Nikkor AI-S 200mm f:4

[Sar NOP]

I own this small 200mm lens for more than 20 years now. I mainly use it on my film cameras (F3 and FM2).

Today for the first time, I mounted it on my D2Hs and took it for a walk in the bush...

#1 : Compared to the 70-200 VR I, this 200mm is very compact !




#2 : Excellent and neutral colour rendition




#4 : Accurate MF helped by smooth focus ring, without play




#5 : Superb sharpness !

[Sar NOP]

#6 : Very pleasant bokeh




#7




#8





#9





#10




This inexpensive telelens is an excellent start for wildlife and nature photography !

[Paul G]

What a brilliant little lens Sar! Great to see the progression from then, to the 70 - 200 of now.
By the way, do you know the name of the bird in #4? There's a couple of them at the Wetlands near my house but I haven't been able to get a decent capture with my 80 - 200 yet to post here.

[Sar NOP]

By the way, do you know the name of the bird in #4? There's a couple of them at the Wetlands near my house but I haven't been able to get a decent capture with my 80 - 200 yet to post here.

In #4, the bird is called Purple swamphen.

[N*A*M]

excellent!
i love how the classic lenses still prove they can resolve detail so well
but i also enjoy the shift in thinking when using MF, and appreciate the high build quality that went into the old lenses

[mongo]

Mongo missed this post earlier but completely agrees about the older compact Ai and Ai-S lenses. Mongo has many of these any still often uses a 200mm f4 Ai macro. It is a little longer than Sar's 200mm but still very light and has all the renditions of his 200mm. Highly recommend these great performing and comparatively inexpensive lenses.

[ving]

looked into that lens once, but i was actually after the marco version. looks good tho

[Sar NOP]

Compared to the modern 70-200/2.8 VRI, this little 200/4 is 1/3 stop brighter at the same focale length and same aperture. Actually, the 70-200 is only a f/3.5 !!!

[Darey]

I must agree that is a lovely little lens and it produces sharp shots with very good bokeh
but
lets not forget it takes a very good photog to get the best out of these lens and Sar you have certainly done that.

Excellent shots Sar and I always look forward to seeing more of your work.