Post by belgiumreporter on Nov 26, 2019 9:02:48 GMT -5
At the recent camera fair i've bought the nikkor*ED300mm 1:4.5 wich i for some time was looking for.I now made a brief comparison between this lens and some other 300mm in my collection.
Maybe not fair to compare zooms with primes,but just for the sake of it i wanted to know what i should put in my bag when i'm out and about.The main reason i've bought the 300ED was weight it's "only" 960grams while the other two i've compared it to are the nikkor50-300 4.5 at 2260 grams and the Sigma 120-300 2.8 at 2700 grams
I've uploaded the comparison images at full resolution so they can be compared.
here's the scene:
What immediatly catches the eye, the sigma at the same distance dosn't give trhe same magnification as the nikkors,so their claimed 300mm isn't 300mm at all!
Here both nikkors wide open at 4.5, the sigma 2.8 stopped down to 4.5. Nikon 300ED is the sharpest, but has some purple fringing.50-300 Old nikkor zoom not up to todays standards.Sigma 300 less chromatic abberations, more contrast, but a fraction less sharp than the nikkor300ED
Do they improve when stopped down to f8?
Yes they do, but apparantly all three of them where focussed at a diffrent point, even thoug the point was set at the front of the canon lens,and focus confirmed by the arrows. I would say this is a bit inconclusive...
In conclusion to me the Nikkor 300ED is the best of the bunch, it is however not AF and not 2.8. But if i want to travel light and still want the reach of a 300 and good quality as well the 300ED it is.
The nikkor 300ED can be found at bargain prices,it's a very well and beautifull constructed lens. Be aware though nikon made many diffrent versions of this lens and the best series(ED glass internal focussing, minimal focussing distance 2.5meter) start from serial 201000 upward, they can be recognised by the green instead of the blue coating and the gold ring on the barrel..
This is what the lenses look like:
Maybe not fair to compare zooms with primes,but just for the sake of it i wanted to know what i should put in my bag when i'm out and about.The main reason i've bought the 300ED was weight it's "only" 960grams while the other two i've compared it to are the nikkor50-300 4.5 at 2260 grams and the Sigma 120-300 2.8 at 2700 grams
I've uploaded the comparison images at full resolution so they can be compared.
here's the scene:
What immediatly catches the eye, the sigma at the same distance dosn't give trhe same magnification as the nikkors,so their claimed 300mm isn't 300mm at all!
Here both nikkors wide open at 4.5, the sigma 2.8 stopped down to 4.5. Nikon 300ED is the sharpest, but has some purple fringing.50-300 Old nikkor zoom not up to todays standards.Sigma 300 less chromatic abberations, more contrast, but a fraction less sharp than the nikkor300ED
Do they improve when stopped down to f8?
Yes they do, but apparantly all three of them where focussed at a diffrent point, even thoug the point was set at the front of the canon lens,and focus confirmed by the arrows. I would say this is a bit inconclusive...
In conclusion to me the Nikkor 300ED is the best of the bunch, it is however not AF and not 2.8. But if i want to travel light and still want the reach of a 300 and good quality as well the 300ED it is.
The nikkor 300ED can be found at bargain prices,it's a very well and beautifull constructed lens. Be aware though nikon made many diffrent versions of this lens and the best series(ED glass internal focussing, minimal focussing distance 2.5meter) start from serial 201000 upward, they can be recognised by the green instead of the blue coating and the gold ring on the barrel..
This is what the lenses look like:
