Adam Trahan: AF Nikkor 300mm f4 ED

AF Nikkor 300mm f4 ED

s/n 204996

Intended Use: Searching for and photography of petroglyphs and ruins, primarily at distance. Architecture. Landscapes at distance.

I found this lens while looking around Tempe Camera on an end of year overcast and cool day. They have a used lens section and this lens was on the back of the bottom shelf. I asked to take a look at it and saw that it had some smudges on barrel, but the glass was good. It was used but still in nice condition.

The lens that I was really after was the AF 80-200mm f2.8 ED. I am really liking the D series after getting the AF fisheye. The fit and finish is so nice and they are built like a tank. I asked Kathy if I could mount it on a D780 they had in the case. Pointing it in the store at various distances, it seemed to focus well. I thought about purchasing it but was still on the fence. I placed it on the counter and told her, “Thank you.” and left. If I wanted it, I could come back later with my F6 and try it.

On the way home I thought about it (80-200mm) and by the time I got home, I had forgotten about it.

Later that evening researching the 300mm f4, it appeared to be similar to my ED IF 300mm f4.5 AIS which is a MF lens. Ken Rockwell gave it good press so I decided to go back with my F6 and take a look through the 80-200 AND the AF 300.

She smiled at me when I approached the counter, she knew what I was there for.

“You want to take a look?”
We went outside on the second floor patio and I started scanning varying distances. The 80-200 had difficulty with focus. The optics looked great but it just wouldn’t listen to my half press of the shutter releases. It would focus here, but not there, it wasn’t me. The spot metering lighting up but not focusing half the time.

So disappointed…

“I’m sorry, I’m going to pass on this one and I mashed the F-mount button release and half-turned the lens off, handing it to the clerk. She already had the 300mm cued up. Line up the white dots, rotate, lift and eye through spotting the A on Tempe Buttte, focus, move to the building next door, focus, move to the tree tops, focus, over to the Butte again, I could see people hiking on top.

“I’ll take it.”

I could already see myself using it hunting through the lens for petroglyphs in the desert. Hey, I’m already there so I drove over to Tempe Butte and that’s what I did. I drove completely around the Butte stopping here and there. At ASU, just right beside the stadium I snapped a couple of searching shots. This is Portra 160 at 100 so I’ll be interested in the outcome. No rock art from the base so I drove home and started cleaning the lens and researching further about it.

I have Peter Braczko’s book, “The Complete Nikon System” This book is a fantastic resource, please find a copy, there is a link to it in his name, it has helped me tremendously in my research, it describes the lens on page 218.

This autofocus Nikkor has just about everything that's valued in modern photography: precise autofocus control, an almost unsurpassable image quality, very smooth operation in manual use, sufficient speed, an acceptable weight for this focal length, and a good price considering its performance. It features a built-in retractable lens hood, a built-in rotating tripod socket, a filter holder for 39 mm filters, a graduated ring for preselected distances, an easily-gripped mode switch for auto or manual focus, and a wide focusing ring for manual focus.

AF Nikkor 300 mm f/4 IF-ED
Focal length: 300 mm
Angle of view: 8° 10'
Aperture scale: 4 to 32
Closest focus: 8.2 ft. (2.5 m)
Elements/groups: 8/6
Filter thread diameter: Holder for 39 mm filter
Lens hood: Built-in
First production date: 1988
Weight: 2 lb. 15 oz. (1.33 kg)

Nice, I found the drawstring lens cap cover for it on eBay and purchased. I also sourced a protective lens filter on FaceBook Marketplace and went through that hassle chasing it down. A nice Nikon Arcrest 2 82mm. I paid $50 for it in new condition, I think they are North of $150 new. I believe in using a good filter and I’m partial to Nikon.

Anyway, another excellent book I use is B. Moose Paterson’s, “Nikon Lenses” on page 102.

This is a marvelous focal length for photographing big game. It compacts the animal enough to show off its size and strength, but not enough to distort it. It also provides a marvelous working distance with even the largest big game-for both the photographer's and subject's safety.

My subjects won’t chase me down and kill me so no worries there but wow, this lens will hunt. You can see the people at the base of the pyramid below. I was tired, breathing hard and hand holding the lens when I took the shot.

The below images are taken hand held with my D780.