Gear Talk > What the Nerds Do

Nikkor 400mm f/5.6 ED IF Ai-S

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richardHaw:
https://richardhaw.com/2025/04/25/repair-nikkor-400mm-f-5-6-ed-if-ai-s/  :o :o :o

Birna Rørslett:
I specifically selected the non-IF 400mm f/5.6 ED because of the chromatic issues with the IF version. It's much slower to operate, though, so really most suited for landscape work.

Interestingly, there is exact same dichotomy in behaviour - and performance - between the [elusive] Nikkor 300mm f/4.5 ED and the [ubiquitous] Nikkor 300mm f/4.5ED-IF. The former is  very sharp, no CA, and operates very very slowly; the latter is also pretty  sharp and remarkably fast operating, however with CA issues not unlike the 400 ED-IF. Again, I'm using my 300 ED mainly for landscapes and for IR, since it is one of the very few Nikkors without any focus shift visible-to-IR.

rs:
Richard,

How do you find the optical performance, compared to your 400 f3.5 ED-IF?

David H. Hartman:

--- Quote from: Birna Rørslett on April 25, 2025, 09:11:51 ---I specifically selected the non-IF 400mm f/5.6 ED because of the chromatic issues with the IF version. It's much slower to operate, though, so really most suited for landscape work.

--- End quote ---

To ease binding of the focus with the older ED lens I use one finger to lift the front of the lens. This works quite well though the older ED version will never be as easy to focus as the IF ED versions.

Best,

Dave

richardHaw:

--- Quote from: Birna Rørslett on April 25, 2025, 09:11:51 ---I specifically selected the non-IF 400mm f/5.6 ED because of the chromatic issues with the IF version. It's much slower to operate, though, so really most suited for landscape work.

Interestingly, there is exact same dichotomy in behaviour - and performance - between the [elusive] Nikkor 300mm f/4.5 ED and the [ubiquitous] Nikkor 300mm f/4.5ED-IF. The former is  very sharp, no CA, and operates very very slowly; the latter is also pretty  sharp and remarkably fast operating, however with CA issues not unlike the 400 ED-IF. Again, I'm using my 300 ED mainly for landscapes and for IR, since it is one of the very few Nikkors without any focus shift visible-to-IR.

--- End quote ---

I see...
So it's just not me and my copy. Thanks for verifying it for me.
If you may, do you have links of your photos taken with this lens? I will share them in a gallery in the article :o :o :o

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