Nikon 200 f-4 AIS vs Nikon 200 - AFD Micro

The 200mm focal lenth is perfect for flowers and insects. I also

use a 300 mm. lense with 80mm. of extension as described in

John Shaw's Close-Up photography book. Sometimes my

300mm is just too long. Now I'm thinking of finding a 200 AIS

manual focus lense to use with my PN-11 extension tube. I

realize I will sacrifice speed and matrix metering, but this doesn't

seem to be a big issue. Am I missing something?

Hugh,

I just picked up an 200mm AFD Micro-Nikkor after reading various reviews. One of my favourite photographers, Bjorn Rorslett at

http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html says some great things about this lens. According to his statistics he uses the 200 AFD for 15% of his shooting...

When you get to his site, click on "lenses" in the index, scroll down and click on "Special-purpose lenses (macro, micro, UV, medical)" and you'll find a useful review of the lens and many other Nikon Micros too.

He uses it with a D1X, which would effectively make this a 300mm lens.

Can't wait to get my paws on it!:-)

 

Best, Duncan

I previously owned the 200mm/f4 AI (bought in 1978, before AI-S) and currently have the 200mm/f4 AF macro. Both are fine lenses but for different purposes. If you are planning to do macro work, the new AF macro has a clear advantage since it is very sharp, can go to 1:1 without any tubes and has a tripod collar. On AF bodies, the AF-D will also relay the true aperture to the body. Of course, the AF-D macro also costs a lot more so that this is not a fair comparison. Moreover, I feel that the macro lens is tuned for macro work and is not as sharp at infinity.

I've made good use of my AI 200/4 with the PN-11 tube. Add a +1.5 Nikon diopter it gets to around 1:1 magnification. The PN-11 tube adds a tripod collar to this very sharp lens.

 

See here: http://www.photo.net/photo/911706

 

This was an extremely challenging composition with a tripod off a boardwalk. The tiny plant was growing on a mat of peat in a bog. I know the photo has issues but its the best I could pull off with a 2 year-old tugging on my leg!

 

Since I'm a dad now, I'm big on photography on the cheap: $99 for the lens (used), $40 for the tube (used), $40 for the 3T filter (new). The lens is tack sharp, although probably not quite in the league with the $1000+ macro AF 200mm/4, probably the sharpest Nikkor you can buy.