Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED

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xMachiavelli

Senior Member
Greetings,

I have searched for a thread with discussions/images from the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED but have not found any. I would like to create this thread so we can talk about this Prime offering and share some images that the lens has created.

I am really enjoying this lens for pet photography and birding.

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pforsell

Senior Member
Your lens is a gem, don't ever let go of it. Some reviewers find it sharper than the new 300PF. I used to own the predecessor to your lens, the AF 300/4 and I regret selling it as it also was very sharp and compact lens.

I've been trying to find the much older AI 300/4.5 ED (non-IF) which is an excellent small tele and a well kept secret, but those are regrettably rare as hen's teeth.

Nice images, keep shooting and posting them.
 
X

xMachiavelli

Senior Member
pforsell said:
Your lens is a gem, don't ever let go of it. Some reviewers find it sharper than the new 300PF. I used to own the predecessor to your lens, the AF 300/4 and I regret selling it as it also was very sharp and compact lens.

I've been trying to find the much older AI 300/4.5 ED (non-IF) which is an excellent small tele and a well kept secret, but those are regrettably rare as hen's teeth.

Nice images, keep shooting and posting them.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for responding!

I must admit the PF would be nice for the size difference, but I am incredibly pleased with the AF-S. I saw a nice copy of the AF variant recently... I'll have to remember where I saw it.

The AF-S lens has quickly become locked to my D500, I particularly enjoy tight headshots of my woofers and birds. I'll post a few examples from yesterday's shoot with some backyard birds.

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moinaldeen

Senior Member
Indeed it's a gem. I coupled it with TC 14eii and got these, ...........I'm quite happy with this combo._DSC1792.jpegWOW_6.jpegJM_110.jpegJM_111.jpegJM_108.jpegJM_101_1.jpeg

Sent from my HTC One_M8 Eye using Tapatalk
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I loved the results from this lens but found it too heavy since I'm dealing with trigger finger and trigger thumb. Here are a few photos taken last summer with it. These were from one of the first outings I had with this lens. When the lens is coupled with a Nikon 1.4 teleconverter, the results were amazing. I was very hesitant to upgrade to the PF version because of the sharpness from this lens.

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Woodyg3

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
I use the 300 AF-S with a 1.4x telecoverter for the bulk of my wildlife shooting. If it had VR I would probably never take it off of my D500.
 
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captain birdseye

Senior Member
I used the 300f4 af-s version permanently attached to a tc14eii converter for a few years and found it to be an excellent close quarter birding lens with the addition of it also being a great lens for butterflies and dragonflies with its decent minimum distance focussing of about three and a half feet which gave a good sized image of the average british butterfly or dragonfly with superb sharpness.
I decided to offload mine as I moved on to a longer focal length for birding and, as there can be a problem with the 300f4 when, if sitting unused for a long time it can develop a squealing noise from its focus motor decided not to risk this happening.
It really is a great lens but care must be taken when buying used due to the motor squeal if you are unlucky.
Also, this lens has no rear element so it is advised to check for dust inside the rear of the lens.
 
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Woodyg3

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
captain birdseye said:
I used the 300f4 af-s version permanently attached to a tc14eii converter for a few years and found it to be an excellent close quarter birding lens with the addition of it also being a great lens for butterflies and dragonflies with its decent minimum distance focussing of about three and a half feet which gave a good sized image of the average british butterfly or dragonfly with superb sharpness.
I decided to offload mine as I moved on to a longer focal length for birding and, as there can be a problem with the 300f4 when, if sitting unused for a long time it can develop a squealing noise from its focus motor decided not to risk this happening.
It really is a great lens but care must be taken when buying used due to the motor squeal if you are unlucky.
Also, this lens has no rear element so it is advised to check for dust inside the rear of the lens.
Click to expand...

Huh. I've never heard of the motor squeal issue. Mine has not had that problem. Good to know it is an issue when looking used.
 
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captain birdseye

Senior Member
Woodyg3 said:
Huh. I've never heard of the motor squeal issue. Mine has not had that problem. Good to know it is an issue when looking used.
Click to expand...

Yes it is a known issue as some of these lenses are over 10 years old.
Apparently, when the problem starts the squeal will stop after a small amount of use of the lens but, over time it can get worse.
It is said to happen when some of the contacts on the motor corrode slightly after the lens has been laying idle for a long time.
It is a great performing lens though.
 
X

xMachiavelli

Senior Member
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Three separate images. Sorry for the spam of images, but I couldn't decide if I preferred the bird's owner to be in the photo or not. Very patriotic for Memorial Day.
 
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