Nikkor 400 f3.5 ED IF AI-S

[cameraguy21773]

I have just purchased this lens and expect delivery today or tomorrow. I'm getting it on 14-day approval so I get a chance to ring it out but I have a couple of questions.
1) Do any of you have a data sheet or pamphlet that came with this lens? I'd be pleased to purchase a good copy or an original.
2) I'll be using this my D2H or D1x so, is there any point to having it re-chipped?
3) Is there a Nikon trunk or something similar available for it? The original case that mine is in looks to be in sad condition, based on photos, so I will likely have to replace it.
4) The TC-300/301 and TC-14B come highly recommended for this lens. Any others? Or ... any tips/warnings for this lens?


Thanks and ...

[Nikonfreak]

I hear that lens is excellent. Wish Nikon would bring it back in an AF-S VR version.

For information on some of these lenses, Bjorn Roselett has some great resources and information on it.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_CPUconversion.html

Wish I could tell you more, but I don't know much about that lens at all.

Julio

[cyclohexane]

No need to rechip it for the D2H. Just dial in the max aperture and focal length- and start using it. I think the D1x will give you center-weighted metering with it, but I'm not 100% sure, so I can't help you with that.

[cameraguy21773]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

No need to rechip it for the D2H. Just dial in the max aperture and focal length- and start using it. I think the D1x will give you center-weighted metering with it, but I'm not 100% sure, so I can't help you with that.

I think metering is only an issue with my D70 which will probably not ever be on it. This will be (is) the only AI-S lens I own but I'm sure the D1x manual says it will meter properly in Aperture and Manual Modes.

[dougjgreen]

I don't have that lens, I have the 300mm f2.8 ED-IF, but here's my take. If your intended use is on a D1, D1x, D1h, D2x, D2h, or D200, the main benefit to re-chipping the lens would be to enable matrix metering. Re-chipping would also let your D70 meter with it. Your call if the cost is justified. I don't use my long Nikkor on any of those, I use it on a Kodak DCS-760 (F5-based), and on Olympus DSLRs, so re-chipping has no value for me personally.

I would make my own soft case for it by buying a properly sized nylon duffel bag and cutting some foam inserts for it. I think you can probably find the foam at a home depot. If you want a hard case, you can certainly buy ones that could be easily customized to fit it from the likes of Pelican, Halliburton, Tamrac, and others.

The TC of choice for it would be the TC-300 or optically identical TC-301 for a 2X, or the TC-14B for a 1.4X. Practically speaking, the TC-300 and TC-301 are the same. The TC-300 is AI, the TC-301 is AIS, but the digital cameras treat AI and AIS the same.

[cyclohexane]

Matrix metering works just fine without chips on the D2-series and the D200. I personally don't use matrix metering very often anyways, so chips aren't really something I'm interested in.

Using manual lenses with the D70 is a bit of a chore with the smaller, dimmer viewfinder, but it's doable. The things I miss on the D70 are the arrows found on the D2-series that tell you which way to turn the focusing ring. I actually haven't missed metering, as I can just guess the exposure and fix it the lazy way using the histogram. Then again, I don't use the D70 and manual lenses for anything moving either, so I can take my time and chimp after every shot...

[brosig]

Re: a case. A guy I worked for used a hard-shell tackle box with foam inserts as the case for his Nikon 300mm f2.8 MF years ago. I would think you could go to a home improvement store (or even a popular discount store) and find a good tackle box or, better yet even, heavy-duty tool box and adapt that for use w/ the lens. It would also have the advantage of not screaming, "I'm a really expensive piece of photographic equipment. Please come steal me!"

[Sidebyte]

Right on! If the box says "Craftsman" on it, no one would dream it had a lens in it.