Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 AIS

Does anybody have experience with this lens? How would you rate it? (I
am talking about the ED version and have a D200).

Thanks

On Oct 9, 9:53 am, acl wrote:
Does anybody have experience with this lens? How would you rate it? (I
am talking about the ED version and have a D200).

Thanks

No direct experience, but a lens that is on my list. Has the reputation
for being sharp. I have had no problem focusing 2.8 telephotos with my
D200. I shoot mostly macro so good focus is essential. One of the
classic Nikon lenses.

Tom

"acl" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have experience with this lens? How would you rate it? (I am
talking about the ED version and have a D200).

Thanks
All versions of this lens are extremely good. I own the second version of
the AF model (which has an improved manual focus ring).
I have used this lens with my F3s, my N8008, my N90s, and my D70. It works
quite well with all of them.
Jim

"Jim" wrote in
news

"acl" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have experience with this lens? How would you rate
it? (I am talking about the ED version and have a D200).

Thanks
All versions of this lens are extremely good. I own the second
version of the AF model (which has an improved manual focus ring).
I have used this lens with my F3s, my N8008, my N90s, and my D70.
It works quite well with all of them.
Jim




Do you use this for sports shots? I've been asking about lenses for
indoor, low-light sports photography (specifically, indoor volleyball in
poorly lit gymnasiums). This sounds like a good lens for such a task.
I'm a little concerned about the f2.8 (might rather want an f1.8), but I
wonder if I can get away with it - and the 180mm would be better than
the 85mm f1.8 that I was thinking about getting. Considering I take my
pics from the stands, I could use the additional power.

Sorry, acl, for interrupting your thread. But, maybe Jim's response
would be helpful to you and others as well.

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

"Eric Babula" wrote in message
1...
"Jim" wrote in
news

"acl" wrote in message
...
Does anybody have experience with this lens? How would you rate
it? (I am talking about the ED version and have a D200).

Thanks
All versions of this lens are extremely good. I own the second
version of the AF model (which has an improved manual focus ring).
I have used this lens with my F3s, my N8008, my N90s, and my D70.
It works quite well with all of them.
Jim




Do you use this for sports shots? I've been asking about lenses for
indoor, low-light sports photography (specifically, indoor volleyball in
poorly lit gymnasiums). This sounds like a good lens for such a task.
I'm a little concerned about the f2.8 (might rather want an f1.8), but I
wonder if I can get away with it - and the 180mm would be better than
the 85mm f1.8 that I was thinking about getting. Considering I take my
pics from the stands, I could use the additional power.

Sorry, acl, for interrupting your thread. But, maybe Jim's response
would be helpful to you and others as well.

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA



Sorry, no I don't do much sports photography. Unless, of course, you
consider elk or buffalo as sports target. For them, the lens is a little
short.
Jim

Eric Babula wrote:


Do you use this for sports shots? I've been asking about lenses for
indoor, low-light sports photography (specifically, indoor volleyball in
poorly lit gymnasiums). This sounds like a good lens for such a task.
I'm a little concerned about the f2.8 (might rather want an f1.8), but I
wonder if I can get away with it - and the 180mm would be better than
the 85mm f1.8 that I was thinking about getting. Considering I take my
pics from the stands, I could use the additional power.

Sorry, acl, for interrupting your thread. But, maybe Jim's response
would be helpful to you and others as well.


No problem! If you do it from the stands it should be ok (it's manual
focus). If you're close to the players and need focus tracking, it will
not be so easy. I've never tried though. Keep in mind that to have
exposure metering with these lenses you'll need a D200 or one of the D2
cameras (or one of the older D1 cameras). If I was in your position, and
did not wish to spend the money for one of the current cameras that can
use these lenses, I'd get a used D1h or D1x.

As for a f/1.8 lens, I doubt you'll find anything remotely affordable
above 85mm. There is eg a nikon 200mm f/2 VR; check the price and you'll
see what I mean.

THO wrote:
Posts on usenet and the various Nikon books that rate lenses seem to
always rate the lens as very sharp and it is considered one of the best
Nikon lenses.

Thanks to everybody for the replies.

acl writes:
As for a f/1.8 lens, I doubt you'll find anything remotely affordable
above 85mm. There is eg a nikon 200mm f/2 VR; check the price and
you'll see what I mean.

There's a 135/2 Nikkor which is not that enormous a price leap over
the 180/2.8 and which is supposedly a decent lens.

I have a 135/1.8 Spiratone that I paid $60 for (plus another $50 or so
to get it AI converted); however, it is pretty soft wide open.

"Paul Rubin" wrote in message ...
acl writes:
As for a f/1.8 lens, I doubt you'll find anything remotely affordable
above 85mm. There is eg a nikon 200mm f/2 VR; check the price and
you'll see what I mean.

There's a 135/2 Nikkor which is not that enormous a price leap over
the 180/2.8 and which is supposedly a decent lens.

I have a 135/1.8 Spiratone that I paid $60 for (plus another $50 or so
to get it AI converted); however, it is pretty soft wide open.

The 135mm f2 AIS Nikkor is FAR better than "decent" - it is very sharp
to the corners wide open (at focus distances beyond 10' or so - see my:
www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html) - and it just happens that I have
one for sale (see: www.ferrario.com/ruether/fs-short-teles.htm).

--David Ruether
, (I'm in the midst of
email address change...)

acl wrote in
:

Eric Babula wrote:


Do you use this for sports shots? I've been asking about lenses for
indoor, low-light sports photography (specifically, indoor volleyball
in poorly lit gymnasiums). This sounds like a good lens for such a
task. I'm a little concerned about the f2.8 (might rather want an
f1.8), but I wonder if I can get away with it - and the 180mm would
be better than the 85mm f1.8 that I was thinking about getting.
Considering I take my pics from the stands, I could use the
additional power.

Sorry, acl, for interrupting your thread. But, maybe Jim's response
would be helpful to you and others as well.


No problem! If you do it from the stands it should be ok (it's manual
focus). If you're close to the players and need focus tracking, it
will not be so easy. I've never tried though. Keep in mind that to
have exposure metering with these lenses you'll need a D200 or one of
the D2 cameras (or one of the older D1 cameras). If I was in your
position, and did not wish to spend the money for one of the current
cameras that can use these lenses, I'd get a used D1h or D1x.

As for a f/1.8 lens, I doubt you'll find anything remotely affordable
above 85mm. There is eg a nikon 200mm f/2 VR; check the price and
you'll see what I mean.


Hmmm, well, I was thinking of getting the Nikon D50 - more in my price
range.

Is there anything like a 2x magnifyer or something, to add to the 85mm? I
have no idea about things like this. Or, is that something only for
digicams?

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA