History of the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/300mm-f28-history.htmManual Focus:1971 - 1976 : Nikon's first primitive
300mm f/2.8 ED super teles was impractical because it had klunky focusing and a manual diaphragm.
1977- 1982:
Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF AI. This was the world's first practical super-speed super-tele, and very popular.
1982 - 1986: Almost identical AI-s version.
1986 - 2005:
New version of AI-s. Same optics, but now focuses to 10' (3m) instead of 13' (4m) and has a permanently installed protective front plate instead of a 122mm filter thread. It weighs 3.5 oz. (100g) less than the previous two versions and is 1/2" (14mm) longer than the earlier 2 versions.
Autofocus: 1986 - 1988:
First AF version, which was the manual focus Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF with a hole drilled up the side for the screw-type autofocus. AF was so slow that it was one of the reasons sports photographers changed to Canon, and have never had a reason to come back. Whoops! Slow AF is what lost Nikon the pro market. This first AF version is identified by a milled (fine-ribbed) glossy black AF/MF ring. The first AF versions focus as closely as their contemporary manual versions, 10' (3m).
1988 - 1992:
AF-n version, still the same optics as the 1977 original and same slow AF as before. This version is identified by the coarse, crinkle-finish ribbing on the AF/MF ring; its ribs have about the same pitch as the focus ring ribs.
1992 - 1996: For the first time since 1986, Nikon put a focus motor into the lens, and for the first time since 1977, Nikon updated the optics. Nikon calls these lenses AF-I, for internal-motor autofocus. The
300mm f/2.8 AF-I focuses more closely than the previous AF versions, down to 8' (2.5m).
1996 - 2001:
First AF-S 300mm f/2.8, which finally is the first Nikon 300mm f/2.8 which auto focuses quickly. It has newer optics than the AF-I version. This first AF-s version focuses as closely as the AF-I. It is the heaviest 300mm f/2.8 ever made by Nikon at 3.1 kg. It now takes a 52mm filter in a rear drawer, compared to every previous version which took a 39mm filter in a drawer.
2001 - 2004.
AF-S II, which focuses a little more closely: 7.2' (2.2m) vs. 8' (2.5m) for the previous AF-S version. It also weighs less, 2.95 vs 3.1 kg.
2004: The Nikon
300mm f/2.8 VR adds vibration reduction for great results hand-held. This version focuses to 7.2' or 2.2m.
Nikon 300mm f/4The Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S lens was introduced in 2000. I haven't shot with it yet, but I have played with one several times.
It appears to be an improvement in every way over the older 300mm f/4 AF.
It is very solidly built
It works perfectly on every Nikon DSLR (D40 through D3, etc.), all recent film bodies and every manual focus Nikon, including my F2AS from 1979. (You'll need to have a meter coupling prong added for use with Nikons from 1976 and earlier.)
As with all other AF-S lenses, it won't focus on the oldest film AF bodies. It autofocuses on the F6, F5, F4, F100, N90, N90s, N80, N70 and N65. It won't autofocus with an N55, N60 or 8008. It will work fine manually on those older cameras, but duh, for the older cameras, get a used 300mm f/4 AF instead which focuses perfectly on them.