Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR AF-S - Please help with your experience: I am considering expanding my FF lens arsenal with this lens - Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR AF-S. I would appreciate...

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

I am considering expanding my FF lens arsenal with this lens - Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR AF-S. I would appreciate comments and experience from UHH members who have and used this lens. My camera body is a Nikon Df. Thanks in advance.

granbob Loc: SW Wisc; E Iowa; W Illinois

Besides the fact that this lens is sharp, what I like best is its small size/light weight. Even with a 1.4 teleconverter, it remains extremely portable and easy to hand hold if needed.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

It's a great little lens - fast AF, sharp, and takes TCs well. My only complaint is that VR isn't the best. On some cameras, it's not very good in the 1/60 ~1/200th range - right where you really want it to be good (although it does seem better on my D850 than it did on my D7200 / D500 - and it works well on my D5 too). I just tend to shoot it faster and use VR sparingly. Overall, great lens.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Ha!! I was just about to tell you about Steve's video comparing this lens, combined with a 1.4x, with the 200-500. It's well worth the watch. Lots of great information. BTW....I'd love to have the 300.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1obqCxg52Q

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

DaveyDitzer wrote:

I am considering expanding my FF lens arsenal with this lens - Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR AF-S. I would appreciate comments and experience from UHH members who have and used this lens. My camera body is a Nikon Df. Thanks in advance.

Davey
I have that lens, but have only used it a few times and only only on my D7200, so far so good.
I just posted a couple of photos on the Photo Gallery under the title "Great Egret" if you want to take a look.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

SteveR wrote:

Ha!! I was just about to tell you about Steve's video comparing this lens, combined with a 1.4x, with the 200-500. It's well worth the watch. Lots of great information. BTW....I'd love to have the 300.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1obqCxg52Q

Just watched the video. Great recommendation. Thank you!

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

LOL, I forgot I did that video!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Just watched the video. Great recommendation. Thank you!

Check out photos posted my pmackd. I just came across his photos, some of which were posted in the area you see when logging in and are quite good. He uses this lens in combination with the D500 and D750. They should give you an idea of what the lens can do. Excellent photos.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Steve Perry wrote:

LOL, I forgot I did that video!

Steve,
So glad you responded. I have watched your utube 3 times and am still looking for the short segment talking about the serial number range where the VR software has been updated. I want to pull the trigger on this lens at Adorama E Bay auction, but want to ask them if the S/N is above the range where the software has been updated. I plan to get the lens and the 1.4 tele convertor. I will use this on both a Nikon Df and a D5300. I want sharp. I have a "less sharp" zoom now and want enough IQ to allow cropping. I also want the lighter weight. Loved the video. Still studying your Nikon auto focus book - lot there to learn. Thanks for all you do for photographers.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Steve, br So glad you responded. I have watched yo... (show quote)

Thanks :)

According to Nikon:

Firmware for lenses with a serial number of 205101 or later has already been updated.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

DaveyDitzer wrote:

I am considering expanding my FF lens arsenal with this lens - Nikon 300mm f/4E PF ED VR AF-S. I would appreciate comments and experience from UHH members who have and used this lens. My camera body is a Nikon Df. Thanks in advance.

May I suggest some thing I have experience with, I recommend that you should get the older one, the Nikon 300mm f4 AFs-D ED lens (Gold-ringed that is a pro lens in the Nikon lens list and made in Japan not China). I have this lens for three years with my Nikon Df. I also use it with the Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DGX 1.4X converter. I used it during my three trips to Alaska and Yellowstone National Park the last three years, I am very happy with this lens. It's several hundred dollar less than the new PF one. This is a AFS lens but D version, it means it has a aperture ring on the lens that you can adjust the aperture directly. This is very good using on the Df. In fact, all my 10 lenses on my Df have aperture ring.

miket22 Loc: Northern Massachusetts

Great lens. I use it all the time on my D7200. I use it for birds and gifts in flight. It's quick to focus and handheld and fairly easy to carry even on bikes for a couple hours. I cannot recommend it enough.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Steve Perry wrote:

... Overall, great lens.

I recall when it was introduced Nikon had some special software that was supposed to correct the image for artifacts left by the PF element. Do those of you using this lens also use this special software, or just process the images with your normal workflow? Any specific thoughts on the PF artifact issue?

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

aflundi wrote:

I recall when it was introduced Nikon had some special software that was supposed to correct the image for artifacts left by the PF element. Do those of you using this lens also use this special software, or just process the images with your normal workflow? Any specific thoughts on the PF artifact issue?

Honestly, I've yet to come across any image artifacting with the PF element. It just doesn't come into play with the types of photos I shoot I guess.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Steve Perry wrote:

Honestly, I've yet to come across any image artifacting with the PF element. It just doesn't come into play with the types of photos I shoot I guess.

That's what I figured, but not knowing for sure it's really good to hear it from you in particular since you have an extremely good eye for these kinds of details. Thanks for the info Steve.