Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5 :: The reason why NASA uses Nikon products.
Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5 :: Compared to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM.
Description & Specifications
| Manufactured: | 1978—1981 |
|---|---|
| Camera Mount: | Ai |
| Elements / Groups: | 7 / 6 |
| Diaphragm Type: | automatic / manual |
| Angle of View: | 8°10′ |
| Minimum Aperture: | f/22 |
| Minimum Focus: | 2.5 metres |
| Filter Size: | ø 72 mm (screw) |
| Length: | 200 mm |
| Largest Diameter: | 80 mm |
| Weight: | ≈ 990 grams |
| Product Number: | — |
| Serial Number Range: | 200001—208080 |
| My Serial Number(s): | — |
Review
On paper the Nikon NIKKOR * ED 300mm 1:4.5 is a pretty standard 300mm tele-photo lens, with the maximum aperture of f/4·5 not even warranting it a second look. But under-estimating this little guy is a serious mistake! Pure nitroglycerine.
The construction is very solid - mostly metal, with some rubber on the focus ring. In fact, the only plastic I could see was the rear lens cap. Come to think of it, the lens looks and feels like my Mag-Lite and is probably just as tough.
The built-in hood is nice and provides adequate shading, but with the FoVCF cameras of today a bigger hood can be used - and we all know that in South African conditions bigger hoods are better.
Focussing is very easy, with the throw a good 280°. The distances are also nicely spaced, with 2·5—10 metres taking up most of throw. This, however, makes me think that the lens is designed mostly for sub-fifteen metre work, as the throw from 15—30—∞ is less than that of 2·5—3 metres. And, as befits a professional-grade lens from Nikon, it can focus a considerable distance beyond infinity.
This lens is also of the internal focussing variety, which means that it does not change size. The front element also does not rotate.
The diaphragm has seven leaves and the aperture is set on full-stops, apart from the first half-stop. This gives a standard and very sufficient: 4·5—5·6—8—11—16—22. Do you really need those half-stops other lenses offer? (See next paragraph for the answer.)
Depth of field is the standard for a 300mm, but the background blur - or bokeh - is exceptionally super-smooth. Unfortunately some of this is lost in close photography, as this has such little DoF at f/4·5 that - excluding flat objects - some parts of the subject invariably also gets blurred. But above 5 metres f/4·5 can be considered the default aperture for almost anything. After all, this is a 300mm tele-photo lens and should be used to bring the distant near. This is the perfect lens for candid portraits.
Distortion? Chromatic aberrations? None. But then that’s what the ED lens element (and the gold ring) is for. OK, if you really try, you can make this lens show a teensy-weensy bit of CA and other of those shameful things. If you are the type of person who likes to do that to nice lenses, then you’ll probably also complain about this lens not being able to make coffee.
Colour rendition, contrast and relatives are on par with my Canon L-glass and Takumar primes. In short, excellent. I saw no need to fiddle with the RAW images, beyond my standard settings.
I am not a Nikonian, but according to those in the know, this is the non-AF 300mm NIKKOR lens to get, have and use. Based on my (limited) use of it on the Canon EOS 30D, I can assuredly say that it is absolutely true. This is a bog-standard, very compact lens with stellar performance that should be on all MF shooters’ wishlist, preferably near the top.
Recommended: Yes
(Many thanks to Danie Marais for lending me his copy (S/N: 203718) for more than a week, so that I could write this review. Unfortunately this lens is not “weather-sealed” and all the drool has most probably ruined it.)
Sample Photographs
Watch the birdie!
This is an excellent lens, and that’s straight from the horse’s mouth.
Reds and Greens.
Feline predator on the prowl.
Aloes.
The “Pipe-O-Shame”.
More Aloes.
References
- http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html
- http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/specs.html
- http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/300EDIF.htm
- http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/late70nikkor/telephoto/300mmf45ed.htm
- http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/telephotos/300mmf45.htm