Nikkor 300mm f/4 AF AI-S IF-ED, 1987-present... Nikon introduced this lens in 1987 to complement its increasingly professional emphasis on autofocus cameras and lenses. Rather than an update the of the classic f/4.5, Nikon chose to make the lens one third of a stop faster, which necessitated an 82mm front accessory size. However, Nikon gave the lens a whiff of "big-lens" style with a 39mm filter drawer. As is expected of Nikon's professional AF glass, it has the black "crinkle" finish and a metal barrel, which makes it quite durable; it never went through the misstep that Nikon made with the original AF 180f/2.8, i.e. the narrow focussing ring with little drag. <<<--- Scale between the ED & Non-ED version.

As it is a 1987-vintage lens, AF performance is not up to the same standards as, say the AF-I or AF-S lenses, but is quite acceptable on the more modern bodies. A focussing limiter switch is provided, as is an A/M switch on the lens itself. Optical performance is reputedly excellent, and B. Moose Peterson (2) claims that this lens is better on a converter (TC-14B) than a "naked" 400f/5.6 IF-ED. For those without a team of porters to carry around photo gear, it is probably the best choice for top-quality travel photographs.

Nikon's current AF lens lineup includes the 300f/4 AF, an excellent lens for those on a budget (relative to the 300f/2.8 AF-S) or those looking for a great travel lens. It is a bit heavier than the older 300f/4.5 AI-S IF-ED, but offers AF, a focus limiter, and of course, the extra 1/3 of a stop. Used lenses are available cheaply relative to the list price, but this lens generally hovers around twice the price of the earlier 300f/4.5 IF-ED.

For most people, the f/4.5 is a better buy, but AF is quite useful for tracking motion/sports, so the f/4 is indispensible to others. As a manual-focus user, I'm eagerly awaiting the rumoured 300f/4D AF-S IF-ED, which will hopefully depress prices of the current len

This is the first picture appeared on Nikon early marketing brouche for their AF Nikkor.

---

Construction and Specifications

Here are cutaway views of the 300f/4.5, f/4.5 IF-ED, and f/4 AF IF-ED. Note that the IF-ED versions appear to be scaled-down from the classic "8/6" construction employed by Nikon for their larger original IF-ED lenses (300f/2.8, 400f/3.5, 600f/4). Note also that the first 300f/4.5 has slightly different construction than depicted here, similar to the non-AF versions of the 180f/2.8.

In general, AI lenses were introduced in 1977; AI-S lenses were introduced in 1984.

Model Mount	non-AI	AI, AI-S	ED non-AI, AI	IF-ED AI, AI-S	AF IF-ED AI-S
Year Made	1964-1971/5	1977-1990	1975-1978	1979-1989	1987-present
Construction	5 elements in 4 groups (6e/5g redesign 1971/5?)	6 elements in 5 groups	6 elements in 5 groups (front element ED)	7 elements in 6 groups (second element ED)	8 elements in 6 groups (second and seventh elements ED)
Dimensions (3, 4, 5)	80mm diam, 203mm long; 1100g (3.2" diam, 8.0" long; 38.8oz)	78.5mm diam, 202mm long; 1200g (3.1" diam, 8.0" long; 42.3oz)	78.5mm diam?, 202mm long?; 1160g? (3.1" diam?, 8.0" long?; 41oz?)	80mm diam, 200mm long; 990g (3.2" diam, 7.9" long; 34.9oz)	89mm diam, 218mm long; 1330g (3.5" diam, 8.6" long; 46.9oz)
Minimum Focus	4m (13.1')	3.5m (11.5')	3.5m? (11.5')?	2.5m (8.2')	2.5m (8.2')
Minimum Stop	f/22	f/22?	f/22	f/32	f/32
Accessory Size	72mm	72mm	72mm	72mm	82mm front; 39mm drop-in
Lens Case	CL-20	CL-20A	CL-20A?	CL-36	CL-42
First Serial Number (1)	304501 480001(1975 reformula?)	510001(AI) 550000(AI-S)	173101(non-AI) 190001(AI)	200001(AI) 21000(AI-S)	unknown.
Last US List Price (1)	$485 (1977)	$464 (AI, 1984) $730 (AI-S, 1990)	$990 (non-AI, 1977) $1298 (AI, 1978)	$865 (AI, 1984) $1338 (AI-S, 1989)	$1470 (1997)
Typical 1998 US Used Price	$150-300	$300-500	$800-1500	$400-800	$700-1000

References:

1. Comon, Paul, and Evans, Art. Nikon Data. Photo Data Research. Redondo Beach, CA. LC 90-81643. ISBN 0-9626508-0-3. 1990.
2. Peterson, B. "Moose". Nikon System Handbook. Images Press, Inc. New York, NY. LC 90-084933. ISBN 0-929667-03-4. 1991.
3. Crawley, Geoffrey. The Nikon System, Including Nikkormat. Amphoto. New York, NY. LC 74-125364. ISBN 0-8174-0973-4. 1972.
4. Eyes of Nikon. Nippok Kogaku K.K. 1985.
5. Nikon Full Line Product Guide 1996-97. Nikon, Inc. Melville, NY. 1996.

   ---

| Back | Earlier versions
| Back | to Index Page of 300mm Nikkor Telephoto

Revised website | Nikkor Resources | New Upload

Michael Liu's Oriental Nest: Nikon Bodies | Nikkor Lenses
Back to Special Lenses Section
Comments, questions, and concerns should be routed to mliu@mit.edu

A pictorial history of: Nikon, Hasselblad, Rollei.
Other Nikon Resources availabled in this site can be start from this link.

Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat | Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |

Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm

MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

| Message Board | for Nikon F Series SLR Camera(s)
| Message Board | for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic Equipment

Home - Photography in Malaysia

Web Content Copyright © 1999. Michael Liu ®. Made with a PowerMac,