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

PB_PM

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?

Same reason you use a collar on any telephoto lens, gimbal head for smoother panning and subject tracking. Far superior to hand holding, IMO.

Photobug

I agree with that statement @PB_PM. However, a lot of photographers use a tripod without the gimbal head for wildlife including BIF photos. They either don't understand the advantages of the gimbal head or can't afford it.

For quick shots you don't need the collar and can hand hold the camera. My point for many individuals you can get away with mounting the camera on the trip with this lens. But I do agree for the optimum results a collar and gimbal mount is the way to go. IMHO, we are both correct.

Photobug

A long time ago earlier in this thread I mentioned the exchange of emails with RRS Tech Support. Have not been to the RRS web site in months and look what I found; see below.

RRS has completed their analysis and determined that their current collar for the 70-200mm F4 lens also fits the new 300mm F4 PF lens. I knew that based upon my early investigation I just laugh how long it took RRS to confirm if a collar is needed for tripod work. Anyway, RRS completed their analysis of the lens and weight distribution and recommends the use of a collar and foot if used on a tripod. The Nikon collar is okay but not near as good as the RRS collar. You can buy the RRS collar for $140 + shipping or buy the collar and foot package for only $245 + shipping cost. Here is the link:

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Shop/AF-S-300mm-f-4E-PF-ED-VR/LC-A12-Pkg-Lens-collar-and-foot-package.html

So besides the $1996 Nikon lens you need $245 RRS collar and foot package plus $75 to $100 UV filter. Better to know this up front to minimize surprises. Man I wish Adorama would send me a note that they got more 300 F4 lens in stock.

PB_PM

All that makes the first gen AF-S model look like a bargain. Sure it's heavier, but sharpness wise it is just about equal, costs less and includes the collar (which is fine, despite the marketing hype of RRS and Kirk saying otherwise). Lets also not forge that the earlier lens doesn't have the optical issues from the PF optical design, so less things to worry about in post.

mikealruskov

Lets also not forge that the earlier lens doesn't have the optical issues from the PF optical design, so less things to worry about in post.

I have taken about 3,000 images with the 300mm PF and have only seen 2 or 3 shots with any signs of flaring or optical issues. Unless you are shooting with the sun in frame or have a direct intense light source aimed at the camera, this lens is just about optically perfect. Very sharp wide open and it has absolutely zero color fringing either. The old lens did have some color fringing and was slightly less sharp at f/4, so I would say optically the new lens is superior unless you shoot photos of the sun all day.

Vipmediastar_JZ

@Photobug the collar would be for added stability at 300mm and after yesterdays outing I'm getting used it and trying to minimize the shake has improved.

This is from yesterdays I did have a a high shutter because I wanted some keepers.

The initial photos I have yet to work on.
Here is one with no crop from yesterday. I beleive it was Group AF, af-c, AF tracking set to average and VR was left at on and possible to the AF-sport.

manhattanboy

All that makes the first gen AF-S model look like a bargain. Sure it's heavier, but sharpness wise it is just about equal, costs less and includes the collar (which is fine, despite the marketing hype of RRS and Kirk saying otherwise). Lets also not forge that the earlier lens doesn't have the optical issues from the PF optical design, so less things to worry about in post.

I think the old lens is better optically, at least when comparing to the new lens using VR which probably degrades IQ a little. I need to spend some time shooting the new lens without VR to get a feel for how good it really is. Lab tests may show otherwise, but practically I would say the old one is better optically if for no other reason then you had to shoot at crazy high shutter speeds because of the lack of VR. I am shooting the new one around 1/1000 whereas the old one I would shoot at 1/2000. The images at 1/1000 are more hit or miss in sharpness compared to firing off reels with the old one at 1/2000, for which virtually all images would be tack sharp. My suspicion is that maybe VR during burst shooting may hinder optimal performance. All that said, I have not touched my old 300 since I got the new one as it is so light and convenient that I just suffer through its shortcomings. I probably should sell the old one, but it is hard to let a lens that d@mn good go. It makes everything (85 1.4, 70-200 2.8, etc.) look soft in comparison.

I have taken about 3,000 images with the 300mm PF and have only seen 2 or 3 shots with any signs of flaring or optical issues. Unless you are shooting with the sun in frame or have a direct intense light source aimed at the camera, this lens is just about optically perfect.

I shoot back-lit quite a bit with the new lens, and I agree flaring is not an issue, but I put a filter out front to help bounce out stray light just in case.

Ironheart

Conventional wisdom says that VR may not help above 500-1000th shutter speed, may even hurt sharpness. Might be good to shoot a bit with it off to see if it makes a difference.

manhattanboy

Conventional wisdom says that VR may not help above 500-1000th shutter speed, may even hurt sharpness. Might be good to shoot a bit with it off to see if it makes a difference.

Shooting at 1/500-1/1000 without VR for sure will lead to soft images (at least at 100% crops) when hand held at those long focal lengths. You are right though. I should just turn off VR and use it like I did the old lens.

Ironheart

Its counter intuitive, but slowing your shutter speed with VR to below 500 may actually produce sharper images. You are right in the "sweet spot" for the Nyquist frequency of the VR system.
Nikon claims that VR samples 1000 times a second:
http://www.nikon.com/about/technology/rd/core/software/vr_e/
Nyquist frequency theorem states that you can only resolve data at half the sampling frequency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyquist_frequency
ByThom does a better job of explaining than I ever could:
http://www.bythom.com/nikon-vr.htm

Photobug

@Photobug the collar would be for added stability at 300mm and after yesterdays outing I'm getting used it and trying to minimize the shake has improved.

This is from yesterdays I did have a a high shutter because I wanted some keepers.

The initial photos I have yet to work on.
Here is one with no crop from yesterday. I believe it was Group AF, af-c, AF tracking set to average and VR was left at on and possible to the AF-sport.

Of course, the collar is to help steady that lens to eliminate vibration. A local friend has the old 300mm lens and the 80-400 and he replaced the collar with RRS collar and foot to reduce the lens vibration and he tells me it works.

I saw the picture on PAD and clicked on it and confirmed it was taken with your new 300 PF. Very nice. Thanks for sharing your settings.

manhattanboy

Its counter intuitive, but slowing your shutter speed with VR to below 500 may actually produce sharper images. You are right in the "sweet spot" for the Nyquist frequency of the VR system.
Nikon claims that VR samples 1000 times a second:
http://www.nikon.com/about/technology/rd/core/software/vr_e/
Nyquist frequency theorem states that you can only resolve data at half the sampling frequency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyquist_frequency
ByThom does a better job of explaining than I ever could:
http://www.bythom.com/nikon-vr.htm

I re-read Thom's article and this paragraph describes it perfectly:

Indeed, this is the very same problem as with using VR over 1/500: sometimes it works, sometimes is doesn't. The problem is that you won't like it when it doesn't, and you won't know when it does. If I were to tell you that out of 100 shots you take 10 were going to be bad due to the VR doing the wrong thing, would you still use VR? Remember, when you're on a tripod, all 100 shots should be good without VR

I think you finally convinced me to to shut off VR for good on this lens. Everyone and their mother was begging for VR on the updated 300 f4 and low and behold it actually is hurting more than its helping.
As Thom says

The interesting thing is that pros demanded VR (IS in the case of Canon) in the long lenses, then it turns out that they very rarely use it! I'd say that less than 10% of the shooting I do with my 400mm f/2.8 has VR turned on

Vipmediastar_JZ

Below are the images to my first day with the 300mm f4e.
I have to edit some projects first but I decided to minor exposure adjustments on these and share them. Once Im done with my deadlines I'll come share the rest with this lens. I created a tag on my site if you want to follow up on them later.
The first photo of my daughter shows the PF in the highlight and so far that is the only one I have noticed as pronounced. I noticed other minor ones.

@photobug thanks for your kinds words

First blog post
300mm f4E Tag As of this post only one article exists.

mikealruskov

The first photo of my daughter shows the PF in the highlight and so far that is the only one I have noticed as pronounced. I noticed other minor ones.

That is actually the first example I've seen of the fresnel showing up in a highlight. Very nice shots, especially the portrait work. I'm impressed with how shallow the DOF can be with full frame. I love the bokeh this lens creates, I really wasn't expecting it to be this good.

Here are some shots I took yesterday at a ball game. They're not the most well composed shots since I was there with friends, but I was really impressed with how well the AF tracked and how accurate it was in low light with my D7000. Most if not all of these were shot at f/4: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/sets/72157655537907756

I'm nearly done writing/filming my review of this lens. I'll try to include some VR tests in there.

JonMcGuffin

Very nice images and thank you to you both (Michael & VIPMediaStar) for posting. I'd be interested to read(watch) your review when it is complete Michael.

For me, maybe I'm just being over simplistic but it just looks like another high quality, high end lens offered by Nikon. A great, sharp, all around good performer than is unusually lightweight (though for my eye, I don't find the bokeh quality all that impressive). That's with or without VR. If a long prime is in the cards for somebody, I don't know how they could turn their back on this lens.

Photobug

@jonMcGuffin - I agree with what you said and really believe that once inventory is established this lens is going to sell well. Expect as the inventory builds and those moving up from the old 300 lens will post them on eBay. I see a nice market for the older lens considering the price difference between a used old 300 lens and the new PF lens.

Ironheart

The first photo of my daughter shows the PF in the highlight and so far that is the only one I have noticed as pronounced. I noticed other minor ones.

Have you tried the PF flare reduction adjustment in NX-D? If you post the raw file somewhere I'd be happy to try it out for you.

Vipmediastar_JZ

@ironheart I downloaded and Installed ( I didn't re-boot) and the checkmark for PF didn't do anything. I tried checking and un-checking several times with no affect. I'll have to try again with the same photo or other photos that has the effect as well. Thanks for offering.

Photobug

I received an email telling me that the Nikon 300 F4 PF lens is still on back order. So I sent an email asking where I was in the order sequence and this is what I received:

Thank you for your inquiry about the status of the backordered item.

You do not need to worry about your position on the listing because we have placed an order to the manufacturer, which is more than enough to cover all of our customers who have placed an order with the said item. Orders are fulfilled in the order we received them, on a first come first serve basis. We cannot share line placement nor can we estimate what batch your order may be fulfilled in.

Once we receive the item to our warehouse we will ship the item to our customers immediately regardless of their position on the listing.

We apologize for the wait. We appreciate your patience.

If you have any further questions, or require additional assistance please reply to this e-mail.
============================
According to that message they have more lens ordered than they have orders. So it really comes down to when will they get those boats unloaded that are backed up on the west coast of the USA. I have been told there are lots of 300mm lens on the boats as well as some other lens.

spraynpray

The way I read those words is 'go away and stop bothering us'!

They say they have placed a large enough order, but they also say they will arrive in batches and they aren't going to tell you where you are in the queue, when the batches will arrive, what quantities each batch will be or which batch you will get yours from.

Photobug

Yup that is the way I read it too. I know some people were successful in finding out where they were in the cue but I had not luck. See my good news is the D750 Service Advisory forum.

Kuruthi

BEWARE THIS LENSE.
Check this lens before purchasing very diligently.
Nikon didn't remove famous bug of VR blurring in newer lenses, at least in some of them.

Here respond of Nikon on my request in this regard:

"Dear Sir,
Greetings from Nikon India !!!
This is to inform you that we have inspected your lens in Nikon India HO, Gurgaon and the same is working as per standard.
We have instructed the service team to send the same back to dealer in perfect condition.
Thanks & Regards,
NIND SUPPORT"

Verbally it was explained:
"Lens Nikon 300/f4 PF shall blur in the range of shutter speed from 1/50 to 1/200.
If you want to get sharp photo use higher shutter speed or tripod and switch off VR".

It means that VR in this range is not usable.

mikealruskov

Verbally it was explained:
"Lens Nikon 300/f4 PF shall blur in the range of shutter speed from 1/50 to 1/200.
If you want to get sharp photo use higher shutter speed or tripod and switch off VR".

It means that VR in this range is not usable.

I don't think this affects all lenses. I haven't experienced any VR issues in the reported shutter speed range. Regardless of using VR or not, I find the images to be consistent so far. Here are some panning shots I've taken in the 1/50-1/200th range using both VR modes:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/20405251532/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/20361186806/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/19766626713/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelallanfoley/20387672816/

spraynpray

"BEWARE THIS LENS."??? Sounds more like "BEWARE THIS REPAIR CENTRE." to me.

Send it back and tell them to fix it this time.

Photobug

"BEWARE THIS LENS."??? Sounds more like "BEWARE THIS REPAIR CENTRE." to me.
Send it back and tell them to fix it this time.

+1 spraynpray. Totally agree.

FYI, just got my standard email from Adorama, the 300mm F4 PF is still on back order. I ordered it in early June.