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Review Summary
2019-10-11T16:29:12
Fine lens, don't waste your time and effort with the free "goodies". These filters are only good for the landfill.
ROBERT N.
2019-07-31T20:00:00
180mm 2.8 ultra light long sport lens ever. Super fast Af on D4s (if you are testing, you have to set focus tracking off otherwise even 300mm 2.8 will not perform well ) Perfect color and image quality. Perfect sharpness as 300 f4d and 300 2.8 If you are portraits or sport photographer this lens must be your first lens (used only under 300 usd ) any 70-200 lens not faster or better image quality then this lens. I am a professional marathon photographer taking 30 000 + photos every month. If you need light set buy this lens . if you can use heavy lens buy 300 f4d or 2 times heavy 300 2.8dII all are perfect lenses. but 180mm 2.8 easy to carry professional sport lens ever.
cesurozkurt

2018-12-10T08:35:03
In the aggregate the 180mm f2.8 is outstanding. Excellent build quality and stunning image quality. My only regret is not purchasing this lens sooner.
MYLES D.
2018-01-01T19:00:00
I have the 180 f2,8 ed for years its stil amazing it does evrything you wish for if you think the 80 200 f2,8 is better ques again it is the little brother and a good lens but nothing more use this the right way and its like a magic wand.
Lowepro

2017-04-11T20:00:00
Back in the film days I always wanted a 300 f/2.8 lens, but they were close to three grand even then and over five grand now. Now through the magic of DX format in my Nikon D7000 I can have close to one for about a fifth of the price in the 180 f/2.8 lens. Well, it’s a 270 mm given the conversion factor, but close enough. They don’t make lenses like this anymore, oh wait they do as this one is still in production. I recommend that you get one before they ruin it with an upgrade, but an upgrade would make it lighter and include VR as well as increasing the price by at least five hundred bucks. It is a bit heavy to carry around all day, but I do curls with the camera as I walk and you should see my biceps. Seriously, it is easy to grip and get a nice handheld shot. Focus-AF is pretty quick and quite accurate, I was even able to get quite a few bird in flight pictures. The lens is easy to manually focus as well. Pictures are tack sharp, provided the shutter speed is fast enough. It is a bit soft when shooting into a back-lit scene, such as a sunrise, but there is no flare or ghosting (like getting an extra sun in the shot).
foodwriter

2017-03-25T20:00:00
AH MAY ZING. This is the stuff that legends are made of. Simply a superb lens. Good enough to be used wide open. Works well on both AF and manual focus bodies. Well balanced too. Zero regrets having bought this lens.
NikonNate

2016-04-26T17:52:25
Lens is great on my D750. Accessories are just so-so, but I didn't have to pay any additional money, so that is okay by me.
James L.
2014-02-12T19:00:00
I've had this lens for a few years; bought it from another pro who's been borrowing it from me ever since. Sharp, clear, lightweight with great bokeh, the well-balanced Nikkor 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED is one prime lens that regularly goes with me on all assignments. Packs easily with the hard case. I photograph motorsports and this one's perfect for drag racing shots on the start line. Love it!
MsTakin

2013-03-01T19:00:00
Over the years I have owned several "Portrait" lenses ranging from 85mm f1.4 to 150mm Medium format ones from a well known German manufacture on a well known Swedish camera . All great lenses. However, I have never used a lens that is as good when used wide open. I worked for years professionally often needing images in the 30 x 40 inch range for retail display. This lens along with Kodachrome 25 was always my first choice. Out of the thousands of images this lens has produced, I would estimate about 95 percent of them were taken a f2.8, it is just that good.
The F.

2011-12-04T19:00:00
I went with the Sigma 50-150 2.8 which is no longer available but the 180 was sharper.
George L.
2011-11-25T19:00:00
I could have given this lens six stars it is that good Excellent 20 years ago when I bought it and excellent today even at full aperture it is needle sharp with superb bokeh.
Vincent

2011-09-22T20:00:00
have owned this lens since 1990. I wasn't using it much, and was considering selling it, as I have a Nikon 70-200 VR1 and 135mm AF-DC. I am on a trip to China and Cambodia, and decided not to take the 70-200 that I normally use with my D2Xs. The weight of three camera bodies and 5 lenses, plus a laptop was a bit much! So, I took the 180mm F2.8 to use with my D3S and D3. I could not be happier, as the photos are brilliant. The lens has excellent bokeh. Looks like my 70-200 may be resting in the bag at home, a lot more now.
Gearsau

2011-09-03T21:00:00
Very underrated lens. Fast: 2.8 and not at all heavy. Doesn't need a tripod collar. Goes well with a few other primes to make a better package than several zooms would. 20mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.4 and this are a great combination.
M M.
2011-05-29T20:00:00
I bought my first AF 180 f/2.8 a few years ago to use on my D50 and have been using it ever since on every other Nikon DSLR that I have bought through the years. This is simply one of those lenses that is unique in all respects. Sharp wide-open, great color, bokeh, just the right amount of contrast, etc.. It works well on every camera that I've ever tired it on and it's my favorite lens for going out to shoot with one camera and one lens. I liked it so much, I even bought the newer AF 180 f/2.8D version. The same great lens and two lenses that will stay with me always.
padavid

2011-04-15T20:00:00
In my opion, Nikon's best kept secret! This is probably one of my favorite Nikkor lenses. It is light weight, has a built in lens hood, and is crystal clear and very, very sharp. It is very versatile and I use it for telephoto as well as close-up / macro work. I normally shoot hand held, and you can get some remarkable close-up shots from as far away as 5 feet from the subject. It works equally well with DX & FX cameras. I use it with my D3, D200, and F100 cameras for both digital and film work. It is very affordable for most budgets and is a joy to work with! The AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED lens is my choice for clarity and detail!
BDC P.

2011-04-13T20:00:00
This is my favorite lens. So many photographers opt for a Zoom Lens in the telephoto range. They will frame their portrait from wherever they are standing. Usually from ten to fifteen feet away. The 180 forces you to walk away. The image you get with the 180 wide open is a revelation. And because you are so far away your subjects tend to not be aware they are being photographed. It is smaller and lighter than the 70-200 2.8 lens. Makes it easier to fame and hold steady.
Nikon Y.

2011-04-13T20:00:00
This is a great lens for those situations where you wish there was just a little more light, concerts, sports etc. Very easy to handhold, and tack sharp, though it does get a bit better stopped down to 4 or 5.6 This is one of my favorite lenses for walking around and shooting non posed subjects. I have used it on both film and digital, and the results are superb.
jjw45

2011-04-13T20:00:00
Very sharp, even wide open. Amazing Bokeh. Great contrast and saturation. Use of lens hood cover helps eliminate flare. I shoot this in all lighing conditions wide open; and love the results. I've been using this lens professionally for about ten years. I would never sell this lens. Can be used in full frame or cropped cameras. Cropped it makes a beautiful lens close to 300mm at a fraction of the cost.
Hunkadore

2011-04-13T20:00:00
Even though this product has been around for quite long, i am very happy for the result and the price. Could not wait for Nano version of this lens, it must be good.
Hero K.

2011-04-13T20:00:00
I love using this lens in situations where some outreach in low light is required; It is fast and optically one of the best Nikkors I own. Aside from the usual benefits of fast lenses such as bright viewfinder images, its sharpness is just great at the wider apertures. A little large for general carry but a lens I like to have with me everywhere I go. Fantastic for public events, kids sports and even portraiture.
Fotoloco

2010-12-24T19:00:00
Bought this lens as a compact, light-weight travel lens when the 80-200 would be too big and heavy. It's now one of my most used lenses. Excellent sharpness and contrast, wonderful bokeh, just amazing. The built-in pull-out lens hood is very convenient too. Only the focus could be a bit faster, but it's still very capable on a D700. This is one lens I won't sell. Period.
hs_photos

2010-11-09T19:00:00
This is one of my favorite Nikkors of all time. It is relatively compact, well built, and stunningly sharp and contrasty. It is a little warm, compared to something like the 85mm f./1.8. But it has the contrast, sharpness, and bokeh that you expect from a professional level Nikkor lens. You really should put it on your list of must-own Nikon lenses.
leicaglow

2010-10-03T20:00:00
I have had two samples. Current lens has less flare and better IQ at f/2.8-4.0. Surprisingly good at close distance. Compact, with excellent construction.
FotoHaole

2010-08-08T20:00:00
This lens astounds me with its sharpness. Especially since I pack 2 of the other legendary Nikkor lenses in my bag. The true wonder though is its weight. It is very light and easy to carry around. I primarily shoot canine sports and this lense is perhaps the most perfect lense I have found for what I shoot.
Agiledogs

2010-07-31T20:00:00
The Nikkor 180/2.8 is one lens that I would never go on any shoot without,It is hands down one of the sharpest optics available today.Outstanding performance at all apertures,perfect for portraiture and events. At 30 feet with a 1.4x chip it gives a perfect "three button" headshot. It provides superb color saturation and sharpness at all apertures with little or no chromatic aberration.The built in lens hood provides excellent ,convenient protection against lens flare ,The lens is extremely rugged and has passed every "torture" test that this assignment shooter has given it. Its excellent low light performance saves tons of time in post processing and it it is very easy to hand hold.The auto focus works very well and the very smooth manual focus is even better. Slap a 1.4x teleconverter on it and you have a compact 270/4 perfect for a "one button" headshot. Also excellent for sports and nature.
jjn_topshooter

2010-07-30T20:00:00
I use the AF 180mm f2.8D IF-ED to photograph everything from an Indoor Football League pro sports team to concerts, portraits and wildlife. It is the sharpest lens I have ever used. Users of a competitor have admired it's sharpness. It is compact by fast glass standards, easily carried, but has a heft and feel that screams Nikon quality, reliability and durability. Prime lenses are largely overlooked today, but this lens will make you forget about zooms.
NikonNut

2010-07-29T20:00:00
Have owned this for more than a decade. Incredible build, incredible resolution, incredible color, no distortion. It really is as good as all the glowing reviews say it is. SWM would be the only possible improvement.
JFern

2010-07-29T20:00:00
When you need that extra focal length, this lens has filled the bill. Extremely sharp and heavy enough to hand hold and well balanced. This is one of the five lens that puts food on the table...
Professional P.

2010-07-29T20:00:00
With its roots going back to the 1938 Carl Zeiss "Olympia" lens designed for Leni Reifenstahl, the 180mm f/2.8 has to be one one of the most romantic Nikon lenses of all time, with image quality to match. Pictures have that razor sharp yet buttery quality that is the hallmark of only the best optics. It is amazingly compact for its focal length and speed, making great for journalism work. The bokeh is perfect, making the pictorial possibilities endless. It took me 35 years to finally buy this little masterpiece. I wish I'd had one much sooner.
FirstNikon1971

2010-07-29T20:00:00
This lens is very nice. It gives an excellent sharpness, even at 2.8. The contrast/color are wonderful and warmy.
Bruno

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Browse our FAQ
Nikon
1940
Nikon AF-D
Black
Telephoto
Nikon
Full Frame
Auto Focus
Inner Focusing
48" / 122cm
N/A
N/A
180mm
13½40', 9½ with Nikon digital cameras (Nikon DX format)
Not Applicable
N/A
f/22
f/2.8
0.20x
N/A
N/A
N/A
72mm
7 Elements / 6 Groups
N/A
3.1 x 4.7" (78.74 x 119.38mm)
28.6oz / 810g
None
Yes
N/A
N/A




Popular medium telephoto prime lens with ED glass.
The fast AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED has proven itself a stellar performer in low-light situations where capturing distant action is crucial. It's fast f/2.8 maximum aperture delivers beautiful background blur and versatile low-light capability. A favorite among astronomical photographers, photojournalists and portrait photographers, it's also fantastic in sports arenas and concert halls.
Capture elusive moments
Fast f/2.8 medium telephoto reach A favorite of astronomical photographers, the AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED is also well-suited for close portraits, short-range sports, theater photography and more. So whether you're interested in capturing the beauty of nature's most elusive phenomenons or the exciting fast-pace of a sporting event, bring the action closer in exquisite detail and clarity.
Built for exacting images
Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass Remarkably compact and easy to handle for such a fast medium telephoto, the AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED incorporates Nikon's renowned Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass to compensate for chromatic aberration and deliver crisp, high-contrast clear images, even at the maximum aperture of f/2.8. Expect brilliant images every time.
ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass - An optical glass developed by Nikon that is used with normal optical glass in telephoto lenses to obtain optimum correction of chromatic aberrations.
A-M - A-M stands for Auto-Manual Mode. Thanks to a mechanism incorporated in the lens barrel, smooth focusing operation in Manual focus mode is realized in the same way as users have become accustomed to with conventional manual-focus lenses by adding an appropriate torque to the focus ring.
IF Lens - A NIKKOR lens in which only the internal lens group shifts during focusing. These lenses will be designated with the abbreviation IF on the lens barrel.
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