Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF
- The Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF is a prime lens for Full Frame (FF) format, compatible with Nikon F FF and APS-C cameras (and also mirrorless Nikon Z via adapter).
- This lens is available exclusively in the Nikon F mount.
- The lens is filterable with 72mm filters, there is not the image stabilization and the focus takes place via the camera AF motor.
- The lens is out of production (production period: 1993 - 2020).
- Price range*: $$$
- Equivalences**: a 180mm f/2,8 mounted on a Full Frame camera will remain so, mounted on a Nikon APS-C camera it will have a field of view, a Depth of Field and a "out of focus portion" of the image roughly equivalent to that of a 275mm f/4,3 lens on Full Frame.
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*Price range - legend: $: <400$ | $$: 400$ - 1000$ | $$$: 1000$ - 2000$ | $$$$: +2000$
**Equivalences - explanation: the concepts of "equivalent focal length" and "equivalent aperture" were born with the aim of allowing similar photos to be taken (in terms of framing and Depth of Field) with two cameras with sensors of different sizes without changing the distance from the subject (otherwise the perspective would also change) and placing the Full Frame format as a reference in the equivalence. The "equivalent focal length" helps the photographer to understand what field of view it will have (i.e. what the lens + camera combination can see and capture) and consequently what is the equivalent angle of view. The "equivalent aperture" helps the photographer to understand the equivalent Depth of Field (DoF) and how much "out of focus portion" the image will have. The equivalent "mm" are obtained by multiplying the focal length by the crop factor of the camera used [NIKON APS-C: 1.53x] and in a similar way the equivalent "f/" aperture is calculated. It is important to remember that a lens NEVER changes its physical characteristics, a 180mm f/2.8 always remains a 180mm f/2.8, regardless of whether it is mounted on Full Frame, APS-C, Medium Format and so on. ONLY the field of view changes. Exposure is also independent of the sensor format, so regardless of the sensor format of the camera on which the lens is mounted (as long as the lens can be mounted on multiple formats), with the same aperture, the shutter speed and ISO will also be the same.
Specifications
COMPATIBLE MOUNT
Nikon F
Focal length | Angle of view
180mm | 13°
Format
FF
Maximum aperture | Minimum aperture
f/2.8 | f/22
Aperture
9 blades
Minimum focusing distance
1,5 m (4.92 ft)
Maximum magnification | Reproduction Ratio
0,15x | RR 1:6,7
Image stabilizer
No
Focus
It needs the camera AF motor
Filter diameter
Ø72mm
Optical construction
8 elements in 6 groups
Type
Prime lens
Weather sealing
No
Lens hood
Integrated
Tripod ring
No
Extenders
Not supported
Weight | Dimensions (diameter x length)
1.68 lb | Ø3.1″ x 5.7″
Other features
- No internal AF motor, it needs the camera AF motor, a screw drive, be aware that not all Nikon cameras are equipped with it (e.g. on Z mirrorless the lens can only be used with manual focus and to use it the mount adapter FTZ is needed)
- Only if the camera has a screw-type AF motor is it possible to use the AF-D lens's aperture ring (from the camera's custom settings menu you need to switch between "sub-command dial" and "aperture ring"). For all other cameras without a screw-type AF motor, including Z mirrorless cameras, aperture control is always electronically controlled via the camera's controls and for this to be possible it is necessary to lock the lens's aperture ring at the minimum aperture value (otherwise "fEE error" will occur)
- Although it is not advisable and although the opposite is specified, the lens can be multiplied (keeping the AF and the control of the aperture with the camera), BUT ONLY with NON-Nikon teleconverters equipped with mechanical transmission of the camera's screw AF, such as Kenko ones
- Distance scale window
- Focus mode switch to change the focus mode from Manual (M) to Autofocus (A)
- Aperture ring to manually select aperture values + Minimum aperture lock lever also available (the camera can control the aperture only if the lens is set to the minimum aperture and the lock is used to avoid accidental changes)
- Lens hood: built-in retractable
MTF chart
The MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) chart is useful for having an objective representation of the contrast and resolution of a lens from the center to the edges compared to an ideal system. Click on the link to view it:
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(remember that the MTF curves are calculated at full aperture, by closing the aperture basically all lenses are fine)
Video-reviews and Reviews
For obvious reasons this is just a selection of the main and most significant video reviews and reviews available online for the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF.
If you are interested in this lens, I invite you to find out more by reading the reviews in full / watching the video reviews on the websites / YouTube channels of the respective creators linked here:
Review 1
(Well-structured and technical analysis, with samples, of the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF that examines many aspects: sharpness; chromatic aberration; vignetting; distortion;...)
Review 2
(Technical review that analyzes and schematically compares the performance of the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF with other lenses)
Review 3
(Technical review that analyzes the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF in many aspects focusing mainly on the MTF [resolution] test)
Review 4
(Well-structured analysis with samples of the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF)
Notes:
- Always view / read reviews with a critical attitude, remembering that the various evaluations must be parameterized with each other by the date the lens was tested and with which camera the lens was reviewed. A 20-year-old lens considered excellent on today's dense sensors will probably still be very good, but it is equally likely that in terms of contrast and resolution it has now been surpassed by more modern lenses.
- Reviews, although really useful for getting a general idea of a lens without ever having tried it directly, are not an exact science. If you just look at the numbers and the negatives there are some lenses that with all their flaws appear to be pure rubbish. Some are actually really poor, but for others there may be precise design choices behind them to obtain a certain rendering of the blur or performance / size ratio otherwise impossible to have if the lens were perfectly corrected for vignetting, distortion, Chromatic Aberration, Spherical Aberration, astigmatism and so on.
- The good intention is to keep all the links working, but if that is not the case I thank those who will report the broken ones. Everything on the web is by its nature not lasting. Modifications and deletions of contents are not rare and especially for the older lenses, a lot of history is being lost. Thanks for the collaboration! :)
PROS and CONS
Brief summary of the main PROS (✅) and the related CONS (❌) for the Nikon AF 180mm f/2.8D ED-IF highlighted in the various video-reviews and online reviews:
✅ PROS
Excellent build quality and overall image quality, especially in the center
❌ CONS
Lack of rear element (i.e. the diaphragm is exposed as it is behind the last lens in the optical scheme and there is no glass between the lens mount bayonet and the diaphragm. Therefore, great care must be taken when changing and storing the lens to avoid a possible problem of dust entry), edges not good as the center, CA (Chromatic Aberration) longitudinal, some problems against bright light (flare and ghosting)