Nikon New AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR

RohanWick

Hi Mike
Appreciate if you can review how 300 PF fare in BIF shooting in your review.

Msmoto

Nice to see positive threads.... and, this lens looks good even if one has coverage on both sides....

mikealruskov

Hi Mike
Appreciate if you can review how 300 PF fare in BIF shooting in your review.

I will be sure to include this in the video/write-up!

I've found that focusing from extremely close to near-infinity can cause some hesitation, but that's a worst case. I had no trouble keeping AF spot on when shooting Indy Cars and Formula 1 cars at a race track last weekend. It's extremely accurate, great VR too. Most of these shots were taken with the 300 PF: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/sets/72157654472701402

One_Oh_Four

Hi Mike, I'm very curious how the 300PF compares to the 80-400 AF-S VR II. I'm in doubt if I will replace the 80-400 with an 300PF + TC-1.4. I would primarily use it for aircraft photography, BTW.

Cheers,
Erik.

RohanWick

Hi Mike
Those Formula 1 shots were absolutely marvelous. I have used this lens successfully with TC 1.4 for BIF, macro etc. So far happy with results.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90889469@N05/

Vipmediastar_JZ

NIce car and animal photos.

Photobug

Second what Vipmediastar_JZ said. Very very nice.

mikealruskov

Hi Mike, I'm very curious how the 300PF compares to the 80-400 AF-S VR II

Unfortunately I have not used the 80-400 VR II, but from a couple other sports shooters I have heard the AF performance of the 300 PF is a little slower, but image quality is considerably better. Amazing resolving power even at f/4. I'm really keen to buy a 1.4x or 1.7x teleconverter when I upgrade to FX soon.

Thanks to everyone else for the comments about the photos! I'm really enjoying my time with this lens, I would imagine this is a far better lens on an FX camera compared to my D7000.

Photobug

Hi Mike, I'm very curious how the 300PF compares to the 80-400 AF-S VR II

Thanks to everyone else for the comments about the photos! I'm really enjoying my time with this lens, I would imagine this is a far better lens on an FX camera compared to my D7000.

Really, why do you think it's far better on a FX DSLR compared to a D7000?

mikealruskov

Really, why do you think it's far better on a FX DSLR compared to a D7000?

Shallower DOF, better AF performance (D7000 has the old 39 point system).

Photobug

Good points but it depends upon what your shooting if you need more or less DOF. Often for macro work I like the D7100 better than the D750 because of the DOF.

I agree with you on the AF performance between the D7000 and a FX DSLR. In my opinion, the AF performance of the D7100/D7200 with 51 point system is pretty good and comparable in bright and cloudy light to a FX system. In low light, the D750 beats my D7100 in AF speed. It's really noticeable. My reference is not with the 300mm lens but with the lens listed below in my signature box.

spraynpray

Good points but it depends upon what your shooting if you need more or less DOF. Often for macro work I like the D7100 better than the D750 because of the DOF.

I agree with you on the AF performance between the D7000 and a FX DSLR. In my opinion, the AF performance of the D7100/D7200 with 51 point system is pretty good and comparable in bright and cloudy light to a FX system. In low light, the D750 beats my D7100 in AF speed. It's really noticeable. My reference is not with the 300mm lens but with the lens listed below in my signature box.

Hah! Glad you made the point about macro. Last time I made that point about DX being king for macro somebody posted that the DOF is smaller on DX than FX!!!! At that point I gave up. Some FX users will always try tofind a way to say FX is best even when it just isn't true.

manhattanboy

Unfortunately I have not used the 80-400 VR II, but from a couple other sports shooters I have heard the AF performance of the 300 PF is a little slower, but image quality is considerably better. Amazing resolving power even at f/4.

Saddened to hear that the 80-400 AFS is worse...was thinking about getting that lens to compliment this one. AF speed is good on the 300PF with the limiter enabled. Still think the images are slightly softer than the old 300f4, but it is probably because I shoot with VR on all the time on the new one versus without (obviously) on the old one. Has anyone shot with a polarizer into strong light on this lens? Curious if that helped at all.

Photobug

Before buying lens and DSLR's I have a checklist of reviews to check before making decisions. Since Popular Photography has not yet done a review of the new Nikon 300mm F4 PF E VR I sent the editor an email last week. Here is her unedited reply to my message....Thought you all would be interested in her reply:

"Unfortunately, the mount for our optical bench doesn't handle aperture the same way that the lens does. Nikon is working on getting us a new mount so we can do a full lab test of this lens, complete with SQF chart, but it could take a while. (Alas, the days of our just running to our neighborhood machine shop and getting some guy to do it for us for $50 are long past.)

I hope to get this fascinating lens tested soon!

Yours,
Miriam

Miriam Leuchter
Editor-in-Chief
Popular Photography and American Photo
===================================================
That explains why no report has been published.
FYI, I gave up waiting and ordered mine a few weeks ago...now if they would ever get those boats unloaded on the west coast perhaps the big dealers (Adorama & B&H) would get some inventory to satisfy their preorders.

Vipmediastar_JZ

@Photobug Can you elaborate or anybody else on this lens testing rig?

btw once I get my order from January Ill let you know and you can get an idea how far along the wait list you are

Photobug

@Photobug Can you elaborate or anybody else on this lens testing rig?

btw once I get my order from January Ill let you know and you can get an idea how far along the wait list you are

Oh you didn't make my day. Order placed in January and you still don't have it. The local dealer told me December...ouch.

Rereading her email, my hunch is that their lens mount used for testing does not accommodate the electronic aperture that is in the new lens. I believe the issue is that they cannot control the aperture.

Vipmediastar_JZ

I hear you. I want to go shoot some BIF and wildlife sooner than later. I do have the nifty 150-600 tamron which I may order instead but I was hoping for a light load. I don't want to cancel the order just yet though.

Vipmediastar_JZ

@Photobug Order shipped today. This weekend it will be tested thouroughly. Time to clean the memory cards and charge the batteries.

Photobug

@Vipmediastar - fantastic. That is excellent news and we all are looking forward to seeing your images here and in PAD. Please give us your first & second opinions too. Congratulations!

Vipmediastar_JZ

First impression:
What everybody knows, it is light.

I took it out for some BIF (seagulls) it will take getting some used to vs zooming and framing the 70-200mm. That is user error on that part.

When I started to get the hang of it I was getting decent photos. Sometimes I wished I had the reach of 300mm+ but the weight and beign sturdy is important for a tele for me.

I tried the VR and I didn't reallize that it was activitating or maybe I was in the zone to notice it. So I will follow up on that later.

After my wife and kid did the walk around the park it was time to take photos of my daughter and this involved me sprinting away and having my daughter run towards me and I thats how I photographed her. Overall the focus was fast and the photos looked great. The focus here was better vs focusing on the BIF (user error, need more practice)

Second day with it I teamed up with a local photographer that we became friends sharing knowledge on portrait work and he is a canon user btw. Anyway we went to the dunes and I was his assistant for a magazine fashion shoot. He allowed me to photograph for 15 mins which was enough to get several keepers but I can't share those until I get the green light. The moral of the story is that we had to climb a sand dune with almost a 90 degree inclination with lights, stands, camera gear. I just took the d810 with grip 300mmf4e and sigma 50mm 1.4 art. The weight of this bag was not bad at all but beign at my 3rd climb I gave some kids with candy to help us carry the equipment. So for weight wise this was great vs the 70-200 2.8 that I did not take. The rest of the gear stayed in our cars.

I shot the models under a tree with the 300mm with the branches and leaves maybe 2ft away and the Bokeh is pretty decent. I still would prefer the 70-200 for this work in tight spaces as If I had backed up I would be over the hill and tumbling down if I wasn't paying attention but I managed and I'm satisfied with it.

I did notice the phresnel in one the of bokeh highlights. Give me a few more days to test it out to give more feedback and share photos. I did noticed that some photos were blurry but I did not pay attention if I had the vr on or off and I will reduce weight with by removing the grip and will try it next on the Df.

Photobug

Thanks for your initial impressions. Look forward to your second thoughts.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Just a follow up. As usual you should always RTFM. lol. Well for a lens do you really need to read the manual? well if you need to know what all the switches are for and the min distance and possibly filter size then yes.

I was so focused on the shutter issue that I didn't pay attention to the A/M M/A and M setting. I had it on the M/A all along but knowing from other lens I knew that one was priority and and the other was to override so AF was used in the photos but possibly that is why it was a little slower to focus on the birds the first day.

Yesterday I took it out for some street photography and towards mid day I ended up on stage photographing the crowd at a Street DJ concert. The portraits and candids have been very pleasing. They have the look and feel of the 70-200 2.8 to me.

Today it is when it dawned on me to double check the switches and I can say that it has improved slightly by switching to A/M.

With A/M and M/A and VR normal and VR sport I have been able to shoot at 1/60 and 1/160 without noticeble problems. There are a few where I miss focus or it is blurry but I'm giving it to the not steady, kinda chilly (windy) and user error label.

The IQ is lovely and the bokeh is remarkable. I was able to get focus on a person about 400-600ft walking in an elevated platform without an issue, so focus can be very accurate.

If I could this would be my daily shooter lens from now on but reality says I need wider than 300mm for other things.

Photos will come shortly.

JonMcGuffin

Very anxious to see what you have VIP... Thanks for sharing

Photobug

Thanks to a fellow NRF who told me Roberts Camera in Indianapolis had one 300mm PF lens in stock. We drove to Indy yesterday and after playing tourist with our daughter today I found my way to Roberts and got my hands on a brand new 300mm F4E PF VR lens in the Carmel store.

Wow, the size is perfect, the weight is nice, the focusing is fast, and the IQ looked good on the LCD screen. The balance on the D750 is perfect. Salesman was knowledgeable and I gave him an education on the "E" designation. Very impressive lens.

What else did I learn. Roberts has sold 20 of these lens, has one in stock, and has 12 on backorder.

I have one on order from NYC at a lower price with 2% back in 45 days so I did not buy the lens. Mostly due to the 7% sales tax...although, I could call in an order on Sunday and get free shipping and no tax. >-

Photobug

My initial impressions from handling the 300mm F4 lens, it doesn't need a tripod collar. And in today's emails comes a note from Kirk that they just released a tripod collar bracket for this lens. Interesting. Got to check RRS and see what their decision was. My last contact with them was they are still waiting on a lens to evaluate if a collar was needed.

IMHO, due to size and weight it's close to the 24-70 lens and of course there is no collar available for that lens so why do you need one for the 300mm lens?