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neoshazam
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Registered: Jun 1, 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 529
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Review Date: Dec 20, 2017
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Bokeh
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Cons:
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Sometimes Chromatic Aberration (CA)
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I got a more used version of this lens and wasn't expecting too much but this is now a lens I use ever chance I get.
The perspective and bokeh is great...Wide open may not be sharp enough but 3.2-3.5 is really great. Bokeh isn't as perfect as 105mm F2 DC but otherwise its really good stuff.
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 Dec 20, 2017
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Allyn Hill
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Registered: Aug 2, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 258
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Review Date: Nov 22, 2017
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fairly compact, built like a tank, outstanding IQ
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Cons:
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Heavy, focus is slow and hunts from time to time
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I bought this as a smaller inexpensive alternative to a 70-200 2.8 VR. Oh my gosh does it take outstanding photos. Depth of field is outstanding and although it takes time to focus, once there, it is really accurate. It hunts sometimes, which, if you are trying to catch a once in a lifetime scene would be a problem. However, if you have even just a little time the results are truly spectacular. If you are on a budget but want a pro-lens, this is a great buy.
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Nov 22, 2017
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the solitaire
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Registered: Jun 22, 2013
Location: Germany
Posts: 2752
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Review Date: Jun 23, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Small, lightweight, pin sharp, fast AF, built in lens hood.
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Cons:
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Aperture blades are very exposed, some purple fringing in backlit situations
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I tried 2 copies of this lens. The 1st version with the narrow plastic focus ring and the D version with crinkle finish.
The 1st version was as good as the D version in all aspects but I think mine had a defect. It suffered from purple fringes quite badly.
The D version I tried was better in this respect but I do believe that this is just due to sample variation rather then Nikon changing anything to the optical formula or coatings between the various versions of this lens.
Itīs a perfect lens in many respects. Optically itīs sharper then any of the 80-200 or 70-200 f2,8 zooms. Especially out of the center.
The 2 reasons I did not keep mine were that the Aperture blades are completely exposed. Since I photograph outdoors and switch lenses a lot they would have been cluttered with dust and rubbish in no time. Unfortunately there is no way to fix this that I know of.
The 2nd reason is that I am willing to sacrifice a little sharpness in the corners for the greater flexibility and added size and weight of a f2,8 tele zoom to accommodate my shooting stye.
If you are mostly using the long end of a xx-200 zoom anyways and manage to keep the Aperture blades clean this is the best lens you can get for your buck.
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Jun 23, 2013
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pwsth1
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Registered: Jan 16, 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jun 4, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very well built, compact, relatively light, exceptionally sharp, nice creamy bokeh,
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Cons:
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Some have back-front-focus issues.
flimsy and (too) short, sliding lens hood
AF-MF switching is kinda complicated. but that is the case for all Nikkor lenses from that era
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This lens makes beautiful shots with exceptional depth and stunning sharpness. Lovely creamy bokeh. And it also has a distinct "3-D"-like character, with this I mean that the subjects REALLY pops forward in a scene. A definite keeper!!!!
I read that some of these lenses have a small focus-issue (back- or front focus) on some camera's. Mine has this too, and I was happy with the focus fine-adjustments on my DSLR.
On my analogue F100 I always have to correct the focus a tiny bit to get that exceptional sharpness wide open.
This is only an issue when shooting close subjects wide open.
see some shots I made with this lens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pwsonline/sets/72157628924895623/
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Jun 4, 2013
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FMthejnal
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Registered: Aug 31, 2012
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Mar 14, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Really nice bokeh, cheaper than 105 DC or 135 DC
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Cons:
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Soft wide open. Tried 2 versions, new one and older (plastic) one. Both same sharpness, needs to be stopped down.
Autofocus is slow, i was not able to photograph people walking to me if they were close to me (face portrait). Chromatic aberation.
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could have round blades, but you can make a circle from paper and put it inside the lens so you can get perfect circles.
some photos using this lens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/5854258766/in/photostream
(bottom corner is info about the lens)
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Mar 14, 2013
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James Markus
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Registered: Jul 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 6787
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Review Date: Sep 20, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Incredibly sharp with wonderful bokeh. Built in lens hood. A good value.
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Cons:
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manual focus is not smooth
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I got a used one of these to replace my 70-200mm afs vr version I. The bokeh is identical, and it is actually much sharper. Beyond that - the Nikkor 180mm f2.8 AF is smaller, lighter, and less expensive...a win-win-win. I sold off the 70-200
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Sep 20, 2012
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fotojev
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Registered: Feb 13, 2010
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 35
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Review Date: Nov 13, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Fast, very sharp, robust.
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Cons:
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No weather seal, a bit heavy and long.
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I love this lens for outdoor use. Very nice to picture people.
It is somewhat long when carrying around. Also people will notice you! Definitely a lens I recommend.
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Nov 13, 2011
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jessi74
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Registered: Aug 22, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Nov 5, 2011
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Razor sharp. Smaller than a zoom. Great manual focus feel.
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Cons:
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Slow AF. MF clutch is annoying.
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Buy the older versions; they're all the same optically.
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Nov 5, 2011
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ljdart
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Registered: Jan 9, 2010
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 17
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Review Date: Jan 30, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $375.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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excellent image quality, good manual focussing, well balanced when handheld
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Cons:
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no tripod mount.
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I bought this lens second hand. I love to work with it. The autofocus is noisy, but generally speaking is very accurate on the d200. When on manual focus the lens works like a dream, even on the small focus-screen of the d200.
When on tripod the combination is out of balance and there is need for a tripodmount on the lens.
Optically I love the sharpness and the bokeh, kind of dreamy.
edit 2-12-2013.
On a nikon d700 the sharpness on 2.8 has gone, what is left is the irresistible rendering of a dreamy athmosphere.
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Jan 30, 2010
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Richard GT
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Registered: Feb 18, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 145
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Review Date: Nov 4, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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sharp, fast, beautiful bokeh, well built.
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Cons:
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Nothing I can think of other than I should use it more.
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So what's not to like? I've heard stories about a rather slow AF but this is not the case on my D200. I find AF to be fast enough to capture running dogs at 20-30 mph. That's fast enough for me. I like this lens very much. It makes magic happen. I always bring home a prize when this lens is chosen.
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Nov 4, 2009
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Alex Phan
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Registered: Jul 20, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 4917
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Review Date: Jun 4, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, good contrast,excellent Bokeh.
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Cons:
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none
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another great lens at low price.
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Jun 4, 2009
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HomeyD5
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Registered: Dec 11, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Dec 12, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Beautiful results even wide open, stunning between f/5.6 and f/8
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Cons:
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Screwdriver focusing is a bit slow; that, combined with its tendency to hunt across the entire focus range makes it not a good choice for moving subjects or action in low light.
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If your subject is suited to the 180mm perspective (270mm equivalent on DX), and will sit still for you while you focus and compose, you can rely on this lens to produce professional results. Crisp and contrasty edge-to-edge, even wide open, with pure colors and good bokeh. The build is solid metal with a bakelite crinkle finish; it would be at home in a hardwood box lined with red velvet! Good examples can be found at a very reasonable price on the used market. My sample is a non-D version, which handicaps it for iTTL flash use.
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Dec 12, 2008
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digiman69
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Registered: Jan 20, 2005
Location: Italy
Posts: 4
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Review Date: Aug 7, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp from center to corners wide open even on FF. Solid built while still a compact tele, great even with pro 1,4x converters.
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Cons:
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None!
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For those still loving primes...
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Aug 7, 2008
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condyk
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Registered: Mar 14, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 300
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Review Date: Aug 3, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Great colour, contrast and sharpness with superior bokeh that really makes shots pop. Great build that feel hard wearing and everything works crisply as it should. I'm very pleased with this lens and even like the hood design ;-)
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Cons:
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Impossible to fault. Very compact and sharp lens - pocket sized even!
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Aug 3, 2008
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September
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Registered: May 14, 2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 15
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Review Date: Jul 8, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, good contrast, lightweight, beautifull Bokeh.
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Cons:
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Lenshood
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This lens is one of my favorites. Even wide open at f2.8. The bokeh is very nice and color rendition is excellent. The lens is very sharp.
Good portrait lens.
The lenshood design is mediocre.
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Jul 8, 2008
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dennisvillegas
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Registered: Jan 21, 2008
Location: Philippines
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 21, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $200.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, Bokeh, Light, Price, Fantastic Headhunter
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Cons:
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Blades are exposed at the rear which can be prone to dust and dirt. Hard to find lens even in Ebay.com.
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I own the "D" version of this lens which is the latest generation of the 180mm 2.8. Bought it used for a real cheapo price (the seller stupidly switched to Sony for whatever reason). Anyway his lost was my gain as I found this lens to be one of my sharpest primes. I own the 80-200 2.8 AF-D and this 180 is even sharper.
Anyway, this is one razor sharp lens and gives outstanding colors and creamy creamy bokeh. At 2.8, the lens is sharp enough and even becoming sharpest from f4 to f8. The length of this lens makes it a perfect headhunter and can be a great ambush lens. This lens is also light enough to make tripod-less shooting.
On the negative side, I found the exposed back of the lens prone to dirt. Also this lens is becoming hard to find even in Adorama and Ebay, achieving a legendary status reserved for the outstanding Nikkor lenses of all time.
I highly recommend this lens to anyone who wants the sharpest mid-tele at an affordable cost---that is, if you can find one.
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May 21, 2008
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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28
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122185
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Dec 20, 2017
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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100% of reviewers
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$363.38
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.42
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9.39
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9.5
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