Thoughts on a Nikon 180/2.8 AI lens?

ColdEye · Apr 2, 2020

Thinking about picking this one up locally, I have had the AF version before and I really loved it. This will be used with my Nikon F2 and my n90x. I am about 99% sure this is not an ED lens, and all the reviews I have read so far online are just for the ED lens. This will be used for landscapes and hummingbirds if I can get close enough.

awty · Apr 2, 2020

Ken Rockwell has a review. https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/180mm-f28-ai.htm

If it were a good price I would get it in a heart beat. Is one of the few nikkor focal lengths I do not have.

Dennis-B · Apr 2, 2020

The ED glass started being used on the AI-s model. It's the one I own, and it's one of my favorite telephoto lenses - period. I use it frequently with my F2-AS and my F3HP. It's tack sharp, and it's one I really lusted after for years. It has a great reputation, and wonderful color rendition. I've also used the AI version, but have never had the opportunity to compare them side-by-side.

Ken Rockwell cites the superior bokeh in the AI model, but I don't choose lenses particularly for the bokeh. I'm more interested in tack-sharp subject matter.

narsuitus · Apr 3, 2020

In 1971, I purchased a new Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 lens that I later had Nikon convert to AI. Even though it was not advertised as an ED lens, I was later informed that it did have ED glass.

No matter, this 180mm lens was one of my three sharpest prime lenses. The 55mm macro and 105mm macro were the other two.

Nikon F2 + 180mm lens by Narsuitus, on Flickr

darkosaric · Apr 3, 2020

I have AI ED version - it is really awesome, sharp wide open, out of focus area is perfect, and in general great tele lens.

gorbas · Apr 3, 2020

I had Ai and now ED version. ED is better, well worth price difference

BMbikerider · Apr 3, 2020

Brilliant lens, sharp as a tack. I used one of the 1.6 Nikon Tele extenders on it and that did not seem to alter the performance one little bit = Go for it!

Armandillo · Apr 3, 2020

I have had this lens for more than 20 years. It is the AI-S, ED but not ED-IF version. It is amazing with great sharpness and color. I highly recommend it.

Christiaan Phleger · Apr 3, 2020

I've long shot all three and now only shoot the ED Ais and a very old Nikkor P..C. Don't discount the P.C and Ai Pre-ED if you can work with the stronger chromatic aberrations but it is my favorite for a certain type of lovely black and white. An even more amazing bargain than the ED. The build quality alone is astonishing and the glass is substantial. If you want to start with what Nikon manual glass is really all about start with a version of this lens. My favorite is the P.C or early Ai'd version if its not the smoothest big lens you've used then send it to get a CLA and enjoy it for another 40 years. Internal build quality is the best they could do in that era and of the best lenses that Nikon ever made imo. There are tons of them used and at an astounding price vs quality and if I didn't already have what I like I probably would buy another.

ColdEye · Apr 4, 2020

I just picked it up earlier. It is the AI version, this thing feels amazing. I'm limited to my test pictures right now, mostly indoors and whatever flutters to my bird feeder, but I can't wait to develop the pictures. It doesn't hurt that I got it for $90. The body is well worn but the glass is clean. Off topic note, is there a preferred focusing screen for tele photo lenses for the f2?

jimjm · Apr 4, 2020

Being a 2.8 lens, you shouldn't have any issues with the standard focusing screens. I have F2 bodies with type A and type P screens, and they all work fine for me, so it may just be down to personal preference for you.
I've got an early Nikkor-P version (first 300 or so made) and it's a gem. I had it AI-converted a few years ago by John White. The 180/2.8 was very good to start with, and only got better with each revision. I also had the AF ED-IF version for a few years and it was one of the best lenses I've ever used. I just wasn't shooting enough with AF bodies, so I sold it for more than I paid for it.
At $90, you got a great deal if the glass is good.

benveniste · Apr 4, 2020

For film use, the 180mm ED Nikkors are great, including the AI, AI-S, and AF versions. I have the AF version, but it doesn't have "rabbit ears," so you may wish to stick with the manual focus versions. On a dSLR, I found chromatic aberration could become intrusive at times.

The biggest "fault," if you will, of most 180mm lenses was the widespread acceptance of 80-200mm zooms. After Nikon came out with their 80-200mm f/2.8 sales of 180mm f/2.8's fell off a cliff.

Dennis-B · Apr 4, 2020

benveniste said:
For film use, the 180mm ED Nikkors are great, including the AI, AI-S, and AF versions. I have the AF version, but it doesn't have "rabbit ears," so you may wish to stick with the manual focus versions. On a dSLR, I found chromatic aberration could become intrusive at times.

The biggest "fault," if you will, of most 180mm lenses was the widespread acceptance of 80-200mm zooms. After Nikon came out with their 80-200mm f/2.8 sales of 180mm f/2.8's fell off a cliff.

Haven't seen that myself using the 180 AI-s model on my digitals. I've always preferred the "tele-primes" over the zooms. I have a number of M/F zooms, and one of the better ones is the Vivitar Series 1 made by Kiron.

The "cliff" is why they can be found relatively inexpensive.

Christiaan Phleger · Apr 4, 2020

Great deal at 90.00!

Just to clarify; Only the Ai-S and AF versions were announced as having ED glass; according to what I could discover in the patents the Ai, K and Nikkor F versions those having the 5 elements in 4 groups did not have the ED glass. No Ai version had ED glass only past the Ai-S change had it.

As well to add to the discussion about the overtaking in popularity by the very capable 80-200mm f/2.8 ED zooms, many news photographers that I knew preferred the 180mm Ais ED since it was lighter and much easier to follow focus rather than trust the (at the time) somewhat slow auto focus of the zooms. Those well used 180 ED's can be found with massive wear yet clean glass for very low prices; these lenses were made to the highest quality and can endure years of daily use so do not overlook a well worn lens if the price is right.

Thoughts on a Nikon 180/2.8 AI lens?

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