Old Nikkor 180mm ED f/2.8 Ai-s

[Verbruci]

Hello everyone!

I recently bought a 33 year old Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai and it is a stunning performer on my D800. As a follow up I have the possibilty to buy the classic Nikkor 180mm ED f/2.8 Ai-s. Since I don't mind the manual focus, there is only one question that comes to my mind. How does it perform on modern day camera's? Does anyone has any experience regarding this lens?

Thanks!

 

[Cerumen]

D700 user: I've had the Ai-S version of this lens, and when I could focus accurately, the results were excellent. Image quality improves nicely a stop down, but great for portraits even wide-open. Eventually I sold the lens and got the AF version (version 2 of AF, with the better build/crinkle finish). For me, the AF makes all the difference in the world for keeper rate.

For your 55 f1.2, there is no practical AF alternative. For the 180, there is, so that would be my recommendation.

Here in the States, AF 180s run around $400, and they're a tremendous value at that.

 

[chromophore]

Hello everyone!

I recently bought a 33 year old Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai and it is a stunning performer on my D800. As a follow up I have the possibilty to buy the classic Nikkor 180mm ED f/2.8 Ai-s. Since I don't mind the manual focus, there is only one question that comes to my mind. How does it perform on modern day camera's? Does anyone has any experience regarding this lens?

Thanks!

--
www.verbruci.nl

--
____________________
www.flickr.com/lhotelin

 

[Stacey_K]

Hello everyone!

I recently bought a 33 year old Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai and it is a stunning performer on my D800. As a follow up I have the possibilty to buy the classic Nikkor 180mm ED f/2.8 Ai-s. Since I don't mind the manual focus, there is only one question that comes to my mind.

Two things: on a modern dSLR, manually focusing a 50mm and a 180mm aren't even close to the same.

Also the AF version is different optically and the reports I have seen, the performance was improved. I have the AFD version and it's a stunning performer.

 

[Verbruci]

Thanks for the replies so far! I decided to save up for the newer AF-D version. I will buy the Ai-s version someday, but for recreational shooting only.

 

[Dodi73]

I found a mint copy of it today and got immediately given the reasonable price.

SOOC, near mfd

--
All the best from northern Italy, Dino.
I'm on the NIK side of photography.

 

[Dodi73]

A little follow-up.

Despite there's not much to show (daily shots) I'm more and more persuaded that the copy I got is insanely good both in terms of sharpness and overall iq. The image degradation, if any, is negligible and despite it's a "sonnar" design, it looks as crisp as my much younger 50 MP, already wide open. I've been definitely lucky with this copy ! I can't wait for having some good weather outside in the weekend and test it properly.

I wouldn't have ever believed possible on the D600 such a stellar performance when also much younger lenses strive to match the capabilities offered by the 24 MP sensor.

If it happens to you to find a good copy, give it a run.

 

[CFynn]

The 180mm f/2.8 Ai-s is excellent - so is the current 180mm f/2.8 AF-D

Depends whether you want auto-focus or not.

 

[KenHill]

Hello everyone!

I recently bought a 33 year old Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai and it is a stunning performer on my D800. As a follow up I have the possibilty to buy the classic Nikkor 180mm ED f/2.8 Ai-s. Since I don't mind the manual focus, there is only one question that comes to my mind. How does it perform on modern day camera's? Does anyone has any experience regarding this lens?

Thanks!

--
www.verbruci.nl

Yes and you will not be disappointed!

 

[JayDreamer]

Really need help and advice on this:

If I need a lens in 180-200mm range with 2.8, purely for portraits / people / stobist style, does the 180 2.8 AFD can do as good as 70-200 2.8 vr II in terms of pure IQ (only rendering, sharpness, contrast, color, bokeh etc leaving the focus speed, vr or zoom capabilities) or 70-200 2.8 vr ii is still superior?

 

[Cerumen]

Really need help and advice on this:

If I need a lens in 180-200mm range with 2.8, purely for portraits / people / stobist style, does the 180 2.8 AFD can do as good as 70-200 2.8 vr II in terms of pure IQ (only rendering, sharpness, contrast, color, bokeh etc leaving the focus speed, vr or zoom capabilities) or 70-200 2.8 vr ii is still superior?

Jay, that's a pretty complex question, grading two lenses on rendering, sharpness, contrast, color and bokeh. The latest 70-200 is almost certainly sharper, and with better contrast. Bokeh is somewhat subjective, but both lenses here are very good.

When shooting people, I use the 180 AF a lot (not a "D," but there's no optical difference), leaving my 70-200 home, since the 180 is so compact and less intimidating. For portraits, I don't need clinical sharpness and find the 180 perfectly suited.

 

[JayDreamer]

Thanks Eric. Really appreciate the comment from someone using both. Though almost everyone agrees the 70-200 f2.8 vr ii is equally or better sharper than the 180, the main argument favoring 180 is that it has a special touch (I hope you know what I mean) in its rendering. Is it true? Is it good at wide open or stopped down only? Since my main use would be for portraits I will be using it wide open almost all the time. Wanna pull the trigger on either one as I need a long portrait lens in the 200 mm fast range.

 

[Cerumen]

Jay, I'll post a few 180 portraits late tonight when I get home. I generally shoot at f3.2, mostly to give me a tiny margin on AF. the lens does well wide-open, but even a little stopping down will improve fine detail, such as eyelashes.

 

[JayDreamer]

Oh that would be nice, thanks in advance.

 

[joneil]

I love my 180mm ED on my D800. See a shot below I recently took. Also, this lens is still considered one of the finest astro-photography lenses out there even today. Google it you will see for yourself.

plain old jpg, no cropping, editing, nada. as is, right from the SD card. enjoy

 

[Cerumen]

Hi Jay,

These were all shot at between 2.8 and 3.5 on a D700 with the 180mm AF. EXIF should be intact.






















Put this one in to see the transition from the focus plane, fore and aft.









--
Eric

Galleries by Eric Delmar

www.pbase.com

 

[JayDreamer]

Thanks joneil, I read it is one of the best for astrophotography.

Thanks Eric for posting these wonderful pictures. My favorite is the first one, a beautiful pet you have. I am convinced and it is a strong contender in my wish list.

 

[CFynn]

Really need help and advice on this:

If I need a lens in 180-200mm range with 2.8, purely for portraits / people / stobist style, does the 180 2.8 AFD can do as good as 70-200 2.8 vr II in terms of pure IQ (only rendering, sharpness, contrast, color, bokeh etc leaving the focus speed, vr or zoom capabilities) or 70-200 2.8 vr ii is still superior?

If you want a long portrait lens - the 180 is a classic for the job.