🌀Two of the VERY BEST Nikkor lenses you don't own 

1) Nikkor 180mm 2.8D AF 2) Nikkor 300mm 4D

Oh ye...I bought the 300 mm f4 d series on your recommendation and wow I am insanely happy .. micro contrast, color rendition and is by no stretch of the imagination, exquisite. She's a heavy girl but I would never leave home without her. I also bought the 80-200 2.8 d for her prime-like qualities and love her too but I think she needs her smaller 180 mm 2.8 d sister to complete the trinity...

Yep, bought these two lenses and countless other ones on your recommendation and wow! The 180 comes out on top followed by the 300 ( imo )

I picked up the 300 f4 D about a week ago. I actually saw your review after I purchased it. It is a bit road worn with brassing and some dents on the hood. Regardless, optically it is solid and I am totally blown away with the bokeh it produces wide open. Sharp and great color rendering. I paid around $200 for my copy. I have wanted this lens since the early 90s when I was using my N90 for journalism work and side work in college. Finally able to get some of the glass I wanted back then. The metal made in Japan lenses. Thanks for all your reviews. I really appreciate them.

I have both ... I got the 300mm for 250 and the 180 for 240. Ken I also purchased the 65mm micro. My carry kit for Nikon..., 35mm f2 af-d, 65 micro, 180 mm. Rarely do I use a zoom unless there is a specific environmental need. Nikon makes some really fine glass at times and I appreciate you for sifting these gems out.

Thanks for the memories! I used both of these lenses as a photojournalist. The 300 was tack sharp and though only f4 it was light enough and small enough to carry in my Domke. That could NOT be said about the 300 f2.8! The 180 is one of the sharpest Nikkors I ever owned. I carried these lenses with a 105 2.5 and 24 2.8. That range covered everything for me! mattlitphoto

Hey Theoria: here is my evaluation of both the 180mm f4 and 300mm f4: They are great lenses for everything except stiuations requiring super fast autofocus. I use both for astrophotography with a D850 on a Skywatcher Star Adventurer. I recommend stopping them down to f5.6 to minimize vignette for astro work; especially the 180mm. Thanks for the review; I own both.

I followed the 300mm f/4 D Flicker link. The pictures just seemed to pull me right in. They were magnetic with clarity and bright vibrant colors.

gonna try these two, already had 35-70. 80-200, 300 4.5 golden ring. Thanks a lot for your recommendation, tovarish :))

Thanks for the review. I re-watch your videos as they are always encouraging and underline the fact how good these lenses are (I own them both). Honestly, I often debate as to which lens am I going to take with me for the photoshoot. I do portraits with them mainly, and I must admit that I am floored every time of the output of these two lenses. I have the plastic 180mm version, which is so light to carry. BW is amazing as well, often even more artistic that just untouchable. My clients are incredibly pleased and want more... That speaks for itself. Thanks and God bless.

I picked up the 180 2.8 D before finding your channel. extremely happy with it. use it all the time even doing sport shots of basket ball and swimming. You just figure how to use the auto focus to your advantage. I pair that up with the 300mm f4 AFS. fun combo to use

The 180mm is dreamy at all f stops. First lens I ever loved.

Hey Ken, thank you, I went to Moscow last weekend and picked up the 300mm f/4 for about $370, I will place it next to my 180mm f/2.8. :) Спасибо

The best of the best!!!! Thanks for introducing this wonderful lens!!!

I bought both of these lenses on your recommendation. I absolutely love them both, especially the 300mm!

Ken, I'm looking to add a 300mm f4 prime for my D500's. Nearly all of my shooting is fast moving aviation and military stuff. From listening to you just now I'm tending towards the new 300mm f4 PF (I've already got the 200-500mm f5.6 and the TC-1.4 III). Thanks for all the vids, top stuff!

I was just gifted with the ED rabbit ear version of the 180. Very well worn...scratched/scuffed. Granted, the flower images are in deep forest with rays of light which we all can do nicely...but I have never made such magical images. Had not thought of b/w, but will do so now.

I have the 180 f2.8, I take it out the case just fondle my precious..... I remember when I was in photography school in the mid 90s my friend had the manual version of this lens. I loved it.

Everyone talks about how amazing the 105mm f/2.5. And that lens is great. But my 180mm f/2.8 KICKS ITS BUTT! The 180mm is magical.

Just practically stole a 180 2.8 for $160 with a Hoya filter attached...no scratches, smooth, perfect condition for being over 20 years old. I can’t wait to try it on my new z6 with focus peaking

180 2.8 - yep yep yep. One of the best lenses ever. I have 3 lenses in my bag - this is one of them. 24, 85, and 180. This is AMAZING!

I bought a used lens in excellent condition from Japan on eBay. I an works like new. the image cobler sharpness in rendering is absolutely amazing thank you so much for this recommendation and for $300 it's easily probably my most favorite and cheapest lens I own

I have shot with both of these lenses for years. Every you hear from this fine fellow is correct.

Honorable mention...Nikkor 180 mm f2.8 ED AI-S. I just picked up a gold ring copy of this lens and it's pretty freaking awesome too.

Don't buy the 180mm new? Sorry but I did...LOL on your recommendation of this lens I did buy one brand new from B&H and IT'S AWESOME!!!!! Just love this thing! I love portraits and love my wife...therefore I take LOTS of portraits of my beautiful wife with this lens and all I can say is THANK YOU HEAPS KEN for recommending this couple of years ago! BTW I recently bought the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR2 and have done some awesome portraits of my wife with it and off course some nice fast action/sports too.

I love my 135 2.8/3.5 Nikkor. Very near the 180mm, thoi

Well, I just bought the 180mm for my D850 after watching your video. I subscribed. Man you're that dude. I'm new to the channel but love the way you break things down. Thanks again man.

I have that Nikkor 180mm f2.8 thanks to you . My portrait images are uploaded to that Flickr group.

I have the 300mm f4 lens and I use to take sports shots, it works very well

Thank you Ken for another great review.

The Nikon 300mm F4 non AF-S has purple fringing. I see it on the first three bird photos. Also when you say it has the best B&W. Are you referring to the in camera filter, or using a film camera?

I love my Nikon 180mm 2.8, also the 60mm f/2.8d these two lens I use with my D7200 dx camera, love them both, the 180mm f/2.8 lens its a lens once you use it, you will never let it go.

Actually I do own them...and will hold on to them! Great lenses.

I just bought one from a local camera store, in pristine condition (I can't see a nick or a blemish on it, it looks NEW!) for $249.00. The store had it tagged at $449.00, but the shop let me take it home for two weeks to play with it and, if I liked it, he'd "make me a deal". A deal he DID! $249.00, can't beat it.

I have the 300 f4, still looking for the 180 cheap. 300 was amazing on d3

I wonder if the 180mm 2.8 works well in the GFX 50. I'm just trying to find any good lense that can save me from buying the gf 250mm. Any suggestions?

I bought the Nikon 80-200 2.8 from watching this channel. BEAUTIFUL LENS. It is on my D610 most of the time.

Great info Ken, what is your opinion on the Nikon 300mm f/4 ED-IF AF-S lens and what is a good price for a used one in good condition, thanks...

please Ken, could you do a short video on how the limiter of the 300mm f4 D lens works? you are right about the lack of videos regarding this lens and I have never seen something related to the variable limiter. thanks!

300F4 just picked one up Bokeh is sublime

The 300f/4.0AF ED lens has been made since the late 1980's. New, they were close to $900. Well worth the money back then, more so now, at $350-450 for a mint version.

Would love to know your opinion of Olympus OM lenses. Especially the 28mm f2 on a Fuji xt-2

Late to the party, but... I have both (I have three of the 180mm) and you're right. No Nikon F shooter should be without them. I pass a tear for those with commodity cameras that can't mount these lenses. These two lenses alone are proof that commodity cameras like the D5x00 and D3x00 were terrible mistakes. The old Nikon glass (clear back to bunny ears lenses) turn the pro cameras into real bargains. I have ancient Nikon lenses that I will never sell.

Hi Ken, currently both lenses are available around me for almost same price ~500cad. Which one would be best, knowing i am "covering" the 180mm already with the Tamron G2 and Takumar 200mm. 300mm would be new but am afraid it is like not an everyday lens.. tks as usual.

Ken, I bought a 180 f2.8 from a Nikonian member, but it is the older, manual-focus lens. I'm very happy with it (I prefer manual focusing) but am wondering if the D lenses used a different design, optically, and should I trade in what I have for a D version? I bought the 300 f4 D in 1993 (?) new, and its still one of my most-used lenses, just love the colors and sharpness on wildlife.

Just ordered a 180mm 2.8. Can't wait to get it.

Shit man I found your channel and now I have at least 10 lenses in buying queue not to mention that I bought 3 speedlights already. I got child you know... she has to eat something you know... I wish I jumped into the mirrorless to have less option in lenses hahah;). I thought you are here to save our money;) Take care & keep going!

Looking for a telephoto prime for landscape on a fuji. X-t2. Tried the Nikon 200mm f4 AIS. It’s ok images wide open can get a bit dreamy. Looking for something with better contrast and micro contrast. Would you recommend the 180mm f2.8

180mm 2.8 is an outstanding lens - as long as the diaphragm blades stay dry. Then it can contaminate your sensor with rust. I really need to get mine a new diaphragm

I’m interested in nikon 180, on what bodies are using? Thank you!

Ken, i agree that that 300 should be slow, and was with my 7200. But the same lens on my d500 is pretty amazing. Not sure if the accuracy of the d500 af makes it hunt less, but i shoot BIF with it all the time with excellent results. I can get swallows in flight if i can frame them quickly enough. Would be curious to know if you've had it on your d500.

I rarely shoot my lenses at wide open, since most are soft there. This lens at 5.6 is super sharp, has gorgeous bokeh, 3D rendering, and in b&w with only 8 elements, my film shots are spectacular. You have to be kidding it costs so little. Paid 4 times as much for my 135 and this renders darn close.

Always interesting to listen to you Ken. Would you recommend the Nikon 180mm f2.8 ED AIS? it seems nicer to focus manually with it than the AF version.

tried these two, got rid off em and got a used nikkor 70-200 f4 afs (400 pounds on ubay uk, perfect state), happier with it. 180mm was too soft at f2.8 (and it wasn't sharper than 180mm f2.8 ais), so, f2.8 was useless. and 70-200 f4 with 1.4x converter is sharper than 300mm at f4 and at f5.6 bokeh is still ok at 200x1.4 mm. compared to newer (and now affordable cuz ppl move to z) 2nd hand afs N glass options d glass is old now for anything with more than 16Mpix (well, my df is also happier with 70-200 f4)

Would you recommend the 180mm f2.8 for wildlife photography?

Just picked both of these lenses up last week actually for $100 each! Great bang for your buck!

Hi,, I know you are asked for a lot of stuff but could you do a video on inspecting older vintage lenses and what to look for,, many seem to show a haze on internal lens surfaces when I shine a torch,, how much is too much?? Many thanks. Regards Hans.

The rear lens element of these 2 lenses are recessed deep in the lens' housing, even beyond the diaphragm blades in the case of the 180mm lens. The filter slot on the 300mm lens can potentially let in dust. So how do you ever clean the deep, inner glass surfaces if, God forbid, any junk should get on them?

Ken, I have the D7200, can I ask you please, which one would be best for myself, the 300mm f/4 vs the AFS 300mm f/4 , I not into sport, more like flowers, birds, and yes you got me into B&W and I love it, so a big thank you there too. I would love any help on this question. Chris

I agree that the color an rendition of the 180mm is incredible. It’s not that great in terms of resolution, and as you say autofocus is not that great. The resolution it’s not an issue for portraits, in general.

I bought a 180mm 2.8 AF plastic body with the rubber focus ring for £175 on UK ebay and is excellent

I think there is a Nikkor 70-300 I regret selling and need to recover at some point.

I hv got 180 and 300 based on yr high recommendations. The output of 300 is better than 180, also even better than 200-500. I am shooting wildlife mostly and 300 is easy to use.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

i just ordered a Nikkor 10.5mm 2.8... hoping to have most fun i can have w/pants on

Thanks to this review I now own both these lenses.

I do have the Nikon 180 nn and it's awesome I have also purchased from your recommendation a voightlander 58mm 1.4 for £255.00 Which is about $330.00 . I hope I didn't pay to much for it

I have the 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS and 300mm f/2.8 ED IF AIS Nikkors and they are some of the sharpest lenses I own. Mechanically they are both without peer, including the latest Nikkors. Yes, they are manual focus, but big deal? All of my SLR and DSLR bodies have split image/microprism focusing screens in them.

The 300mm f4 AF that I own is one of the very few lenses I can confidently shoot wide open without having to worry about the quality of the resulting image.

wow! thanks for this info sir! i have 300mm f5.6 yashica ml also lightweight and crazy sharp vintage.

i see quite a lot of purple fringing on flickr using nikon 300mm F4 mentioned here, is it fixable in lightroom? i do not see profile for this lens, only for AF-S

Both fantastic lenses.

I have a nikon 28-300 lens . I really love it , but you are saying this 180mm is better ??? And is this 180mm for crop or ff? Would it work good on my d500?

Hey Ken, how does the Nikon 180mm 2.8 AI-s compare to the AF-d?

Would these work with a Z series camera with the FTZ adapter?

Hey whats your recommendation on the 300 afs vs this one?

i really enjoy these 2 lens for wildlife shooting based on your recommendation. thank u

180 best lens ever

off topic but i can see your reflection on this Imac screen and i wonder how is it possible to work on photos with such a reflective screen.. ?!

I got the 180mm ai-s for 30 bucks and the 300mm 2.8 af-s for 1200 bucks. When the people dont know the worth of the lenses because there is no ebay in my country :^)

How would you compare the 300mm 4.5 ed if with this 300mm f4 af-d lens?

Aah i owned the 180 mm f/2.8 Ais ED when I started out with photography. On the F3 it was fantastic. Sold it to buy my first DSLR. Still regret it

i now have them both today! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA both almost similar in price 300mm for 310 bucks and 180mm for 290 bucks, currently testing 180mm today.

180 ais 2.8 and 300 F4 keepers for sure

The older 180mm f2.8 ED is a five element lens. The newer version has seven elements I believe.

Thanks for, sharing your knowledge, very informative

my nikon go too man......love the vids

Is the non-AF Nikkor 180mm ED 2.8 optically these same as that AF 180 2.8D?

Ken, what you think about the nikon 70-180 micro?

I have the 70-200 tamron g2 so is there any point in adding the 180 2.8 to improve my portraits? i use my 70-200 g2 for portraits

You know what i like.

Doing things for free builds character!

I am getting both!!! Just take my money away!!! Thanks for the recommendation Ken, your channel is #1. 👆

Ill buy one from u? Matt finish please.

I recently acquired a Nikon F5 as I've developed a passion for film photography. As of right now I've paired the 50mm 1.8g and 85mm 1.8g to this camera. I've been watching your videos on Nikon 's 180mm 2.8 and 80-200mm 2.8 and cant decide which I should go with. If you had to purchase one over the other, which would you recommend? Thank you in advance

Hi there! I need some advice for my next glass for Nikon D750. I am already have 24-70 Tamron and 100 macro tokina. Now I need some tele. I have no money for Tamron 70-200g2 and must chose between 80-200 zoom and this 180mm. Which one I must buy?

While i search that 180mm nikkor lens on eBay i can't find any of those lens around 3-400$. Is it worth of buying those lens around 5-600$ 🤔

I PITY the fool( spoken with a Mr.T accent ) that doesn't have these lenses! Thanks again for your great recommendations!

Hmmm-ohhh okie dokie

find a perfect condition 28/70 and discover a legendary nikkor lens....insanely delicate definitely but optically insane.