[Nikon] 200mm lens [Archive] - Talk Photography

ecniv

06-09-2009, 15:05

Hi,

Whilst wandering through Ken Rockwells pages I came across the cheap skate lenses page. I notice that on most pages he is selling the main lens (point in question was a 18-200 vr which i have and although ok is not the sharpest - vs the 105 macro anyway).

Interstingly he mentions a 200mm f4 lens. Has anyone used this and do they have some pics to show?

acs

06-09-2009, 19:17

Assume you mean the 200/4 Ai/AiS lens. They are nice lenses, very compact and very good image quality -- though manual focus.

sdb123

06-09-2009, 19:19

(point in question was a 18-200 vr which i have and although ok is not the sharpest - vs the 105 macro anyway).

That's like comparing a rusty spoon against a sharpened butchers knife. :)

ecniv

06-09-2009, 20:30

lol spoon vs knife...

weirdly Ken rates the 18-200 to replace loads of lenses... personal preference I guess...

@acs
Thats what Ken said, however I have not used one and he mentioned that it is not a close lens. Would I be able to use it for macro work (say dragon flies resting) or is it really a long way off lens..?

acs

06-09-2009, 21:14

:D Sorry, didn't realise you were thinking of the macro lens.

The closest marked distance for the macro is 0.71m on the Ai/AiS, and 0.5m on the AF -- while the MF lenses are good, the AF is the better lens optically.

Have a look at these http://www.pixel-peeper.com/lenses/?lens=141 -- and look at the ones listed as 200/4 micro/macro.

ecniv

06-09-2009, 21:20

Considering all options :)

dunno if I can afford one but I shall look as those pics are really nice :)

Thanks for replying

acs

06-09-2009, 21:27

You could also look at the Sigma 150 and maybe the 180.

Lensflare

07-09-2009, 15:05

Try using the 200 f4 with an extension ring....a trick many people who shoot macro forget about.

You can mount a 300 f2.8 on an extension ring and get MUCH closer focussing than the lens was ever intended for....your dragonflies suddenly fill the frame and for a lot less than a dedicated macro/micro Nikkor, plus you have the flexibility of a general purpose telephoto at the same time. 300 f4 same thing...or any of the lenses with a tucked away rear element.

ecniv

07-09-2009, 20:05

thanks for the suggestions :)

ecniv

11-09-2009, 16:57

sdb123

11-09-2009, 17:00

Ok. I bought it. It's old manual. When I plug on the d300 it works but I am around a meter from a test subject. The camera says it's f22 to f95. I assume no contacts means it's guessing?

Are there any specific settings on the d300 I should use?

Have you set the non-CPU lens data option on the D300? When you do this you should be able to meter correctly in Aperture and Manual modes.

photon

11-09-2009, 17:10

Yup, you plug in the focal length and max aperture value (with the aperture set to wide open).

Would be interesting to see how the Tamron Adaptall-2 ƒ/3.5 200mm compares.

ecniv

12-09-2009, 17:40

I think I may have wasted my money :/

was in the garden today (mum n dads) and tried out the 200 on a monopod. Soon reverted back to the 105 Macro...

I still think the suggestion of extension rings might help it - as I wont be scaring the target insect... I'll post a new question on that soon...

200mm test (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/ecniv/D300/_DSC7563_200_600x400.jpg)
18-200 comparison (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/ecniv/D300/_DSC7565_18_200_600x400.jpg)
full pic 200mm (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/ecniv/D300/_DSC7582_200_600x400.jpg)
cropped pic 200mm (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/ecniv/D300/_DSC7582_200_600x400_crop.jpg)