Nikon AF 300mm f4 ED

[yukosteel]

I had Nikon AF 300mm f4 at the time purchased X-E1. It was tough to focus using viewfinder, and almost impossible when using screen handheld. So just sold that glass as well as other Nikon stuff.

 

X-E2 and X-E2s have lower magnification mode in the viewfinder comparing to X-E1, and it makes focusing with all lens noticeably easier for me. I've realized that price went dramatically down for Nikon AF glass, and just purchased AF 300mm again almost two times cheaper then sold it in 2013.

 

Here's one of the result from this lens on X-E2s. I've purchased lens for bird shooting, but didn't catch nice bird yet : )

 

[Aswald]

Nice & sharp.

[milandro]

it is one of the best lenses that nikon ever made. Much more compact that it’s big brother 2.8, was much appreciated by people whom wanted to shoot with a lens lighter (and cheaper) than the that!

 

The IF makes focussing relatively easy because you don’t have to rotate the barrel all that much.

 

Of course this on a aps-c results in an angle even narrower than originally intended.

[Adam Woodhouse]

Sweet!

 

[yukosteel]

One of the benefit of this AF 300mm f4 model - its focus limiter ring. It's designed to set Autofocus limit range, e.g. infinity - 5m.

 

Nikon AF lens often allow focus ring to bypass the infinity (which is required for more effective autofocus).

So when I focus on far objects manually on Fuji X, it takes time to catch the infinity point.

 

The focus limiter allows to limit max focus ring range on exact infinity point. So I don't need to hunt for that anymore and simply rotate focus ring until it stops.

[milandro]

yes, I forgot to talk about the limiter, indeed.

[yukosteel]

That 300mm is already sensitive to atmospheric conditions, very far objects can be noticeably distorted by air mass fluctuations.

 

Mt Rainier, X-E2s + AF Nikkor 300mm f4, distance is approx 90 miles.

[yukosteel]

One more shot right after the storm

 

[milandro]

well, the sensitivity is of any long lens because of, as you also say, of the motion blur and air distortion due to air movement  caused by the air mass moving due to thermic fluctuation in the air between where you are and where the subject far away is.

 

Great picture! I’ve always like this lens which was always considered the poor relation of the 2.8 but which on a mirrorless with EVF ( which acts as an image luminnosity amplifier) has come into its own.

The lack of autofocus though ( even with the focus limiter) makes this lens very difficult to be used on dynamic subjects.

Edited May 5, 2017 by milandro

[yukosteel]

It's challenging to catch fast moving targets, but practicing helps.

 

 

 

 

 

[yukosteel]

Few more shots of static birds

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2017 by yukosteel

[Aswald]

It's challenging to catch fast moving targets, but practicing helps.

 

 

 

Nice capture on the 2nd one.