Lens Review: Nikon 180mm f/2.8 AI-s ED

[El Matadurr]

Tired of your SEL18200's "slow" f/6.3 aperture?

You may want to give this lens a chance: http://matthewdurrphotography.com/2012/06/02/lens-review-nikon-180mm-f2-8-ai-s-ed/

C&C welcome! All the best guys.

 

[vkphoto]

excellent lens and excellent review! thanks for sharing.
vk
--
my blog:
http://vkphotoblog.blogspot.ca/

 

[DezM]

Nice write up. I'd like to keep my lenses in this system, as short as possible. That guy looks like a beast on there.
--
Dez

http://dezsantana.com

 

[El Matadurr]

Glad you liked it.

http://matthewdurrphotography.com/

excellent lens and excellent review! thanks for sharing.
vk

 

[Alupang]

I've always wanted this lens as I believe it's better than the Canon FDn 200/2.8. Love to see a comparison but I think the Nikkor would have the edge with the ED glass.

My big FL gap is between my FDn 100mm F2 and my 300mms. I figure if it's going to be a monster to hold, it may as well be a 300mm. That said, this is the 180mm-200mm to get. For $300-$500 it's worth every penny imo.

 

[pooschey]

I'd like to know where the FDn 200/2.8 stands vs the Nikkor. The Canon goes for a fair bit less than the Nikkor.

Any other 180-200mm worth considering?

I've always wanted this lens as I believe it's better than the Canon FDn 200/2.8. Love to see a comparison but I think the Nikkor would have the edge with the ED glass.

My big FL gap is between my FDn 100mm F2 and my 300mms. I figure if it's going to be a monster to hold, it may as well be a 300mm. That said, this is the 180mm-200mm to get. For $300-$500 it's worth every penny imo.

 

[kev777zero]

with the ED glass I'm pretty sure Nikkor is going to school the FDn in terms of CA control. that being said I think for ~$100USD it's hard to go wrong with the FDn either. here's some examples where you can see massive CA in the OOF areas









unfortunately Nikkor is not a dead mount, which drives up the pricing quite a bit
--
http://kev777zero.artistswanted.org/
http://www.wix.com/drkevinlyu/photography

 

[Sean_Jayhawk]

The Canon FD 200/2.8 is what I use. I agree that CA (purple fringing to be exact) is a problem I encounter. For example, this 100% crop:





But it can grab pretty nice images as well so I am not complaining . . . I just learn to work within the limitations and I am figuring out how to reduce to CA in PP.

This robin was running/rocking in the neighbor's yard:

 

[mgatov]

Very nicely done!

If you ever get out to Mendocino, CA... I'd be happy to let you use my Contax Zeiss 135mm 2.8. They are cheap on eBay and a bit smaller than the Nikkor.

 

[Sean_Jayhawk]

I finally got around to reading your review. Very well done! Thanks for sharing your findings.

 

[Alupang]

with the ED glass I'm pretty sure Nikkor is going to school the FDn in terms of CA control.

Yeah I think you are correct but still, I'd like to see by how much and if the Canon as sharp (or perhaps even sharper who knows). I mean, if it turns out that the Canon is sharper but more CA, I think I'd rather have the Canon. But my guess is the Nikkor beats the Canon for CA and equals it in sharpness.

that being said I think for ~$100USD it's hard to go wrong with the FDn either.

$100 for the new FDn with internal focus? That's a great deal.

unfortunately Nikkor is not a dead mount, which drives up the pricing quite a bit

So much so I decided to put my money into a Canon FDn 300mm f4L. It's very light, easy to handhold and corrected for everything.

 

[nofumble]

I have that lens. Don't have any NEX yet, just contemplating.

I shoot with a Canon 550D. First I used focus-confirm adapter but it is not very accurate. Now I installed Magic Lantern which gives me Focus Peaking and Magic Zoom Window for MF (just as good as the NEX)

Yes, that lens produce very nice portrait picture. But I don't use it much after i bought a Canon 70-200/4L IS.

I got it (before the NEX-5N was born) for just a little less than $300 from eBay.

It may go back to eBay.

 

[El Matadurr]

Nice write up. I'd like to keep my lenses in this system, as short as possible. That guy looks like a beast on there.
--

Oh, it is Dez, though very hand-holdable, I wouldn't want to go any longer or heavier without a mono/tripod nearby.

http://matthewdurrphotography.com

 

[El Matadurr]

I've always wanted this lens as I believe it's better than the Canon FDn 200/2.8. Love to see a comparison but I think the Nikkor would have the edge with the ED glass.

I strongly believe it would too, though that Canon seems to be going for pretty cheap on eBay. I may have to get a cheapo adapter and start testing out Canon lenses if I get enough traffic.

My big FL gap is between my FDn 100mm F2 and my 300mms. I figure if it's going to be a monster to hold, it may as well be a 300mm. That said, this is the 180mm-200mm to get. For $300-$500 it's worth every penny imo.

Bet you're liking that 100mm f/2, good DoF control there with the APS-C sensors. And hey, you know how much I like my 300mm f/2.8 AI-s. Good place to start if you are wanting a "go big-don't go home" 300mm.

http://matthewdurrphotography.com

 

[El Matadurr]

I'd like to know where the FDn 200/2.8 stands vs the Nikkor. The Canon goes for a fair bit less than the Nikkor.

As mentioned above, I may see if I can get a cheap copy.

Any other 180-200mm worth considering?

For a fast 200mm? not really. Unless you consider the 180mm AF an option (not cheap), or maybe the 200mm f/4 micro, which I don't think is cheap either... :/

http://matthewdurrphotography.com

 

[El Matadurr]

with the ED glass I'm pretty sure Nikkor is going to school the FDn in terms of CA control. that being said I think for ~$100USD it's hard to go wrong with the FDn either. here's some examples where you can see massive CA in the OOF areas

Though bokeh fringing is something I struggle to see, I do see in the second purple fringing on the shadow of the mic on her shirt. Ouch.

unfortunately Nikkor is not a dead mount, which drives up the pricing quite a bit

Good for Nikon DSLR users, bad for us Nexonians. That's why if you go Nikon, you gotta buy smart and hunt down the deals.

http://matthewdurrphotography.com

 

[pooschey]

Looking forward to seeing that compare.

Reading through various reviews, it seems like these are the two more affordable options.

With LR4, the CA and fringing on the Canon may be more easily tackled?

I'd like to know where the FDn 200/2.8 stands vs the Nikkor. The Canon goes for a fair bit less than the Nikkor.

As mentioned above, I may see if I can get a cheap copy.

Any other 180-200mm worth considering?

For a fast 200mm? not really. Unless you consider the 180mm AF an option (not cheap), or maybe the 200mm f/4 micro, which I don't think is cheap either... :/

http://matthewdurrphotography.com

 

[Alupang]

Bet you're liking that 100mm f/2,

Yes very much--the FDn 100mm F2 is awesome and is considered to be the sleeper gem in the FDn non-L line. Here is an OOC jpeg shot wide open or darn near it with no PP other than resizing plus normal sharpen with Irfanview. I don't see CA issues with this lens.

 

[kev777zero]

I think CA becomes more of an issue with longer FLs. the photos taken with nFD 100mm F2 seem good. I also own the nFD 85mm F1.8 and they seem pretty similar in terms of specs (similar DOF)
--
http://kev777zero.artistswanted.org/
http://www.wix.com/drkevinlyu/photography

 

[eths]

It works surprisingly well with Nex-7 - hand held too.