So I picked up a clean AFS 300mm F4 w/o lens collar locally (body is pretty scruffed buy oh well).

It's a pretty versatile lens...

Good for some boat shots:

Looks like the test session went well!

I truly love the 300/f4 - I shoot the old style lens but it sure delivers the goods

Enjoy your new lens!

Congrats I got one last month and really like it, beautiful bokeh and really sharp.

Dan

you forgot macro

Pretty sweet Avi. Congrats on getting that lens!

Very nice... but no macro? Don't forget this lens focuses down to 1:3.7, so those bugs are quite inviting!

Gaylon Holmes wrote:
Looks like the test session went well!

I truly love the 300/f4 - I shoot the old style lens but it sure delivers the goods

Enjoy your new lens!

Thanks Gaylon! I will enjoy this lens

Dan Bellyk wrote:
Congrats I got one last month and really like it, beautiful bokeh and really sharp.

Dan

Yeah, really nice lens, and handholdable too! I like the built-in hood.

stompyq wrote:
you forgot macro

Didn't even think of it...

NightOwl Cat wrote:
Pretty sweet Avi. Congrats on getting that lens!

Thanks NightOwl, I am liking it so far. Wish it had the tripod collar though... Ah well.


binary visions wrote:
Very nice... but no macro? Don't forget this lens focuses down to 1:3.7, so those bugs are quite inviting!

Thanks. It didnt occur to me that it was a close focusser, I will have to try that in the future though.

... and it's impressively sharp wide open too. A real bargain of a lens IMHO. Congrats and enjoy Avi...

dj dunzie wrote:
... and it's impressively sharp wide open too. A real bargain of a lens IMHO. Congrats and enjoy Avi...

Ahh yes. Forgot that one . Congrats on getting the swiss army knife of lenses Avi.

Avi B wrote:
So I picked up a clean AFS 300mm F4 w/o lens collar locally (body is pretty scruffed buy oh well).


If you're looking for a good collar, check out the Kirk NC-300, works great.

http://www.kirkphoto.com/lenscollars.html

Nice stuff Avi .... it's on my short list of lenses to get (the 200-400 or 300 f/2.8 are too $$$ not to mention size).

Hey -

I just (today) got a one of these fantastic lenses. However, when I looked at the back element, it was behind the aperture! Is the aperture "exposed" like that on these lenses or am I missing a rear element?? Looks like it's supposed to, but I've never seen that before.

Steve

Steve Perry wrote:
Hey -

I just (today) got a one of these fantastic lenses. However, when I looked at the back element, it was behind the aperture! Is the aperture "exposed" like that on these lenses or am I missing a rear element?? Looks like it's supposed to, but I've never seen that before.

Steve

My 180 is like that.

I should pay better attention. I wasn't. So I don't know. Will check when I get home (unless someone else answers before I do ). Just try the lens out to see if it works

Todo list:
1. Check rear element
2. Shoot some macros to show off the complete range of this lens Hopefully I can do it justice...

Steve Perry wrote:
Hey -

I just (today) got a one of these fantastic lenses. However, when I looked at the back element, it was behind the aperture! Is the aperture "exposed" like that on these lenses or am I missing a rear element?? Looks like it's supposed to, but I've never seen that before.

Steve
Yes thats normal with the 300mm f/4. It's a mixed blessing. For one thing you need to be doubly careful about not dropping anything on to those apeture blades. On the other hand the lack of a rear element saved my lens. I dropped it mount side facing down from my camera bag (at least 5 feet) when my wife forgot to close it. The rear cap broke in to peices (it was solid parking lot asphalt) and the mount was jammed. The repair from nikon was only $180. If i had any glass it would have been cracked to peices or at best just scrtached from the rear cap peices. As it turns out all nikon needed to do was replace the mount.

OK cool - learn something every day! Now I have to get out and shoot with the thing! I love the weight though - so much lighter than my 200-400 and for a lot of my shooting, this will do.

Thanks

Steve

Went for a walk around some wetlands today with the D300, 300 f/4 and the PN-11.
It was kind of breezy so I did not get alot of keepers but I do like the buttery BG's from this lens.

Mine hasn't been off my camera since I got it (used) about a month ago !

If only the AF worked with the 1.7TC (nikon earthing mod required)

Andy

Here's an example or two:







andy

Well, checked off one item on Todo - yes, the rear element is really like that

Item two - hopefully it's not as cloudy tmr...

Great pics Andy Thanks for sharing!

So it took a little while, but I finally got around to trying some macro-ish shots with the AFS 300 All these are around work (went for a walk outside after lunch) and shot with the D2H again:

Nice Avi,

Enjoy your new lens!

Thanks Marc!

why am i reading threads like these

and why do i not have this lens?

sheesh

Anyhoo congrats and nice work

Thanks Raymond. But why do you not have this lens?!? I'm surprised as well! I think you need to remedy the situation sometime (sometime soon)

... he's waiting for the soon-to-be-announced-if-you-read-FM-rumor-threads AF-S 300mm f4.0 VRII...