Ah, Rick...there you are! I was hoping you would visit this thread.:thumbup:
You have TWO of these lenses!!! Oh, do we need to talk! Do you find any differences with either version of the lens?
Your images are lovely! We have been hoping someone would begin posting their own images and begin discussions.
Thanks!:thumbup:
Thanks for starting this thread Dave. This is a lens I have often wished I had. As an amateur photographer, the price has simply been above the range I was willing to pay. Maybe someday my resistance will weaken. The images from MJR and Thor are certainly making it much harder to resist.
I did not know about the earlier AIS 200/2. For me, it may be worth considering.
https://matthewdurrphotography.com/2014/07/12/lens-review-nikon-200mm-f2-ai-s-ed/
Wedding photography with Nikon 200 f2 ais manual focus lens a review
Gary
Thanks for the comments guys, yes I have both versions of these two fine lenses and there is some differences besides the obvious of one being manual focus only versus the auto-focus with image stabilization version. A few observations of the differences I've made of the two:
1. After doing quite extensive research before buying the first of the two 200 f2s I found what amounted to three variations of the manual focus version of which mine is the 2nd version, which if memory serves me correctly was made in in 1986? right before Nikon changed the lens slightly to include a removable filter which the prior two did not have as an option.
2. Between the three the optics were stated by most articles I found to be identical with only a slight sharpness edge being reported in the last of the three released or the 200 f2 with the removable filter. I do agree with those findings but ultimately if you buy one of these manual focus lens for mainly portraiture the particular softness of this lens when shot wide open is likely doing you a favor when it comes time to do any post-processing as otherwise the sharpness can make some skin touch-ups take longer than you would like as it can show every imperfection.
3. if anyone should purchase a manual focus 200 f2 it may be worth it to invest in a modified TC-16A adapter for limited auto-focusing which works quite well once you understand its limitations. When using with my D800 the adapter once attached turns the 200 f2 into a roughly 300mm or so 2.8 semi-af lens. The af on the modified TC-16A works extremely well with this lens but of course you must first manually focus on what you are shooting and get it reasonably or close to in focus then hitting whichever button you have selected on the body for auto-focusing.
4. If you choose to not invest in the af adapter and go manual focus only then I can say without a doubt anyone who focuses the first time with that huge, super smooth turning ring will fall instantly and uncontrollably in love, it's that good. Along with that solid metal construction Nikon hit a home run on how good, smooth and easy that lens feels when using it. No other manual focus lens I have feels that way but that beast begs to be used for that feature alone.
5. Having stated how much I love the older version of the modern 200 f2 I find myself using the modern version more often nowadays simply due to the fact that now my wife and I are grandparents and that means taking more and more pictures of the grandchildren who don't stay in one spot for more than a blink of an eye. The auto-focusing on the af 200 f2 is as fast or faster than any other lens I have used which includes many of the newest "G" lenses. Considering how much glass is being moved while focusing I marvel each time I use it at the engineering that went into making that lens. Nothing short of amazing and it almost makes me forget I am shooting with an a now ancient D800 and instead with a more sports/fast action body, lol.
6. In conclusion I shoot fast action with the af 200 while still pulling out the mf version for more static objects such as flowers or seated portraits.
Here are a few taken with the older 200:
DSC00196 by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr
DSC_0015_4x6 by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr
This shot of the flowers was taken at minimum focusing distance.
DSC_9933_Original by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr
A crop of the above flowers.
DSC_9933_ by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr
DSC_9934 by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr
One of my wife and myself. To get that full body shot I had to walk about 20yds from the tripod after focusing on the wife first. Thank goodness the remote I had could trip the shutter over long distances.
DSC_7670_8x10 by
RickZPhoto, on Flickr