Portrait with 300mm F4/E PF

[Mongo]

When the 300mm f4/E PF was first available, Mongo was with some photographer friends having coffee in an out door cafe. A friend’s partner was sitting opposite when Mongo was handed this new lens to try out and give his opinion. He quickly mounted it to his D4s and asked the young woman if she would mind a couple of quick snaps. She was delightful and kindly agreed. Within 30 seconds Mongo had taken about a dozen very quick shots. These are just two.

The subject was only about 2 to 2.5 metres away and largely in shade. Therefore, some minor post processing was added. The "rose-like" colours on her face were her natural complexion.

An impressive lens for size, weight, focus speed and image quality but not so much for price.

D4s, 300mm F4/ PF at f8, ISO400, 1/320th, -0.3EV

[Frank Fremerey]

Does Mongo think the lens is overpriced?

I felt that the size and performance justified
The extra cost.

The woman is very beautiful and has a winning laugh.

I cannot understand why young people apply a nose ring to themselves like people apply to cattle

[Airy]

The 300 PF is a top notch portrait lens, also because of smooth bokeh. The above is another proof. It just needs space, and possibly nice encounters

By the way, good that you did not succumb to the temptation of turning the lady's skin into plastic. Despite US influence, I still prefer unprocessed ladies (and people in general).

It would be interesting to see what Fresnel lenses may bring to intermediate FLs such as 135. What about a compact, light 135/2 or 150/2 ? or a worthy successor to the 180/2.8s with fast AF ?

[Mongo]

Does Mongo think the lens is overpriced?

I felt that the size and performance justified
The extra cost.

The woman is very beautiful and has a winning laugh.

I cannot understand why young people apply a nose ring to themselves like people apply to cattle

thanks Frank.

Mongo found her to be absolutely charming and a very good sport to pose on very short notice.

Mongo has always felt this lens is a little over priced (probably by about $500). True , its convenience in weight and size are worth some extra premium. However, on the other hand, it is meant to be the result of research which should naturally go into the next generation of lenses and a successor to the 300 f4 AFS. Mongo can understand that Nikon may wish to try and get back some of the money spent on development and research but also feels that in a competitive market, these costs are part of being a manufacturer. It is Mongo's understanding that Canon have this or similar technology and have already taken it one step further and improved it. If Mongo has understood the information correctly, it makes the Nikon PF partly outdated. Again, this is subject to Mongo's understanding being correct. Have a quick look at this:-http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-400mm-f-4.0-DO-IS-II-USM-Lens.aspx

Mongo does not understand the ring thing either but must say her manners, warmth and charm were very real nonetheless and a delight to meet.

The 300 PF is a top notch portrait lens, also because of smooth bokeh. The above is another proof. It just needs space, and possibly nice encounters

By the way, good that you did not succumb to the temptation of turning the lady's skin into plastic. Despite US influence, I still prefer unprocessed ladies (and people in general).

It would be interesting to see what Fresnel lenses may bring to intermediate FLs such as 135. What about a compact, light 135/2 or 150/2 ? or a worthy successor to the 180/2.8s with fast AF ?

thanks Airy. Mongo too does not believe in trying to change natural beauty for so-called unnatural perfection.

Mongo's thoughts for the Fresnel lens has always been for the larger lenses if it can be used for this purpose successfully.  We know this lens system can give great savings in size and weight. These savings and features are most needed in big , heavy lenses e.g 400mm f2.8 and 600mm f4 to dramatically reduce their size and weight if technically possible. The smaller focal lengths you have mentioned are already reasonably small and light. Mongo thinks Nikon has used the 300mm f4/ PF as a test case lens to gauge the acceptance of the concept and also how it might be used to get an advantage if this technology could be used to make traditionally bigger lenses even smaller and lighter. However, Mongo has been wrong many times before in trying to work out Nikon's direction and intentions. Only time will reveal this.

[Frank Fremerey]

A small and light 600mm would be tempting

I paid 1850 Euros in May at local brick & mortar. Same price today at amazon.de ... amazon.co.uk delivers the same to my door for 1435 Euros which is because they do not charge VAT currently possibly due to a software glitch. This is not marketplace this is amazon themselves

[Ron Scubadiver]

Things are priced at whatever the market will bear.  If a price on something is lowered, you could say it was overpriced before.  The girl is cute and nicely captured.

[Mongo]

from memory, when the lens came out, it was about Australian $2800. The AFS model was still selling for about Australian $1600 - $1800.

Based on this and the build quality, Mongo feels the lens should have been priced at about Australian $2200 at best. This is just a personal view.

However, Ron is correct in that things will usually be priced at what the customer will bear rather than the relative or intrinsic worth of the goods.

[Jakov Minić]

Lovely portraits of a beautiful girl.
I don't mind her nose ring at all

[Mongo]

Lovely portraits of a beautiful girl.
I don't mind her nose ring at all

Jakov, you strike Mongo as one who can easily think outside the box. Mongo found that her natural beauty and personality made the ring a non event at the time.

[David H. Hartman]

I agree with all the positive statements I read above about the woman and the photographs of her.

Dave Hartman

I doubt the subject distance was as short as 2-2.5 meters. The subject coverage would be about 2-2.5 meters with a 105mm lens. The distance must have been greater, an observation that does not detract from the appeal of the photographs.

[Mongo]

thanks David and glad you like the images.

Mongo recalls it was across a largish round outdoor coffee table. It was hard to get focus at first because it was at absolute minimum focus distance for this lens (whatever that may be). Mongo had to move his chair back somewhat and then move back in the his chair until he could fit enough of her in the frame to get the portrait.  F8 had to be used due to the closeness of the subject and in the hope of getting enough DOF to get at least her eyes in focus. By this time, Mongo estimates it could not have been more than 2.5 metres but that is his best guess.   

[David H. Hartman]

Does that lens loose significant focal length at minimum focus distance?

[Tersn]

Nice portraits! I am not very surprised that this lens  is doing portraits well. (So does the 300/2.

[Mongo]

Does that lens loose significant focal length at minimum focus distance?

David, sorry Mongo does not have enough experience with the lens to accurately answer your question. Perhaps others who own one an have used it significantly can help to answer that question.