Thoughts on Nikkor 300/2.8 AF IF-ED on D800

[Kim Pilegaard]

I am photographing birds and wildlife mainly with my AF-S 500/4 G IF-ED VR on a D800. Sometimes when sitting in hides/blinds late evening and early morning I miss one more stop of light and am considering getting hold of a used Nikkor 300/2.8 AF IF-ED. They are quite affordable (ca. 1300 € in good condition) compared to the AF-S versions which cost 2-3 times as much. Of course the reach is less than the 500 mm, but quite often the animals come close when you are keeping quiet in a hide. I do not consider to add a teleconverter to it. For longer reach I have the 500mm.

Does anyone have experience with the quality and usability of this lens compared to the modern ones?

[richardHaw]

that is the one without the VR? if so as far as my short experience with that lens goes, it was pretty fast and good. however, 300mm is too short for my taste

[Bjørn Rørslett]

This was the first of a long series of AF/AFI/AFS models. In my opinion not as good as the later models.

[Kim Pilegaard]

A disadvantage of the idea to supplement with a 300/2.8 is that I would have to carry two heavy lenses.

Another option is of course to skip the lens but add a camera with lower noise at higher iso than the D800. In that way, I might also gain a stop?

But maybe the only option is the D5, which is way too expensive for me. How about the D500?

[richardHaw]

can also confirm about the performance. it was good but not good enough to blow my expectations away
it was bright, fast focusing and pretty sharp at the center.

i remember that in my mind, i was thinking that the 70-200VR2 with TC-14 might perform better with minimal speed loss

[Roland Vink]

The D750 is better at high ISO than D800, you lose some resolution but the results should be cleaner.
The Df might also be suitable, and of course the D4 or D5.

[richardHaw]

i still use the D4 and i will still use it for a couple of more years to come. it is THAT competent.
they are cheap now and you should get one.

[Kim Pilegaard]

Maybe someone (Roland) can clarify whether the optical construction of the AF 300/2.8 IF-ED is identical to that of the Ai-S 300/2.8 IF-ED.

Since the prices of the two versions are quite close, it could be beneficial to have the AF version.

Of course the later versions with the newer optical construction starting from the AF-S 300/2.8 D IF-ED might be better, but they are also much more expensive. Especially the AF-S 300/2.8 D IF-ED II (without VR) is attractive because of the lower weight.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The AF 300/2.8 ED-IF is optically different from the manual lenses before it, and also different from those following it. Just as well as the AF 300/2.8 isn't really up to the level of performance as the others. I owned one for a while and experienced much better performance when I replaced it by the AFS 300/2.8 (first version, no VR, but quite decent tripod mount).

[John G]

I have a longish relationship with the 300mm ED IF ais on a D800E, and can vouch for it as a affordable useful lens that offers high IQ.
It really is a joy to use in a controlled environment like a hide. To get the most from it, I recommend having it CPU chipped.
My experience to date is with the unreliable Dandelion CPU, I have installed two onto the same lens, they are fragile
and my ones did self destruct over a period of time caused only by exchanging lenses.
There are better options for a CPU available through NG.
For me the opportunity to focus trap with the lens as a shutter release signal was great, offering many successful keeper images.
The option of a sub command dial aperture control is a good support for keeping a consistent exposure,when working with fast shutter speeds.
On a Gimbal, with a remote shutter release attached, it is possible to nail BIF images at about 25 metres using focus trap,
if you become familiar with a re-used flight path at closer focal length, you can get images at closest focal length, I,ve captured Tits about
4 metres from a hide, and a kingfisher about 6 metres out on a perch. These are bird species that do not pose for the camera when disturbed. At these distances you a disturbance. I have a few all time favourites of Perched Kingfishers whilst stalking along a river at about 35 metres.
To give a idea of a budget and if this option can be seen as "Worth a Punt". I will include a few figures Nikon 300mm ED IF ais ebay £ 360,
Dandelion Chip $ 30.  32 teeth per inch metal blade pack of six £ 4.00. Fine metal file £ 3.00.  2 Part Epoxy Glue £ 4.00.
A fews hours reading will supply much knowledge. A more robust and dependable CPU Chip from NG is approximately £ 90 with jig hire included. I,m not 100% sure of the skill set required for this as it is my project in waiting.
It is affordable to achieve, but a period of hunting for the correct price lens will not make it immediately available at the prices quoted.
I have never compared this lens to another modern Nikon equivalent, but have seen its end results compared to images taken on a side by side photography trip to a Hide at a Nature Reserve, where the other camera had a very modern Canon 300mm f2.8 attached.
The outcome of that trip planted the seed, that led to the Canon owner now being a owner of a D810, 600mm f4, 300mm f4 PF.
I think it is fair to say the 300mm ED IF ais + D800E left a impression when images were shared at a later date.
As always Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I can't vouch for this being the response from any other camera brand owners. 
     

[Frank Fremerey]

The outcome of that trip planted the seed, that led to the Canon owner now being a owner of a D810, 600mm f4, 300mm f4 PF.

Nice story. I for my part can vouch for the 300PF. It is only F=4 but it is a very light weight lens you will sure carry everywhere. It is as small as a 24-70 non-VR, but lighter.

Since I got that lens 300mm has become my favourite focal length. The IQ is superb. The VR is superb. The colour rendition is superb. At 1850 Euros brick and mortar or 1550 Euro online it is a bargain too.

[Roland Vink]

Maybe someone (Roland) can clarify whether the optical construction of the AF 300/2.8 IF-ED is identical to that of the Ai-S 300/2.8 IF-ED.

To the best of my knowledge the AI, AIS, AF and AF(new) versions all have the same optical design (many of the early AF lenses were based on manual versions).
If you check my site (http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/specs.html#300) you will see they are all grouped together, which indicates the same optics. The early 300/2.8 IFED lenses all have 8 elements in 6 groups, the front two elements are ED, with IF focusing.

It is possible the optical design was changed slightly in the transition to AF - I don't have details to prove one way or the other,  but they are at least very closely related, and not all-new designs. Coatings may have also improved over that time, but I don't expect a dramatic improvement, the older multi coatings were already quite good. You need nana coating to make a big difference and that does not appear until the later AFS models.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

My practical experience with the MF 300/2.8 AIS and the AF-D 300/2.8 indicated they behaved quite differently. Thus whether or not the basic optical configuration shared similarities, the performance did not.

[Kim Pilegaard]

I have a longish relationship with the 300mm ED IF ais on a D800E, and can vouch for it as a affordable useful lens that offers high IQ.
It really is a joy to use in a controlled environment like a hide. To get the most from it, I recommend having it CPU chipped.
My experience to date is with the unreliable Dandelion CPU, I have installed two onto the same lens, they are fragile
and my ones did self destruct over a period of time caused only by exchanging lenses.
There are better options for a CPU available through NG.
For me the opportunity to focus trap with the lens as a shutter release signal was great, offering many successful keeper images.
The option of a sub command dial aperture control is a good support for keeping a consistent exposure,when working with fast shutter speeds.
On a Gimbal, with a remote shutter release attached, it is possible to nail BIF images at about 25 metres using focus trap,
if you become familiar with a re-used flight path at closer focal length, you can get images at closest focal length, I,ve captured Tits about
4 metres from a hide, and a kingfisher about 6 metres out on a perch. These are bird species that do not pose for the camera when disturbed. At these distances you a disturbance. I have a few all time favourites of Perched Kingfishers whilst stalking along a river at about 35 metres.
To give a idea of a budget and if this option can be seen as "Worth a Punt". I will include a few figures Nikon 300mm ED IF ais ebay £ 360,
Dandelion Chip $ 30.  32 teeth per inch metal blade pack of six £ 4.00. Fine metal file £ 3.00.  2 Part Epoxy Glue £ 4.00.
A fews hours reading will supply much knowledge. A more robust and dependable CPU Chip from NG is approximately £ 90 with jig hire included. I,m not 100% sure of the skill set required for this as it is my project in waiting.
It is affordable to achieve, but a period of hunting for the correct price lens will not make it immediately available at the prices quoted.
I have never compared this lens to another modern Nikon equivalent, but have seen its end results compared to images taken on a side by side photography trip to a Hide at a Nature Reserve, where the other camera had a very modern Canon 300mm f2.8 attached.
The outcome of that trip planted the seed, that led to the Canon owner now being a owner of a D810, 600mm f4, 300mm f4 PF.
I think it is fair to say the 300mm ED IF ais + D800E left a impression when images were shared at a later date.
As always Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I can't vouch for this being the response from any other camera brand owners. 
     

Thanks for the detailed information. The idea of a manual lens with focus trapping sounds great. However, I think this is only possible if the chip makes the camera think that an autofocus lens is  attached, which is possible with the Dandelion chip. I do not think this is possible with the chips from Bjørn (Bjørn,please correct me if I am wrong). I tried the Dandelion chip once on a Nikkor 500/8 mirror lens, but the chip broke.

As for the focus trap method, could you please give some details on how you have set up your D800 to do implement this?

[John G]

Hi Kim
          I could not remember having to set up the camera in a way to achieve the Focus Trap operation.
          I have revisited the petapixel website, faux AF on a 300mm ED IF ais. This shows a very high end method of
          machining a set up for receiving a dandelion CPU. My approach was much a more rural effort that worked perfectly.
          The dandelion chip is cigarette paper thin and will get destroyed in general usage.
          Back to your question, the manual focus operation of the focus ring, will trick the camera body into believing it is receiving a focus
          motor signal, and it will capture a image as long as the shutter release button is activated.
          I got my best results with a remote shutter release constantly pressed whilst close to the subject and then on the subject.
          I always felt a focus assist lever, or follow focus with a additional lever would nail this set up . That is another project in waiting  .
          I have just uploaded a variety of images onto flora and forna from my local nature reserves. All images are taken using the 300mm
          with Dandelion CPU using focus trap, some of the images are the ones I referred to in my earlier post.