Nikkor 400mm f/5.6 ED IF Ai-S

[richardHaw]

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

[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]

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.

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]

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.

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

[richardHaw]

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

What do you mean

[richardHaw]

In case anyone is wondering, this lens is for sale

Along with some of my other stuff like the 80/200 2.8 N, 17-55 2.8
I just want to recuperate what I have spent. I only got these for my blog

[Birna Rørslett]

Richard: Just a few random pictures with the Nikkor 400mm f/5.6 ED non-IF. For you.

In terms of colour rendition these come out very clean and crisp.

[richardHaw]

thanks! do you have anything for IR 

[Birna Rørslett]

Not sure. I'll check and if nothing comes up, I'll do a special new shot for you If the latter is required, expect during next week.

[David H. Hartman]

What do you mean

To ease the binding or stiffness of the helicoid focus ring, I lift the front of the lens slightly with the index finger on my left hand. I learned to do this with a 300/4.5 H Nikkor and subsequently use this technique with my 400/5.6 ED AI.

Best,

Dave

[John Geerts]

Richard: Just a few random pictures with the Nikkor 400mm f/5.6 ED non-IF. For you.

In terms of colour rendition these come out very clean and crisp.

Great stuff. In my opinion is the 400/5.6ED non-IF one of the greatest lenses ever made. And they are compact too.