Nikon 300mm f/2.8D ED-IF II AF-S Nikkor

 
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300mm $2,300
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(From Nikon lens literature) Super fast, super quiet lens using Nikon's Silent Wave motor technology. Compact super-telephoto lens that is ideal for photojournalism, sports, and nature photography. M/A switch for fast transitions from AF to manual focus.

Nikon 300mm f/2.8D ED-IF II AF-S Nikkor

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Nikon 300mm f/2.8D ED-IF II AF-S Nikkor User Reviews

9.6/10 average of 5 review(s) Build Quality 9.8/10 Image Quality 9.8/10
  • 10 out of 10 points and recommended by cesurozkurt.com (3 reviews)
    Fastest 300mm in the planet. Faster than Vr I tested. Same image quality
    No But all 300mm 2.8 lenses are heavy this is heavy too but lightest in this class. or buy 300 f4 or 200mm lens

    for sport photographer who need max speed first lens to buy update yourself to pro level
    Other can buy D4s .
    I prefer this lens over vr and D4s over D5

    The best 300mm lens ever for sport also outdoor portrait.
    I don't use monopod taking 5000 + photos in a marathon event in 3 hrs non stop.

    I lost my 300mm f4d lens . It is excellent lens but not fast as this 2.8 also not bright as this lens.
    180 2.8 and 300 f4 2 other perfect lenses I ever used.

    I got this lens from my friend he paid 1500 usd . we bought vr for him. 2900 usd Vr
    Actually when he bought this lens he asked me which lens can I buy i said 300mm f2.8 d II
    after in real life test this is even better than 300 vr for sport.
    That is good who want latest model and vr
    We test both lens, I saw but I couldn't say anything him.
    He tested said your lens faster. ( like %30 fast because very easy to see faster )
    Image quality everything same
    this lens lighter , %50 cheaper and faster.
    What newest vr shoot i can shoot same even faster .
    Someone want to buy latest model i can not stop them if like to pay 2x
    I never use Vr . So I don't need. I care results.Because I am selling my photos.

    Vr other story . if your lens slow f4 + lenses you can buy vr lens better for portrait or landscape photos.For sport vr on makes problem. I am professional Marathon Photographer. Marathon, car racing , motorcycle and football , also portrait and birding I shoot.

    If you don't have this much money just reading review for buy a lens , even you don't have money for buy 70-200 f2.8 . my other best super fast and light lens is Af 180mm 2.8 I bought under 300 usd . U need 3 lenses all your life 16-28 tokina ( or 20-35 tokina cheaper ) 180mm 2.8 300mm f2.8

    reviewed August 1st, 2019 (purchased for $1,500)
  • 10 out of 10 points and recommended by Cliff3 (1 reviews)
    Optics, build
    Tripod collar

    I bought my copy of this lens used in February 2009. I have shot around 25,000 photos with it since that time. I use it with a D700. I have TC14E and TC20E II teleconverters as well as a C-PL1L circular polarizer that I use with this lens. This is a brilliant lens.

    This is a big heavy lens. I mostly shoot motorsports, and I normally shoot with the lens on a monopod. It is capable of producing stunning images. It works very well with the TC14E, and reasonably well with the TC20E II.

    I have had less success with the lens mounted in a tripod (Arca-Swiss B1 ballhead and Gitzo Mountaineer legs using a RRS foot) at slower shutter speeds (> 1/100). The tripod collar may be partly to blame, but at this point I am more inclined to blame my technique. Additional practice should let me refine that opinion.

    reviewed January 4th, 2011 (purchased for $3,100)
  • 10 out of 10 points and recommended by genotypewriter (12 reviews)
    Optics, build, mechanics... everything's great
    No benefits worth $700 over the older Canon 300 2.8 IS

    Here's my sharpness comparison of the Nikon 300 2.8 VR vs. the Canon 300 2.8 IS (both on a 5D Mark II):

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/genotypewriter/3852798932/

    As we speak, B&H advertises the Nikon at USD5200 and the Canon at USD 4500. Although there's such a high price premium over the Canon, the Nikon offers practically nothing extra over the much older Canon, apart from slightly better IS.

    Here is also a bokeh comparison that I did, comparing the 300 2.8 VR, 300 2.8 IS (and also the Sigma 120-300 2.8):

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/genotypewriter/tags/300mmf28bokehtest/

    reviewed June 17th, 2010
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by exnihiloman (1 reviews)
    Crisp focus, quite, f2.8 and great bokeh.
    Large and heavy.

    I recently rented this lens for a concert at my church. We have some poor lighting and I wondered how the lens would perform. Turns out the lens performed as I expected. Got lots of nice crisp shots from various angles. Moving around in a dark auditorium was a tad awkward, though. A couple days later I set up my camera on a tripod in a busy atrium/foyer area and got some outstanding candids with natural light coming through translucent skylights. If I had the dough I'd get one for me.

    reviewed September 30th, 2009
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by ggriffith (4 reviews)
    Good Focus, Very Durable!
    It's BIG

    Very good lens. The newspaper I work for has a handful of these for their D2h bodies and after using it to shoot speeches, sports, and other media events I've been pretty happy. Coming from the Canon camp and shooting both this was a comfortable lens to use and the focus was pretty accurate.

    I like it and would recommend it. Sorry I can't tell you about price, but I didn't have to fit the bill. :)

    reviewed October 19th, 2005