Tai Shimizu

iOS & Mac Developer

Creator of the iOS photography apps Gridditor & Filterstorm, the Mac drawing app Inkist, the Mac HDR app Light Compressor, and the experimental web browser Torii.

Follow on Twitter

Follow on ADN

Subscribe via RSS

Contact via email

Nikon 300mm f/4.5 ED-IF AIS Review

Overall: 4 out of 5

Optics: 4.5

Price on Used Market: ~$300–400 USD

Value at $300 USD: 4

Accessories: Great with PN-11 Extension Tube, usable with TC-200/201, TC-300/301 Teleconverter

Nikon users are blessed with a history of good 300mm lenses, perhaps none so physically attractive as the solid metal construction and silky smooth focusing of Nikon’s smallest, the 300mm f/4.5 AIS ED-IF .

Nikon 300mm f/4.5 ED-IF AIS

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS EDIF with cap thumb.jpg

Taken with Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 AIS

Assorted Information

Max Aperture f/4.5
Min Aperture f/32
Aperture Blades 9
Close Focus 2.45m/8ft
Filter Thread 72mm
Hard Infinity Stop? No
Built in Hood? Yes

Image Quality

My sample is sharp from f/4.5, probably best at f/8, and contrasty. Despite the ED glass, there is still some amount of chromatic aberration especially in the area directly behind focus, though it’s generally not a big problem. The fringing in this photo of a turtle a particularly bad example of this.

Turtle @f/4.5 1/250sec. ISO100 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review turtle thumb.jpg

Operation

Nikon’s smallest and lightest 300mm lens, it’s good to handhold. The focusing ring responds perfectly to the touch, travelling a bit over 3/4 of the way around the barrel from a close focus of 8 feet to infinity (and beyond, as it has no hard infinity stop).

The tripod collar is sturdy, rotating and being removed by loosening a screw. It gets a bit in the way when I handhold it, though, so I like to keep it off when I know I won’t be using it on a monopod or tripod. Attaching and removing the collar as much as I do is a bit annoying, but it’s still much better than the one you see on the modern 300mm f/4 AF-S

Zebra @f/4.5 1/250sec. ISO100 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review zebra thumb.jpg

With PN-11 Extension Tube

This is a great combination for getting close-ups of animals that are easily scared. Focus is from approximately 1.2–2.4m/4–8ft

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review pn 11 moth thumb.jpg

With Teleconverter

I use this sometimes with a TC-200 2X teleconverter resulting in 600mm f/9. This lens is compatible with both the TC-200/201 and the TC-300/301 which I don’t own. I get acceptable, not spectacular, results with this combination. Next to buying a reflex (mirror/catadioptric) lens, this is one of the cheapest ways of getting out to that focal length. Here’s a recent example, I’ll have to look to find a better one.

w/TC-200 @f/8 1/100sec. ISO140 on Monopod

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review tc 200 example thumb.jpg

Final Word

Focusing can be difficult for many at this focal length, and if you’re photographing subject matter such as birds which can demand fast and accurate focus, AF is basically a must.

If you can deal without AF, this is an excellent choice. The size and weight are a real plus, and the IQ is certainly there. My only real complaint is the chromatic aberration which prevented a 5 on the Image Quality rating.

More Photos with This Lens

Hillary Clinton @f/4.5 1/80sec. ISO800 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review hillary clinton thumb.jpg

http:  taishimizu.com pictures yankees toronto game Nikon D200 300mm f45 EDIF matsui home run 1 thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review sparrow thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review snowboard thumb.jpg

Crane @f/4.5 1/90sec. ISO100 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review crane thumb.jpg

Nancy Pelosi @f/4.5 1/100sec. ISO800 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review nancy pelosi thumb.jpg

w/PN-11 1/750sec. ISO200 on monopod

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review pn 11 bee thumb.jpg

w/PN-11 1/320sec. ISO140 handheld

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review pn 11 bumble bee thumb.jpg

w/PN-11 1/500sec. ISO140 on Monopod

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review pn 11 wasp thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review red flower thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review robin thumb.jpg

Nikon FE & Velvia 50, scanned on Plustek 7500i

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review velvia 50 birds thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review snow leopard thumb.jpg

More Photos of This Lens

Nikon 300mm f/4.5 ED-IF AIS

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS EDIF mount thumb.jpg

http:  www.taishimizu.com pictures Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS ED IF Review Nikon 300mm f4 5 AIS EDIF on D200 thumb.jpg

Posted by tai on 2009-06-30 19:18:50. Comments (8) | Tiny link

Previous Entry: 300mm Preparations

Next Entry: Firefox 3.5

Comments

300mm ED IF f/4.5 AIS Nikkor Lens

Great review..This presentation pushed me to purchase this outstanding lens

Posted by Steve Williams (anon) on 2010-04-06 02:10:46.

Thanks!

It’s light (for a 300mm) and sharp. As long as you’re okay with using a manual focus lens with no chip, it’s a great option.

Posted by tai on 2010-04-06 07:39:22.

Bargain

Thanks for the review. It helped me decide to take the plunge and buy mine, instead of spending four times as much on the F4 AFS.

I’m really impressed with it so far. The build quality is outstanding and it’s as sharp as can be all the way from 4.5 to f32.

A real bargain.

Posted by Matt (anon) on 2011-09-20 17:22:49.

300mm f4.5 AIS vs 70-200 f2.8 VR2

Well, they are like 12 times different in price.

I like the 300mm for shots requiring a hard focus stop at infinity.

the 70-200 is much sharper.

For image samples see: http://glamourphotography.co/?p=5061

PS, current pricing for the 300mm AIs is often in the lower $200’s.

Posted by Yucel (anon) on 2011-12-08 18:29:19.

@Yucel

I don’t doubt the current 70–200 is sharper, though I will note the lens you’re testing with isn’t the one I reviewed here. Mine is the ED version, which costs more and should have better optics.

Posted by tai on 2011-12-08 18:44:12.

great for videographers

Recently I’ve needed to move to DSLRs to shoot HD, as a lontime client that supplied extraordinary HD video gear for me to shoot nature/wildlife with has run out of funding. Thus I’ve had to figure out how to get great HD video for bargain prices.

I now shoot with the amazing (for video, at least) Panasonic GH2. One of it’s greatest assets is mirrorless design, allowing almost any lens ever made to be easily and affordably adapted to it. This lovely manual lens does a great job, as videographers focus manually...making newer Canon lenses less desirable than Nikons, due to the absence of a physical aperture ring on the lens barrel (another task handled manually by a videographer).

Also, on micro 4/3 cameras, this 300mm is “essentially” a 600mm lens, as there is a smaller sensor giving a 2x enlargement vs the 1x-sized image from a full-frame sensor camera. Hope I said that in an accurate and understandable way!

Posted by earthwhile (anon) on 2013-01-05 04:51:00.

300mm

Great review and pictures.I have the same lens since 1986 and this work perfectly.Much better than a zoom.

Posted by Francesco (anon) on 2013-04-28 13:20:51.

Nikkor AI-s 300 f4.5 ED IS Manual focus lens.

I purchased this fine lens about 4 years ago for use with my D200 and now my D700. Anyone who appreciates excellent mechanical construction, fine optics, smooth focusing, good image quality and light weight should try to acquire one. When I do not wish to carry my new Nikon AF-s 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 ED VR 11 lens I use this handheld and with a Kenko X1.4,

and if necessary a TC301 range extender on a tripod.. It’s keeper.

Posted by Michael Deeley (anon) on 2013-11-01 22:26:00.
All content © Tai Shimizu unless otherwise indicated.