Lens: Nikon 200mm f/4 micro-Nikkor ED-IF
Vintage: current
Lens Mount: Nikon F-Mount
Needed Adapters: None needed.
Preferred Mounting: Normal.
Filter Thread: 62 mm.
Controls: Aperture control. Focus limiter (close focus, all), manual/autofocus switch. The focus ring
is somewhat stiff on my copy of this lens, making fine focus adjustments difficult. I prefer to vary the
copystand height to adjust the fine focus when using this lens.
is somewhat stiff on my copy of this lens, making fine focus adjustments difficult. I prefer to vary the
copystand height to adjust the fine focus when using this lens.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
This lens, like all newer Nikon macro lenses
shows effective aperture in the viewfinder instead
of the aperture as would be set on the aperture
ring.
This means that when you set the aperture on
the camera, you are setting the effective
aperture also. That results in the actual size of
the aperture changing (when you shoot the
image) as you adjust the focus. You will get the
same exposure at f/10 at infinity vs f/10 close up,
but the actual aperture size will vary between
those two settings.
The sharpest effective aperture at 1:1
magnification is f/10, while the most resolving
effective aperture is f/9.
For the sharpest images, you should shoot
images around F/8 at 1:2 magnification, and at
about F/6.3 at 1:4 magnification. This is also
equivalent to f/5 at infinity - quite an achievement
for a lens of this focal length.
This lens, like all newer Nikon macro lenses
shows effective aperture in the viewfinder instead
of the aperture as would be set on the aperture
ring.
This means that when you set the aperture on
the camera, you are setting the effective
aperture also. That results in the actual size of
the aperture changing (when you shoot the
image) as you adjust the focus. You will get the
same exposure at f/10 at infinity vs f/10 close up,
but the actual aperture size will vary between
those two settings.
The sharpest effective aperture at 1:1
magnification is f/10, while the most resolving
effective aperture is f/9.
For the sharpest images, you should shoot
images around F/8 at 1:2 magnification, and at
about F/6.3 at 1:4 magnification. This is also
equivalent to f/5 at infinity - quite an achievement
for a lens of this focal length.
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
This lens show very good corner performance,
measuring less and 25% loss of sharpness at all
apertures. These numbers are slightly better
than the Nikon 105VR micro, although not as
good as most bellows lenses.
(Testing done at 1:1 magnification. For this lens,
the corner performance tends to improve as the
magnification is decreased.)
This lens show very good corner performance,
measuring less and 25% loss of sharpness at all
apertures. These numbers are slightly better
than the Nikon 105VR micro, although not as
good as most bellows lenses.
(Testing done at 1:1 magnification. For this lens,
the corner performance tends to improve as the
magnification is decreased.)
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens shows very good resolution and
sharpness throughout the macro magnification
range. I can only easily test to a low magnification
of 0.4x as my copystand is not tall enough to
handle the large working distance that this lens
generates.
This lens generates more resolution than the
detector can register below a magnification of
1:2. Above that it only resolves slightly less than
the detector. There is no shortage of resolution
with this lens.
The sharpness levels are comparable to the
105VR across the range, slightly less at 1:2 and
slightly more at 1:1
The corner sharpness worsens as the
magnification increases, although it remains very
good across the range. This worsening as the
magnification increases is unusual although
similar to the 105VR, so it likely related to design
(internal focus?).
This lens shows very good resolution and
sharpness throughout the macro magnification
range. I can only easily test to a low magnification
of 0.4x as my copystand is not tall enough to
handle the large working distance that this lens
generates.
This lens generates more resolution than the
detector can register below a magnification of
1:2. Above that it only resolves slightly less than
the detector. There is no shortage of resolution
with this lens.
The sharpness levels are comparable to the
105VR across the range, slightly less at 1:2 and
slightly more at 1:1
The corner sharpness worsens as the
magnification increases, although it remains very
good across the range. This worsening as the
magnification increases is unusual although
similar to the 105VR, so it likely related to design
(internal focus?).
Street Price: ~$1600 new.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(about 0.20 - 0.30 pixel) and mild/moderate on the periphery (0.90 - 1.60
pixels). Anything below 1.0 pixel is good. These numbers are slightly better
than the 105VR across the board.
(about 0.20 - 0.30 pixel) and mild/moderate on the periphery (0.90 - 1.60
pixels). Anything below 1.0 pixel is good. These numbers are slightly better
than the 105VR across the board.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is good across the magnification range.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing
Conclusion:
This is a legendary macro lens that performs as you would expect for a lens that costs this much,
extremely well.
Why do you buy a 200 mm macro lens? You get it for the large working distance it provides.
Working distance is important for coins in that it allows higher angled lighting and thus better overall
lighting and color. For imaging nervous bugs, that working distance also comes in useful.
Even with the long working distance, this lens has very good resolution and sharpness. That is no
small feat for a lens of this focal length and is probably responsible for the not inconsiderable cost.
This lens has a sharpest aperture in the f/5 range (f/10 effective aperture at 1:1) and a most
resolving aperture in the f/4.5 range (f/9 effective aperture at 1:1).
This lens shows good corner performance (better than the 105VR micro), although it can be
outdone by most bellows lenses. The chromatic aberration is also better than the 105VR, but it is
still enough on the periphery to be visible under the right conditions.
The one drawback that I see with this lens is that it is extremely sensitive to vibration. This would
seem to be related to the long focal length and the considerable size and weight of the lens. Having
an integral tripod mount helps, but in order to get the best results this lens needs to be locked
down securely. In my experience, I don't get the best results until I use a remote release and mirror
lock to minimize the vibration.
Another minor drawback for me is that the focus ring is a little stiff on my copy. That makes setting
the focus a little tricky. I tend to compensate by using the height adjustment on my copystand to set
the fine focus during imaging.
When everything is set up properly, this lens can produce exceptionally sharp and detailed pictures.
This is a legendary macro lens that performs as you would expect for a lens that costs this much,
extremely well.
Why do you buy a 200 mm macro lens? You get it for the large working distance it provides.
Working distance is important for coins in that it allows higher angled lighting and thus better overall
lighting and color. For imaging nervous bugs, that working distance also comes in useful.
Even with the long working distance, this lens has very good resolution and sharpness. That is no
small feat for a lens of this focal length and is probably responsible for the not inconsiderable cost.
This lens has a sharpest aperture in the f/5 range (f/10 effective aperture at 1:1) and a most
resolving aperture in the f/4.5 range (f/9 effective aperture at 1:1).
This lens shows good corner performance (better than the 105VR micro), although it can be
outdone by most bellows lenses. The chromatic aberration is also better than the 105VR, but it is
still enough on the periphery to be visible under the right conditions.
The one drawback that I see with this lens is that it is extremely sensitive to vibration. This would
seem to be related to the long focal length and the considerable size and weight of the lens. Having
an integral tripod mount helps, but in order to get the best results this lens needs to be locked
down securely. In my experience, I don't get the best results until I use a remote release and mirror
lock to minimize the vibration.
Another minor drawback for me is that the focus ring is a little stiff on my copy. That makes setting
the focus a little tricky. I tend to compensate by using the height adjustment on my copystand to set
the fine focus during imaging.
When everything is set up properly, this lens can produce exceptionally sharp and detailed pictures.
Basic Function: This lens is internal focus and does not
lengthen as the focus is changed. As necessitated by the
internal focus design, the focal length shortens considerably as
the lens is focused closer. Despite the focal length shortening,
the working distance remains quite large.
lengthen as the focus is changed. As necessitated by the
internal focus design, the focal length shortens considerably as
the lens is focused closer. Despite the focal length shortening,
the working distance remains quite large.
Appearance:
Aperture: 9 blades.
Image Samples:
About 1:2 magnification, f/10, cropped and resized:
About 1:2 magnification, f/10, 1 to 1 crop:
Good pixel level detail.
Good pixel level detail.
About 1:1, f/10, resized:
About 1:1 magnification, f/10, 1 to 1 crop above:
Again, good detail, no problems.
Again, good detail, no problems.
Distortion: There is virtually no distortion with this lens. Straight lines on the
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
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Performance: Sharpness vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 200 AF micro shows very good
sharpness performance across the macro
magnification range.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 200 AF micro shows very good
sharpness performance across the macro
magnification range.
Performance: Resolution vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 200 AF micro shows very good
resolution performance across the macro
magnification range.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 200 AF micro shows very good
resolution performance across the macro
magnification range.
