly/as well without it? Thanks.
Hi - I suspect that the answer might be (sort of) Yes, although I’m not 100% sure… Here’s all the information I have… My 400/3.5 AI-S has a 39mm drop-in filter holder which contains a screw-in 39mm NC filter. This is clearly not an ordinary 39mm filter as it has an extra wide flange around the screw thread on one side (the side it screws into the holder), even though it says ‘39mm’ around the edge. I don’t have any other ‘ordinary’ 39mm filters to try in the holder but one would hope that they would fit. If it was necessary to buy a custom set of filters for this holder then I’ve never ever seen one for sale in several decades of rummaging through second-hand Nikon gear! I also have a 300/2.8 AI-S which has a slightly different 39mm drop-in filter holder’ labelled C-PL1S. This is the version of the drop-in filter holder which has a little wheel on the top which allows you to rotate the filter while it is inside the lens. This is obviously designed for polarising filters. My C-PL1S has a polarising filter in it which does not seem to be removable. If I want to use the NC or polarising filters with either of these two lenses, I have to swop the entire filter holder. Based on the above I think the answer is Yes. For lenses of this generation, you can fit any 39mm filter into the standard drop-in filter tray but you cannot rotate it once inside. There is a separate C-PL1S (rotatable) 39mm drop-in filter tray which comes fitted with a (non-removable) poalrising filter. This seems to also be the case with more modern lenses. My200-400/4 AF-S I lens has a52mm drop-in filter tray which definitely accepts any 52mm screw-in filter. However, it will not rotate the filter and I recall being told that I would need to buy a special filter tray to do this (presumably the modern equivalent of the C-PL1S). As always, whenever my Nikon knowledge runs out, the people who would definitely know are Grays of Westminster , who are always happy to help via phone or email etc (www.graysofwestminster.co.uk). In addition, if you do need to buy any kind of special filters or attachments for a lens of this age, they are the people most likely to be able to find one for you. Happy New Year! 😊
@@jklenses8611 Hi, Thanks so much for your reply, and Happy New Year! It would appear as though both the 400mm 3.5 and 300mm 2.8 use the same drop-in holder for polarizing filters, C-PL1S. The following page shows Nikon’s different slip-in holders and their compatibility. www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV_article?articleNo=000005861&lang=en_GB What I can’t find is the model number of the NC drop-in holder? It is different, but the only information published pertains to the C-PL1S. I emailed Nikon’s technical support but haven’t heard back from them. Finding a used copy is not easy or cheap. The only C-PL1S drop-in holder I see listed on eBay is more than $200.00. Thanks again.
@@globalfunseeker6733 I guess the ‘standard’ non-rotating filter holders were never meant to be sold separately as each lens was supplied with one in place, whereas the C-PL1S was always an ‘extra’. My ordinary filter holder just says ‘Nikon Japan’ on it, with no sign of a serial number… ☹ The C-PL1S still seems to be available new at around 350GBP, which puts the 200USD used one in a better light!? 😊
Thank you for the review of this lens. is this lens similar, worst or better than Nikon Telephoto 400mm f/2.8 ED IF AIS? Thank for your time in advance.
Excellent review. Really appreciate it, you did a bang up job! I bought the 3.5f 400mm on the recommendation of a friend, and THEN and only then, watched your review. I am, to say the least, relieved.
Another wonderful review. Thank you
I had to watch your review again and comment again. I have not purchased this lens as of yet but one day will .
I did just get an f/mount Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro lens from the 1980s wow I’m so impressed with it . If you haven’t do a review on this lens . By the way I just subscribed, loved the detailed review.
I really like you reviews on these old Nikon lenses! I would look forward to someday maybe hearing your reviews on the Z lenses!! Great job
Excellent review..many thanks.. this one is firmly on my list !
Best lens I've ever used. Simply amazing in it's ability to produce great images. As someone else mentions below, I use it with the Nikon TC-16a teleconverter to get the last little bit to autofocus. It does take practice to focus most of the distance first, but once you adjust, it can be done quickly
Witaj. Czy TC-16a sprawdza się w fotografii przyrody? Z jakim body używasz tego zestawu? Co z aberracją ? Jakie wrażenia ? Warto?
A lens I’ve been lusting over for a while . Really been wanting it for video believe it or not and some close up nature photography.
Great review, long live the old Nikkors!
Brilliant video
Very good review.
1080p - yay! :P Another great review JK, thank you. The only other comparably-built lens in the current Nikon catalogue is the awesome
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 AIS.
I just purchased a 400mm f2.8 and 800mm f5.6 AIS lens (used to own a 300mm f2.8) and it's wonderful to see a recent review of these incredibly robust and impressive lenses made at a time when Nikon and Canon were at the peak and golden age of their rivalry. Thank-you for so thoroughly giving an excellent example from this period the attention it so deserves.
I think this was the time when Nikon hit some of their finest optical quality and some lens designs (300/2.8, 400/2.5 etc etc) have only ever had new features (AF, AF-S, VR etc) added since then. I certainly don't see a modern AF=S VR 400/2.8 outperforming my 400/3.5 in terms of optical quality! :-)
@@jklenses8611 That's wonderful to hear in terms of the performance as I've always wondered whether the AI-S could compete with modern $18k Nikon super telephotos, and the images you show here certainly are testament to that quality.
@@helisoma Have recently picked up an AI-S 300/2.8 which has similarly stunning optical quality for far less than a modern lens... :-)
@@jklenses8611 Congratulations! Yes I used to do bird photography with my 300mm f2.8 and my old D800 and the ease of focusing with the bright viewfinder image and shallow depth of field surprised me...I was getting in-flight shots nailing focus most of the time. As an aside, I have used my 400 f2.8 in the studio (from around 25 ft away) on a couple of occasions with models and the results were as stunning as any 85mm or 105mm prime lens (!). These lenses can do anything...
And I hope to add a 600mm f4 to my collection someday as well :D....and do a full review comparing them.
Beatiful lens and wonderful colours on the train photo...
I love it! :-)
I have had this lens for 30 plus years. It is sharper than any big modern zoom. With a 1.4x it is still very sharp.
I had one more than 20 years ago. A fabulous lens that I do miss. One of Nikon's legendary lenses. I used it on a 16mm movie camera along with another great lens the 50-300 4.5 ED which was great for the bird docos I was involved in.
Can you tell how to search for the correct 1.4x?
Yes I believe it is, but not sharper than nikon's slightly newer af-s 500mm f4D ED.
I think its colors are absolutely legendary. Its one of the best lenses Nikon has ever made and that is not only my opinion. It is about 1000€ in decent condition which is almost charged for a new 50mm 1.8 nowadays. The 400 3.5 has 8 elements, my AF-S 600 f4D has 10 elements and also is on a totally other level with the colors and contrast compared to pretty much all other lenses. Im mainly shooting birds with it as I am just not fast enough to catch those tiny creatures wide open. 400 3.5 is probably the best portrait lens on earth, you dont need any AF for portraits.
PREACH, my man! You 100% echoed my thoughts about these lenses. I cannot understand why nobody cares about these magnificent lenses. I use the AI-S 300 and 600 mm for filmmaking on my ZCAM. Now looking into buying a 400 F3.5 and F2.8. Just saw a near mint F3.5 for 750 euros. What a steal :-).
Just wanted to say shortly after I posted a year ago I did purchase this lens.
WOW I love it . I’ve mostly used it for outdoor video of live music. I have shot live music photos with it too.
People just look sublime and the bokeh is too .
Love love love
:-)
Great lens for cinema cameras
I purchased this lens on eBay last fall from Japan. I'm in the Chicago area. I have a Z6 camera with the FTZ adapter. While I have been technically photographing things for many years (since 1980, my first Nikon FE camera) - I am enjoying learning (though lots of embarrassing mistakes too). LOL. What this lens, being manual, has helped me with is learning - and getting out of auto mode. This is incredible glass (though I"m no expert). I do actually find it sometimes difficult to feel like I get great focus; I tend to think it is more "me" than the lens and I'm also learning to zoom in on Live View to focus on my subject there - but especially opened up it can be a short depth of field which is both the beauty and occasionally the challenge in a fully manual operation. Love your review. I learned a lot of perspective I did not have and this encourages me to hang onto this lens. OMG - it's heavy.
Hi Chris, I have a Z7 and with the FTZ adapter using the old nikon 600 MF f4. Turn on focus peaking and your focusing should be Quick and easy even wide open aperture
rikard linse Hi Richard! Yes I do that as well. It’s helpful - but not always perfect. And it’s the quick focus requirements with action like birds and then working with shallow depth of field. I have learned a lot (and have more to learn). Will go look up that lens ;-). Thanks for reaching out
This guy is so much better than Rockwell or that other angry guy :D
:-)
First of all thanks for the really detailed and organized review. I love it. If you have more old lenses please continue with these reviews as you just earned a subscriber.
I purchased this lense few months ago along with the 500mm f4 ai-p
I didn't expect for the 400mm to be heavier than the 500mm. But i gotta say That wide open the 400m is amazingly sharp. The 500m is good wide open and very usable but it benefits alot from stopping it down where the 400mm is very sharp even at f/3.5
Nikon made some amazing lenses back then. I'm currently waiting for fedex to deliver my 180mm 2.8 ais and I'm sure i won't be disappointed
If I had to pick a couple of current Nikon lenses which can come anywhere near the 400/3.5, it would include the 180/2.8! :-)
I was a brand new photographer 2 1/2 years ago. The 180mm f/2.8 ais was one of the first primes I purchased. I have not been disappointed. At a used price it always feels like a steal. The unique focal length, compression, construction, etc makes it a pleasure to use. Just love the feel in the hands.
@@jklenses8611 Thanks for the review. I enjoy looking at older lenses and appreciate your efforts. So I have two questions for you: First, you didn't mention anything about the CA and lens flare.
@@dance2jam CA is no problem since it can be removed in a single click in PP. Flare is a different story, and in my experience these older Nikkors are more prone to it than their modern equivalents, so more care needed. Having said that, Live View mode will alert you to flare, so a judicious hand can be used in front of the lens to minimise offending incident light.
@@dance2jam The Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI/AIS I own is a cheaper, much lighter alternative with similarly superb build and optical quality (though of course you lose a whole stop of light). I'm considering the Nikkor 180 f/2.8 AIS myself, but the *ED glass version only, given its clear superiority over the earlier version.
The 500 f4 AI-P is the pinnacle of that lens series. It should have been an autofocus model - Canon was the lead in Af and Nikon was behind without a 500 alternative _ but they launched an Ais with electronics (that allows the lens to be used in the automatic modes P, S).
The 300 and 400 f2.8 Ais, the f3.5; the 600 f4 and f5.6 Ais, even the 800 f5.6 , all of them only have 2 ED glasses; the 500 f4 AI-P was the last design and has 3 ED elements (they all have the same topology, 7 or 8 elements in 6 groups)
Later models (Af-I and then AF_S) increase the complexity of the optical design and add more ED lenses.
.
Having said all that, even though the ED glass does its job, the 400 f3.5 (like the 300 f2.8 Ai/Ais and the 500 f4 Ai_P) show some traces of chromatic aberration in difficult situations, especially under hard light (branches against the sky, out of focus areas in high contrast (like the sea or another source of moving water, on the snow, shiny metal things, etc.) They are ridiculously sharp, the colors are saturated and natural, but they aren't apochromatic.
The 400 f3.5 and the 500 f4 Ai-P work perfectly with the TC301 (2x), there is hardly any loss (just close 1 stop, but they are perfectly usable at full aperture if you don't need to crop)
.
pd: the internal filter has no effect on the optical performance, all of them can be used perfectly without the filter (it's just a flat glass, it doesn't change anything)
The subsequent 500mm af-i and 500mm af-s do have even higher performance wide open though.
Great video! I’m not sure if you have any familiarity, but how would you rank this 400mm against the 500mm f4ais and 300mm f2.8 ais in terms of sharpness and overall quality? Thanks!
You forgot the 400 AF-I 2.8ED lens which I own and love in spite of its weight.
Agreed, but everything I look at with 400/f2.8 on the side is just so expensive..! :-)
I got this solid titan for a low price and was simply shocked at the pinpoint sharpness and contrast wide open.
Hiya, thanks to your review, I am seriously considering buying this lens, will it work worth a ftz adapter on the z series cameras can you tell me?
Thanks for your excellent review of this lovely lens. I use mine on an Olympus OMD-EM1 body making this lens into an 800mm F3.5 beast, and benefiting from the cameras in body image stabilisation and manual focus peaking/magnification feature. I have Olympus pro lenses, but none of them come close to the quality that this lens can churn out.
Great glass never dies! :-)
not a 800mm
What you said about the paper-thin depth of field making manual focus a delight was very interesting to me. If the in-focus areas stand out as clearly as you said, would it be far fetched to imagine that almost like real-life focus peaking?
It certainly feels a bit like it when you are using this lens... :-)
Interesting, informative, and thorough. Thank you.
Could this lens be used with on a Fujifilm, Olympus, or Sony with an adapter? Or a speedbooster?
I use mine everyday. Love it
:-)
@@jklenses8611 To me the Nikkor 400 3.5 IF-ED AI-s is the third bowel of porridge. just right. The Nikkor 400 2.8 IF-ED AI-s is quite a bit heavier and really needs to be on a monopod. While the Nikkor 400 3.5 IF-ED AI-s can be carried and hand held all day. I wish the hood was a little longer. Other than that.... One of Nikon's best.
As for the drop in filter, I had a 600 f4 mf and I never could see a difference whether the drop in filter was in or out.
Is the Nikon 600mm F5.6 ED IF in the same category as the 400mm F3.5 as far as image quality. I am considering buying one in mint condition with all the filter inserts at a decent price.
Not sure if anyone will respond, but if you or anyone else reading this who has this lens, do you know how it handles stars? What I specifically want to know is how bad (if any) the chromatic aberration is. Do bright stars appear to have violet halos?
Piękna recenzja i w 100 % prawdziwa. Ten obiektyw można pokochać, Ja kocham. Ma prawdziwą złotą obręcz. Nie żółtą, tak jak w nowych AF-s, S. Coś jest w tych obiektywach ze złotą obręczą. Tylko nieliczne dają tą magie jak na Twoim zdjęciu z pociągiem.
"in the same county" lol
You make a very good point about lens element count and the quality of bokeh. Always a distractingly busy , rather ugly feature of lenses with masses of elements.
JK, may I ask what you paid for this lens (ballpark), and whether you had to import your copy to the UK from Japan (they take care of their gear there!), and if so, roughly how much shipping and duty amounted to?
Hi! I think it was about 8000USD with 20USD postage. As you’ve spotted it’s from Japan and is in effectively ‘As New’ condition throughout. Import into the UK involves paying the dreaded 20% VAT on the total (item + postage) price along with a few tens of GBP in random import/excise costs. Have imported from Japan several times (often only place to find really excellent examples of older/less common Nikkors) and every one has been a spectacular lens at a reasonable price (depending on USD/GBP exchange rate). BTW I’ve also noticed that a lot of Japanese sellers don’t enable ‘Best Offer’ but are often amenable to a reasonable offer below the advertised price - always worth a message to ask! Hope this helps… 😊
Sorry - typo! Should say 800 USD not 8000! :-)
@@jklenses8611 Belated thanks JK. Beautiful lens indeed! I've just bought the Nikkor 300mm, f/4.5 ED IF AI-s. Awaiting delivery from Japan (of course).
@@AntPDC :-)
Does this lens delivers fine optical quality with a TC-301 on a high resolution body, like the D800?
It certainly does - it was designed to work with 35mm film! There's obviously a huge argument about how many MP 35mm film is equivalent to but even the lowest estimates put it well above bodies like the D800 series... :-)
I've used both the 400mm f2.8 and 800mm f5.6 with the TC-301 and the results with a D850 especially of the moon and Jupiter/Saturn are astonishing.
Actually you can get autofocus on this lens with a modified nikon tc16a 😉 I use it with a tamron adaptall 300mm f2.8 which make it a 480mm f4.5 with autofocus and it's optical quality is not bad.
So for 700 euro you get almost a 500mm f4 with semi af ^^
What is the modification? I would love to try this. I don't understand the mechanical connection between the focus ring and this adapter.
@@theradarguy I don't know the process on how to modify it but if you search "modified tc16a" you will find what you are looking for 😉
There is actually no connection between those. The tc16a is a teleconverter and to provide autofocus it's own optics back and forth
@@julien-jd9nz Thanks for the reply. I did do some research and it looks like a pin needs to be moved and a new chip. Plus found that the optics are designed for up to only 300mm lenses and the focus range is just a small sub-range of the lens's native range.
@@theradarguy yep all of that's is true but it's work just fine with longer lens and since nothing is moving externally it's quite easy to make adjustments of the focus ring and at the same time let the tc16a do the tracking
You should be Piff The Magic Dragon's photographer.😅
Hi, do you know if the Nikon C-PL1s 39mm drop-in filter is part of this lens' optical design and needs to be inserted for the lens to work properly, or does it function properly/as well without it? Thanks.
A filter needs to be in the drop-in holder for the optical system to work correctly. Lens should come with a clear/UV/NC one in place.
@@jklenses8611 Thanks. Do you know if the filters are unique to the filter holder or will any 39mm filter suffice?
Hi - I suspect that the answer might be (sort of) Yes, although I’m not 100% sure…
Here’s all the information I have…
My 400/3.5 AI-S has a 39mm drop-in filter holder which contains a screw-in 39mm NC filter. This is clearly not an ordinary 39mm filter as it has an extra wide flange around the screw thread on one side (the side it screws into the holder), even though it says ‘39mm’ around the edge.
I don’t have any other ‘ordinary’ 39mm filters to try in the holder but one would hope that they would fit. If it was necessary to buy a custom set of filters for this holder then I’ve never ever seen one for sale in several decades of rummaging through second-hand Nikon gear!
I also have a 300/2.8 AI-S which has a slightly different 39mm drop-in filter holder’ labelled C-PL1S. This is the version of the drop-in filter holder which has a little wheel on the top which allows you to rotate the filter while it is inside the lens. This is obviously designed for polarising filters. My C-PL1S has a polarising filter in it which does not seem to be removable. If I want to use the NC or polarising filters with either of these two lenses, I have to swop the entire filter holder.
Based on the above I think the answer is Yes. For lenses of this generation, you can fit any 39mm filter into the standard drop-in filter tray but you cannot rotate it once inside. There is a separate C-PL1S (rotatable) 39mm drop-in filter tray which comes fitted with a (non-removable) poalrising filter.
This seems to also be the case with more modern lenses. My200-400/4 AF-S I lens has a52mm drop-in filter tray which definitely accepts any 52mm screw-in filter. However, it will not rotate the filter and I recall being told that I would need to buy a special filter tray to do this (presumably the modern equivalent of the C-PL1S).
As always, whenever my Nikon knowledge runs out, the people who would definitely know are Grays of Westminster , who are always happy to help via phone or email etc (www.graysofwestminster.co.uk). In addition, if you do need to buy any kind of special filters or attachments for a lens of this age, they are the people most likely to be able to find one for you.
Happy New Year! 😊
@@jklenses8611
Hi,
Thanks so much for your reply, and Happy New Year!
It would appear as though both the 400mm 3.5 and 300mm 2.8 use the same drop-in holder for polarizing filters, C-PL1S. The following page shows Nikon’s different slip-in holders and their compatibility.
www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV_article?articleNo=000005861&lang=en_GB
What I can’t find is the model number of the NC drop-in holder? It is different, but the only information published pertains to the C-PL1S. I emailed Nikon’s technical support but haven’t heard back from them.
Finding a used copy is not easy or cheap. The only C-PL1S drop-in holder I see listed on eBay is more than $200.00.
Thanks again.
@@globalfunseeker6733 I guess the ‘standard’ non-rotating filter holders were never meant to be sold separately as each lens was supplied with one in place, whereas the C-PL1S was always an ‘extra’. My ordinary filter holder just says ‘Nikon Japan’ on it, with no sign of a serial number… ☹
The C-PL1S still seems to be available new at around 350GBP, which puts the 200USD used one in a better light!? 😊
Thank you for the review of this lens. is this lens similar, worst or better than Nikon Telephoto 400mm f/2.8 ED IF AIS? Thank for your time in advance.
I just tested the lens WITHOUT filter- I became stunnig good results!
Presented in 1080 ❤️💕❤️🥰
Yaaay! :-)