Introduction
One in all Nikon’s most well-known lenses is the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D. This macro lens was launched greater than 30 years in the past, but it stays in demand right now. A part of this demand is just because there has by no means been a real alternative for this lens – it’s (by far) Nikon’s longest native 1:1 macro lens, and it additionally has one of many largest working distances of any macro lens ever made. Then there are the optics. Though picture high quality requirements have gone up considerably since this lens’s announcement in 1993, the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D has maintained a wonderful repute the entire time.
Usually, macro photographers will want longer lenses as a substitute of one thing like a 50mm or 60mm macro. And why is that? Easy: working distance. When doing macro pictures, you’ll usually run into the problem of being too near your topic – possibly simply an inch or two in entrance of your lens when you’re utilizing a 50mm or 60mm. This inadequate working distance implies that you may block the sunshine and scare away loads of topics, whereas additionally giving your self restricted room to place synthetic lights like a flash. For that motive, the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D is a really fascinating lens. It gives a powerful working distance of about 260 millimeters (10.2 inches) in entrance of the lens at 1:1 magnification. Not many different macro lenses provide something near that a lot working distance; for instance, the latest Z MC 105mm f/2.8 S has 134 millimeters of working distance by comparability (5.3 inches).
Even so, the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D has change into much less widespread within the mirrorless age, largely as a result of Nikon’s FTZ adapter doesn’t permit autofocus with older Nikon AF and AF-D lenses like this one. Handbook focus isn’t the tip of the world for macro pictures – you’ll usually use guide focus anyway on the larger magnifications – but it surely does put a damper on the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D’s general versatility. Nevertheless, this modified as of late February 2025, when the corporate MonsterAdapter introduced an LA-FZ1 adapter that enables older Nikon AF lenses to keep up autofocus on the Z System! This might result in a surge in curiosity for Nikon’s AF and AF-D glass, and the Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D might be essentially the most thrilling of all these lenses. The adapter is transport in the summertime of 2025, and availability may be checked right here.
Used costs for the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D have been like a curler coaster through the years, however they’re fairly low in the mean time, with used copies of the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D promoting for about $600 on eBay (eBay companion program affiliate hyperlink). It’s extra like $800 when you purchase used from KEH as a substitute, however actually, costs are in every single place. In case you go searching, you may discover a whole lot that offsets among the price of the MonsterAdapter LA-FZ1 – and that would make the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D a extra compelling lens than ever.
Just lately, I had an opportunity to check the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D each within the discipline and in our lab, because of considered one of our readers who kindly despatched me his copy for testing. Though I examined it utilizing Nikon’s primary FTZ adapter with out autofocus, I used to be very impressed by the lens nonetheless. However I’m getting forward of myself. Is it price contemplating the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D in right now’s world? How does it carry out in apply? This overview will reply these questions and extra!
Construct High quality
The AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D’s construct high quality stands out in right now’s world. It’s a high-end optic and feels prefer it, however provided that it was designed 30 years in the past, there are some quirks as nicely.
First, the all-metal barrel makes use of Nikon’s speckled black paint, a staple on the time that was phased out within the early 2000s. It provides the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D virtually a shimmering matte high quality, not one thing that you simply’ll see in a contemporary lens. Likewise for the aperture ring – it’s a holdout, however not a foul factor.
It is a lengthy and heavy lens, weighing in at 1185 grams / 2.61 kilos and measuring 19.3 cm / 7.6 inches lengthy. That mentioned, the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D doesn’t have a really giant diameter and manages to make use of only a 62mm filter thread. To cope with the burden, Nikon has added a non-removable tripod foot to the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D.
Nikon doesn’t specify climate sealing on this lens. The AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D does focus internally, which helps with its sturdiness over the long term (though the entrance aspect does transfer inside the fastened outer barrel). In any case, if you wish to purchase considered one of these lenses utilized in good situation, you’ll nonetheless discover loads of choices, which is a testomony to how nicely Nikon constructed it.
Dealing with
The AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D handles nicely, however not completely. The excellent news is that the guide focus ring is giant and comfy, and it incorporates a good focus throw of roughly 240 levels. This makes it very succesful for top magnification macro pictures, the place you might be unlikely to make use of autofocus.
My greatest grievance in regards to the dealing with is that the lens doesn’t help guide focus override when set to autofocus. In actual fact, if the lens is about to autofocus, the focusing ring locks fully and doesn’t flip in both course. If you wish to focus manually with this lens, you’ll want to push the button on the M-A hoop after which rotate the ring. This isn’t the smoothest course of and positively works higher on extra trendy Nikon lenses with full-time guide focus override.
The lens options an autofocus limiter change with two settings: Restrict and Full. When set to Full, the lens can autofocus by way of its whole vary. In the meantime, setting the lens to Restrict will prohibit its autofocus capabilities to the vary from 2.4 ft to infinity (74 cm to infinity).
Given the discharge date of this lens, it doesn’t have a few of Nikon’s later options like vibration discount and newer forms of lens coatings. On Nikon Z cameras, you’ll nonetheless get in-body picture stabilization with this lens, whether or not you employ Nikon’s FTZ adapter or the MonsterAdapter LA-FZ1 adapter.
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D Specs
- Full Identify: Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
- Mount Sort: Nikon F Mount
- Focal Size: 200mm prime
- Angle of View (FX): 12°20′
- Most Aperture: f/4 (efficient aperture of f/5.3 at 1:1 magnification)
- Minimal Aperture: f/32
- Aperture Blades: 9
- Filter Dimension: 62mm
- Lens Components: 13
- Lens Teams: 8
- Particular Components: 2 ED glass
- Tremendous Built-in Coating: Sure
- Fluorine Coated Entrance Component: No
- Digital Diaphragm: No
- Vibration Discount: No
- Inner Focusing: Sure
- Management Rings: Focus and aperture
- Perform Buttons: No
- Switches: M-A and focus limiter
- Focus Motor: None (screw drive, pushed by digital camera)
- Minimal Focus Distance: 48.8 cm (19.2 inches)
- Working Distance: 256 mm (10 inches)
- Most Magnification: 1× (1:1)
- Mount Materials: Metallic
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Not specified
- Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 193 × 76 mm (7.6 × 3.0 inches)
- Weight: 1185 g (2.61 lbs)
- Present value: About $800 used (examine present value)
The subsequent web page of this overview covers the optical traits of the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness checks within the lab. So, click on the menu under to go to “Optical Efficiency”: