Nikkor
200mm f/4 AI Manual Focus Telephoto Lens. Mint-. Tested. See Test Images.
Key Features
See Hi Res images taken with this lens at the
Youtube link below.
https://youtu.be/nQjMmuzNni0
This is a near pristine example of one of Nikon's
high quality AI lenses from the late 1970's when Nikon didn't make anything
except high quality pro lenses. This one: lens number 716947, was number 5,351
in a total manufacturing run of around 148,500 units of the 200mm AI lens made
between 1977 and October 1981. We can be fairly sure that it was made early on
in the production run around February 1977. It has fantastic optical
and mechanical performance in a light, compact package. It weighs just
530g. This 200mm is extremely well made, having far better optical and
mechanical properties than the more modern AF lenses Nikon makes today.
It has fantastic optical and mechanical performance
(see the pictures attached and at the Dropbox link further down) in a light,
compact package. It weighs just 530g. This 200mm is extremely well made, having
far better optical and mechanical properties than the more modern AF lenses
Nikon makes today.
See full review of this lens on Ken Rockwell's lens
review page
Lens compatibility
Use on Digital Cameras
It works on all digital cameras with varying ease.
On the D810, D800, D800E, D750, D700, D610, D600,
D500, D300s, D300, D200, D7200, D7100, D7000 series cameras, it can give full
matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto (A) and manual (M) modes, and
encodes the shooting aperture and focal length in the EXIF.
The Nikon 200mm f/4 AI works on the lesser cameras
like the D80, D70 and D40, but without any metering - you'll have to use an
external meter or guess using the LCD.
Use on Film Cameras
The Nikon 200mm f/4 AI is ideal for manual focus
cameras like the FA, FE, FM and F2AS.
The F100 and most film cameras offer
centre-weighted metering with this lens, while the F4, F6 and FA are unique
among film cameras in offering matrix metering with it.
For further reading on the subject, please visit
Ken Rockwell's most instructive website on the subject
Overall Lens Condition: Mint-
Mechanical / Cosmetic: Mint-
The lens is in near pristine mechanical and
cosmetic condition. There are just a few tiny rubs on the outside of the
retractable lens hood. They need a magnifying glass to be seen. It’s otherwise
unmarked. The painted lettering is bright and completely intact. The aperture
ring is smooth and 'clicky'. The bayonet mount is in excellent condition. The
focus ring action is buttery smooth and there is no play at all in the action.
The aperture blades move snappily and are free of oil.
Optical: Mint-
Not a lot to say here. There is almost no dust in
the lens. The optics are otherwise flawless. This lens produces punchy,
contrasty and sharp images straight out of the camera. There is no balsam
separation, fungus mould or haze. The black coating in the lens is in perfect
condition. The front and rear elements are pristine, the filter having done its
job of protecting the front element.
Image quality
Image quality is superb. The Ken Rockwell review
explains the characteristics of this lens in some detail. The images attached
attest to the quality he sees.
The Ebay Upload Images
The lens tests attached were shot on a 42.4MP Sony
A7RII Mirrorless camera. It works flawlessly on my Nikon D7200, but I wanted to
show off this lens full frame ability. I've taken a series of images of the
northbound tunnel entrance to the Queensway Underpass in Birmingham, UK. The
first image was shot wide open at f/4. The next two images are 100% centre and
edge crops of the first image. They are dead sharp, contrasty and pretty much
free of Chromatic Aberration in the centre with a small amount at the edge. The
next two images are of the same scene, bit this time it’s a centre and edge crop
at f/8. Both are superb. The next two images of the crane against the sky were
shot at f/4 and f/8 respectively. The 100% crops are again super sharp. The
final image of the traffic camera was again shot at f/4 and shows the superb
Bokeh and DOF that this lens generates.
The Youtube Images
I've taken a series of images of the tunnel
entrance from f/4 all the way to f/32. I've cropped the images centre and edge
at 100% at various apertures including f/4, and f/32. These crops are
equivalent to a print of about 8 X 5 feet. It's a very sharp and contrasty
lens. This lens is great wide open and I've created an 'f/4 collection' on the
Youtube video.
Notice that there is virtually no Chromatic
aberration on high areas of contrast at f/4 in the centre. Any there is has
gone by f/5.6. It's razor sharp all the way to f/16. It's softening a bit at
f/22, and by f/32, the image is a bit softer due to internal diffraction in the
lens. However, we were up to ISO 8000 at f/32, so that has to be considered as
well.
What's in the box?
Lens, Kenko MC Skylight 1A 52mm filter, front and
rear lens caps.
Please
check out my other Nikon listings on eBay