Nikon AF-S 180-400mm f/4 announced

[pluton]

The cellphone shots in question, as I recall, though blurry, served perfectly well to illustrate the comparative sizes of the two lenses.

[chambeshi]

Thanks John and Others.

I hope to pass by the Nikon School again this coming week, hopefully the 500 f4E will have been returned. And I will try spend more time there, and with a real camera :-)

Re-posted the tacky images....  note to self: examine the design of the tripod foot more closely

kind regards

woody

Woody, I for one appreciated your 'live, impromptu, eager" cell phone shots of the new lens

They added realism and soul to the vapid, 'perfect,' one-dimensional images everyone and their brother has already seen on gear sites

Do not let the criticism of 'one' make you forget that your images were interesting to many ... kindly re-post.

[chambeshi]

Here you go....

https://nikonrumors.com/2018/03/09/nikkor-af-s-180-400mm-f-4-ed-tc-vr-lens-now-shipping-new-test-photos.aspx/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NikonRumors+%28NikonRumors.com%29

[chambeshi]

Earlier today I passed through London to pick up a decent copy of the 60 f2.8G Micro-Nikkor (its one of the first sequence Made in Japan). Then, I walked on to NPS to revisit the 3 telephotos I'm deliberating over. Here are some photos taken (thanks to the 60mm) comparing the new 180-400 f4E TC14 against the 400 f2.8E and 500 f4E.

I compared apll three lenses attached to a pair of D850s (mine and a tethered NPS camera) IMHO the 500 f4 is a pleasure to handle and its lightness really stands out compared to the 400; the 180-400 is just that much heavier than the 500, but slightly shorter. AF of the zoom struck me as distinctly slower compared to both primes but only slightly slower.

These impressions are obviously subjective. My decision? At f4, the TCF of the 180-400 is T2C0.5. This is assuming one can presumably couple an external TC14 to the zoom. Unfortunately, I didn't have mine with me to test this tantalizing possibility  It's a  superb lens, as are both primes (as we know they are very widely respected). The balance in the hand is really noticeable, compared to my considerable experience with the end-heavy 300 f2.8G.

But I will most likely invest in a 400 f2.8 given its versatility with TCs. Yet the 500 f4E really is a neat handful 

[chambeshi]

Comparisons of 180-400 f5.6E TC14 (L), 400 f2.8E, 500 f4E (R), and the hoods in reverse order

[Roland Vink]

Did you note the serial number? I expect it is 20xxxx, made in Japan. That reminds me, I still haven't added this lens to my database...

[MFloyd]

Chambeshi, thanks for the pictures. Quite surprised that the sizes, without lens hood, are very similar.

[chambeshi]

Did you note the serial number? I expect it is 20xxxx, made in Japan. That reminds me, I still haven't added this lens to my database...

Hi Roland
The serial number = 200573
And there is a second 180-400 on tethered display at the NEC, Birmingham - this weekend. S/N 200825

kind regards

woody

[Ilkka Nissilä]

For what it’s worth, ephotozine posted imatest results from the 180-400 with a D850.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/nikon-af-s-nikkor-180-400mm-f-4e-tc1-4-fl-ed-review-32085

[JKoerner007]

For what it’s worth, ephotozine posted imatest results from the 180-400 with a D850.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/nikon-af-s-nikkor-180-400mm-f-4e-tc1-4-fl-ed-review-32085

Some pretty incredible results, really.

I wonder what's up with LenScore/SenScore? They haven't posted a thing for over a year ...

Are they DOA?

[MFloyd]

Some pretty incredible results, really.

I wonder what's up with LenScore/SenScore? They haven't posted a thing for over a year ...

Are they DOA?

I had the same question. I was intending to write them.

[Gary Irwin]

Some pretty incredible results, really.

I wonder what's up with LenScore/SenScore? They haven't posted a thing for over a year ...

Are they DOA?

Steve Perry will post a Youtube video soon summarizing his testing of a rental unit. Early indications are it’s not perfect.

Rumor is LenScore folks have moved on to other things, which is a real loss for the photographic community.

[JKoerner007]

I had the same question. I was intending to write them.

I've written them twice ... no response.

Richard would always respond before.



_________________

Steve Perry will post a Youtube video soon summarizing his testing of a rental unit. Early indications are it’s not perfect.

I think I would trust the charts, etc. of EPhotozine, which uses actual Imatest measurements of a subject lens, more than "Steve Perry's eyes," and subjective opinion, on a rental unit.

I believe Ephotozine's tests also indicate the lens is "not perfect," which of course no one thought it would be, but that it is spectacular without the TC ... at all focal lengths ... and somewhat less so (but still very good) with the TC engaged.

To me, it looks like everything Nikon claimed it to be. I don't think anyone seriously believed that, at maximum zoom, with a TC engaged, it would beat a 600mm prime at its native focal length.

However, from 180-400, it looks like nothing can touch it, and from 400-560 (with the TC), it has a good extra reach of good/very good quality in an immediately usable TC.

Rumor is LenScore folks have moved on to other things, which is a real loss for the photographic community.

Agreed. I hope something bad hasn't happened to anyone over there. Their FAQ indicated a whole host of lenses were forthcoming ... and then nothing posted for over a year.

Disappointing to say the least ... and no notice to anyone informing their following of any problems, disasters, or just a decision to shut down.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Rumor is LenScore folks have moved on to other things, which is a real loss for the photographic community.

Did they have advertisers or other source of income for the project? I guess that may be the problem: a lot of lens testing is volunteer-based activity and once you do enough of it you may get tired and want to do something else.

[JKoerner007]

Did they have advertisers or other source of income for the project? I guess that may be the problem: a lot of lens testing is volunteer-based activity and once you do enough of it you may get tired and want to do something else.

No, their entire mantra was "strictly non-commercial," being provided with neither lenses nor funding.

Supposedly, it came from a PhD research project, where they had a 200mpx sensor developed to test all lenses across the same sensor, for more meaningful data.

Photozone, for instance, is almost meaningless ... as some lenses were tested on the Canon 350D while others on the 5D ... while others on the Nikon D810. How can such data be compared?

Maybe LenScore/SenScore got bored, or stopped being motivated without sponsors, but it would have been polite to inform the readership of what's going on ... not just walk away from the project with nary a word.