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Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S : Specifications and Opinions

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The Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S is a tele lens for FF and APS-C, manufactured from 1981 to 2005 (discontinued). The focus is done by Manual Focus, it does not have image stabilization.

21 users have given it an average vote of 9.9 out of 10.

Specifications
Focal lenght	180 mm
Angle of view	13.7°
Format	FF, APS-C
Max. aperture	f/2.8
Aperture blades	9
Lenses/Groups	5 elements in 5 groups
Min. focus distance	1.80 meters
Reproduction ratio
Features
Stabilization	No
Focus	Manual Focus
Internal Focus	No
Built and notes
Tripod ring	No
Extenders	Yes
Filters	72 mm
Lens hood	Built-in
Weather sealing	No
Weight	800 g
Dimensions	78.5 x 138 mm
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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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Airy

sent on March 05, 2026

Pros: Image quality, sharpness, bokeh

Cons: no longer manufactured

Opinion: This lens is somehow the longer and heavier version of the legendary 105/2.5. Both have very similar imaging qualities. Fully usable at full aperture, even on a D800. Modern zooms (70-200/2.8 G VR II and successors) may well be slightly sharper with even less aberrations, in two words technically superior, but this older lens with a ridiculously simple optical formula (5 lenses in 5 groups) never disappoints. As pointed out by Mr. Carpi, it is front-heavy and, if mounted on a mirrorless camera via an adapter, it gets even heavier. Never mind. Also, it has no close-focus ability and this is where zooms are usually more flexible.

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Giorgio Carpi

sent on March 05, 2026

Pros: Almost everything.

Cons: No tripod mount

Opinion: One of my favorite lenses for film. It makes an impression already when you put your eye close to the viewfinder (SLR): very clear and contrasted image, very easy MAF. Previously I used the 200 f/4, beautifully manageable, but I wasn't too happy with it: the 180 is on another planet. Looking at test images taken from the same point, those taken with the 180 contain much more detail, despite the focal length being 90% of that of the 200. I won't dwell on superlatives, which should have been, but I observe that I found only one serious shortcoming: ergonomics. The lens is relatively heavy, moreover it is unbalanced forward (after all, at the time similar performances were only possible thanks to large and heavy front lenses in special glass) and moreover it is not an IF and focusing it also lengthens. Let's say that it is not clear how it could fit in the same catalog as the very handy 300/4.5 ED IF. It is true that the lens is well balanced on an F3 + MD-4 (and maybe Ni-Cd pack) handheld, but if you want to mount it on the tripod to make the most of its performance it is unbalanced, especially using the camera without motor, and even (much) worse with a modern digital (with adapter ring) like Fuji X-T2. I consider this a fairly heavy defect, so much so as to limit its usability, and for this reason, although sorry to lower the average, I give a grade of 9/10. If it had a tripod mount my vote would be 11/10.

Vincenzo Genovese

sent on August 25, 2023

Pros: optical and mechanical quality, bokeh, colors, contrast and much more,

Cons: Delicate front lens, MAF ring a bit too frictioned for my taste

Opinion: They talk about it so well everywhere that in a moment of ordinary nostalgia I took one too, from Japan, equal to the new at an honest price. I reserve the right to update in the future after testing it a bit, for now everything fantastic except perhaps the ring of the maf a little too frictioned, a bit like the milvus to be clear, so much so that I sold the milvus to resume the same focal lengths but of the classic series.

Tzeol

sent on November 08, 2022

Pros: Extraordinary optics! Color rendering, sharpness, contrast, bokeh, all at the highest level. To have such a long focal length it is also relatively compact and not too heavy (compared to the various 80 - 200 and 70 - 200 2.8)

Cons: I could say manual focusing..... But it is a characteristic of it, not a defect.

Opinion: I will not dwell on describing the virtues of this perspective rightly praised and declaimed. I could get boring. But every time I pick it up and take shots of it, I am punctually amazed by the yield of which it is capable. I'll just tell you that I'm a lover of portraits and portrait lenses: I currently own an 85 Tamron VC f1.8 (very sharp!!!!!!! ... scary!), a nikkor 105 f2.5 AIS, a sigma 105 f2.8 OS HSM, a 135 f2 AIS, a 135 f2 AF DC, an 80 200 AF-S (... without whistling, but with slow engine :-) .... and in the past I have owned other in the range of focal lengths indicated. The 180 AIS outclasses everything.... Even the excellent 135 F2, with a very nice yield, I still consider them optically inferior (especially for the phenomena of flare at full aperture). The only one able to "stand up to him" and the other multi-decorated Nikkor AIS, the 105mm f2.5 . End. Everything else is a notch below. PS: I had also bought the 180 AF 2.8, believing it was "a 180 AIS with autofocus motor" and reserving to sell the AIS. I used them both six months.... and I ended up selling the AF again.

Vittorio Barretta

sent on June 13, 2017

Pros: Extraordinary optics

Cons: Nothing to object, sin does not have the af

Opinion: One of the best optics ever produced at this focal length along with 80-200 big whiskers, when used on canon 1d series, replace the camera's focus glass with the one equipped with a broken picture stigmometer for a perfect, accurate and precise mass In the focus, it will be a great pleasure to use this optic in these conditions on the nikon d700 and 300 and 800e no problem just set the memu management software for optics and have fun

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Reviews » Lenses » Lenses Nikon » Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S

Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S : Specifications and Opinions

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Reviews

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Photos taken with Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S