Question on the Nikon 180-400mm lens

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Amy

Amy

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Hi all! I have the opportunity to purchase a great condition copy of the Nikon 180-400mm for $7900. It's from a relative that I've purchased from before and I know it's in great shape. Who is using this lens and loving it? @Steve I have watched your review of the lens. Did you ever end up purchasing and do you have any additional thoughts? Thanks!
 
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I did purchase it and that price is a STEAL. I'm thinking of doing a full review on the lens (written, the videos are too much work), but I'll give you a few thoughts now.

First, from 180-400 is remarkable - very prime like. However, the TC in mine isn't all that impressive. I've tested against just attaching a 1.4TC and my 14.TCIII is actually sharper than the built-in one on this lens. In fact, one reason I haven't written a review of it yet is that I want to send the lens back to Nikon and have them check it. I would think the internal TC would be better - or at least as good - as the 1.4TCIII, but that's (currently) not the case with my lens.

So, my advice at the moment is to only consider the lens if you intend to use it primarily in the 180-400 range. I know a lot of people buy the lens thinking it's more like a 180-560 when you get the TC involved, but in my opinion, I think you should only get the lens if you really do need to be in that 180-400 range on a regular basis. Oh, and that zoom has proved really useful at times - allowed me to get shots that were otherwise impossible (I was too close for 400mm, had to zoom down).

Now, when you are using it from 180-400, it's fantastic. Prime-like sharpness, fast AF, everything you would expect from a lens of this price. The lens is fully featured, weather resistant, and rugged. However, that also makes it very heavy to lug around. It's not the easiest lens to handhold, that's for sure.

Below are a few shots, all in the 180-400 range of the lens. These were part of my D6 review - there' more on the site (see the review page for a short description of each shot - scroll down past the video and ISO tests).

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Thanks so much for this info. I did a lot of research this morning and found similar findings. I have rented twice and also had similar findings, but thought maybe user error. I think I am going to bite the bullet, but will continue to save for the 600mm. Crazy that an external teleconverter would be sharper.
 
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Amy said:
Thanks so much for this info. I did a lot of research this morning and found similar findings. I have rented twice and also had similar findings, but thought maybe user error. I think I am going to bite the bullet, but will continue to save for the 600mm. Crazy that an external teleconverter would be sharper.
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Sadly, I've read similar things about the TC that echo my experience too. I just don't want to believe it LOL. It also seems that there are some photojgprhers (Brad Hill for one) that seem to think it's fine with the TC. So, I'm going to send it to Nikon and see what they say. I don't want to write a review that disparages the TC until Nikon has a chance to tell their side of the story. :)

Although, I'm not optimistic....
 
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Looking forward to this review @Steve - not only because I enjoyed the one for the 500PF so much :). May I suggest one thing to cover in or beside that review ?
I'd be really interested in your experience regarding the necessity of AF fine tuning for this lens and how you get it right with this most modern long zoom.
When I had my 200-400 f4 (1st version) some time ago and my friend showed me what AF fine tune is :giggle: and what it can do. But we discovered that it was very difficult with this lens. Either we got it right for the long end and there were problems at the short end or vice versa. Due to Nikon still supporting just one offset per lens it seemd impossible to get a good adjustment for the lens fitting for both ends. Or would you generally say that the adjustment error should be (almost) constant for one lens/camera combi independent from the chosen focal length and if not the lens is considered to be defective as has to be sent in for service ?
 
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Don’t have it but I’ve heard the same from a couple different places. Pretty unacceptable at that price point (brand new price), in my opinion.
 
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Steve said:
Sadly, I've read similar things about the TC that echo my experience too. I just don't want to believe it LOL. It also seems that there are some photojgprhers (Brad Hill for one) that seem to think it's fine with the TC. So, I'm going to send it to Nikon and see what they say. I don't want to write a review that disparages the TC until Nikon has a chance to tell their side of the story. :)

Although, I'm not optimistic....
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Dang, I've paid for that lens; just hasn't arrived yet....
 
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Steve said:
Sadly, I've read similar things about the TC that echo my experience too. I just don't want to believe it LOL. It also seems that there are some photojgprhers (Brad Hill for one) that seem to think it's fine with the TC. So, I'm going to send it to Nikon and see what they say. I don't want to write a review that disparages the TC until Nikon has a chance to tell their side of the story. :)

Although, I'm not optimistic....
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@Steve what happened when you sent the 180-400 to Nikon to have them check out the built in TC? Ben searching the forum and elsewhere and this was the most recent I could find.
 
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Ken Miracle said:
@Steve what happened when you sent the 180-400 to Nikon to have them check out the built in TC? Ben searching the forum and elsewhere and this was the most recent I could find.
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I never sent it ti Nikon.

In the end, after a lot of internal debate, I ended up selling it. Not so much for the TC thing, but simply because I just didn't use it (especially now that I have the Sony 100-400 - it's not as fast F/5.6 vs D/4 - but it's small. lightweight, easy to pack and for what I need that FL for, it's just a better fit). The 180-400 was also a pain to hand-hold and tough to travel with (it was always a choice of the 600mm or the 180-400 when flying). With the Sony setup, all those problems go away and the lens becomes even less useful to me personally.

In fact, I'll probably get the Z series 100-400 when it comes out. If I do need a faster lens, I have the 300 PF. It was just hard to rationalize having a 12K lens that sat on the shelf all the time.
 
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Steve said:
I never sent it ti Nikon.

In the end, after a lot of internal debate, I ended up selling it. Not so much for the TC thing, but simply because I just didn't use it (especially now that I have the Sony 100-400 - it's not as fast F/5.6 vs D/4 - but it's small. lightweight, easy to pack and for what I need that FL for, it's just a better fit). The 180-400 was also a pain to hand-hold and tough to travel with (it was always a choice of the 600mm or the 180-400 when flying). With the Sony setup, all those problems go away and the lens becomes even less useful to me personally.

In fact, I'll probably get the Z series 100-400 when it comes out. If I do need a faster lens, I have the 300 PF. It was just hard to rationalize having a 12K lens that sat on the shelf all the time.
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I hear you. Thanks for the update. I have a Sigma 60-600 and that with my 500pf will most likely be the primary lenses on the D6 I ordered.
 
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Amy said:
Steve after all the selling conversation, where did you end up selling it? I need to list mine this week!
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I sold it to Used Photo Pro. I had to negotiate a bit to get a better price, their initial offer was too low. Still, it worked out well in the end, I'm happy with the deal.
 
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So interesting- I have a quote from them too! I was thinking it was a little low. Did you negotiate before you sent to them or after they received?
 
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