Fun with Nikkor-Q C 200m F4 auto

[armando_m]

Got this lens for a fantastic price , converted it to AI and took it out to the backyard to shoot the stars
11 exposures, each for 2 sec f5.6 iso 1600 on a fixed tripod
Love the focus limit at infinite simplifying the focusing effort to nothing
Outside the center there is coma, so I'll just place whatever I'm interested in in the center of the frame

[gryphon1911]

A very cool lens, for sure.  Thanks for sharing!  Nice image, too! 

[John Geerts]

Very nice.  It's a great lens.  I like the 200 Q C Especially on the Df.  Very sharp and little Chrom. Abber.

[Akira]

Beautiful image, Armando!  Am I seeing the Horse-head nebula to the bottom right or the frame?

I've never been disappointed by the QC200/4.0 on any camera of any format.  This is an optical gem in the true sense of the word.  The newer Ai 200/4.0 also works very nice.

[Bill De Jager]

Very nice work, Armando!

This thread has some interesting discussion about using photographic lenses for astrophotography, including the later K/AI/AIS 200/4*.  They recommend stopping down somewhat by using step-down rings instead of the diaphragm to eliminate diffraction spikes, but the spikes in Armando's photo are inconspicuous and not at all intrusive.

*The OP mentions only the AI, but the 5/5 optical formula didn't change through this series.  The Q and QC have a 4/4 optical formula according to Roland's site.

[rolubich]

I've never been disappointed by the QC200/4.0 on any camera of any format.  This is an optical gem in the true sense of the word.  The newer Ai 200/4.0 also works very nice.

I like a lot the 200mm f/4 QC too, it handles very well the 42MP Sony sensor.
I have recently compared it with the AIS version and while the AIS is much more uniform across the frame (it is sharp in the corners wide open too while the QC needs to be well stopped down) the QC is better in the center.

My favourite test model @ f/8 on Sony A7RII.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4411/35591528973_5490ddcc39_o.jpg

[armando_m]

Thank you Andrew, John, Akira and Bill

Akira, there are hints of the flame nebula, which is very close to the horse head and would be to the right of the flame nebula, this is left under the bottom start of the Orion belt, bottom left quadrant

Bill, thanks for the link! it certainly looks worth reading

[Akira]

Armando, thank you for the details of the area of the sky you captured.  It is very difficult to shoot this kind of images here in Tokyo due to the heavy light pollution...

[FredCrowBear]

Armando:  Great stuff.  Thank you for motivating me to dig out my 200mm Q and give it a try!

Akira:  I absolutely agree with your assessment of both the 200mm Q and the later 200mm AI.  I have the good fortune to own good copies of both, but I don't use them enough, but always enjoy them when I do.

[richardHaw]

https://richardhaw.com/2016/03/07/repair-auto-nikkor-q-200mm-f4/

it's a surprisingly good lens. I got mine for very little money

considering that this used to be a pro lens that costs more than the 2.1cm f/4 at the time it can now be had for cheap

[Akira]

https://richardhaw.com/2016/03/07/repair-auto-nikkor-q-200mm-f4/

it's a surprisingly good lens. I got mine for very little money

considering that this used to be a pro lens that costs more than the 2.1cm f/4 at the time it can now be had for cheap

Rick, thanks to re-posting the link to your blog.  I wonder whether the gasket to keep the distance between the first and the second elements is made of rubber or metal?

[richardHaw]

i think it's made of lacquer or gutta percha. I dissolved one by accident. don't ask me how I manage to do that. I will go to Tokyu Hands to find a suitable replacement or make on my own 

These are VERY tough lenses. you can kill somebody with one if you repeatedly hit somebody on the skull with it.

I wonder how much coating it has. mine has bad fungi but the coating wasn't affected at all. maybe it's the friendly type of fungi.

[Akira]

i think it's made of lacquer or gutta percha. I dissolved one by accident. don't ask me how I manage to do that. I will go to Tokyu Hands to find a suitable replacement or make on my own 

These are VERY tough lenses. you can kill somebody with one if you repeatedly hit somebody on the skull with it.

I wonder how much coating it has. mine has bad fungi but the coating wasn't affected at all. maybe it's the friendly type of fungi.

Thanks for the detail.  So, the gasket can be deteriorated over time...  Q"C" is multi-coated, but a lens of such a simple design, I don't see too much of the difference between the single- and multi-coating.  I had a single coated Xenotar type 105/2.5, but found no problem when I shot a live show.

[richardHaw]

it dissolves in alcohol