In the short focal range tele-lenses Nikon was rather late. And the choice has never been as widely as competitors were and are offering. But the lenses Nikon offered/offers in this range are the best available on the market. Both the 2.8/180 mm. and 2/200 mm. can be used wide open without any problem. If aperture is closed by one or two stops images (contrast) will slightly improve. Closing down both lenses may gain more DOF but image quality beyond an aperture of f/8 is decreasing. These lenses are meant to be used at full aperture. As we all know the three main colors (RGB) may not come together on the film plane due to aberrations, both lenses have elements made from special glass: ED (= Extra Dispersion) glass made by Nikon Corporation via a secret recipe in its own melting 'pot', resulting in a breaking index which eliminates nearly all color fringing and aberrations. Various testers may discuss about a certain number of lines per millimeter when comparing these lenses with similar products of other manufacturers. But it's not all lines and millimeters. The total image transfer to the film or sensor is what counts. And that's beyond any discussion!
AF-Nikkor 2.8/180 mm.
The lens with this technical specifications has a long history. The German dictator A. Hitler wanted to use the 1936 Olympics as his showroom for - among others - innovative German products. Lens maker Carl Zeiss showed his Olympic-Sonnar 2.8/180 mm. Nikon countered almost 20 years later in 1955 with a slightly faster Nikkor S.C 2.5/180 mm. for its rangefinder cameras. For the SLR cameras a similar lens was introduced in 1970: the Nikkor-P 2.8/180 mm. This popular lens underwent several technical and optical changes, like the introduction of a version with ED-glass in the 1980's. The first auto focus version was marketed in Summer 1988. This version was modified as well, resulting finally in the AF-Nikkor D 2.8/180 mm. IF-ED. Despite what competitors are trying to prove, this lens is the very best available on the market!! Needle sharp at all apertures with a very nice DOF and bokeh!
This last version has an optical construction of 8 elements in 6 groups, The second element from the front is made of that special ED-glass. Via the internal focusing system it can be focused down to 1.5 meter. It has a built-in hood and takes 72 mm. filters and weights in at 760 gram. Mounted on a DX digital SLR you'll have a super fast 2.8/270 mm.!
AF-Nikkor 3.5/200 mm. (for Nikon F3-AF)
In 1983 NIkon showed the world that it was ready for auto focus photography. Together with the Nikon F3-AF it introduced two auto focus lenses: the AF-Nikkor 2.8/80 mm. and this nice and sharp tele-lens, the AF-Nikkor 3.5/200 mm. The lens has an optical construction of 8 elements (one element of ED-glass) in 6 groups, internal focusing down to 2 meter and a built-in hood. Although it was meant to be used exclusively on the Nikon F3-AF it will work on e.g. the Nikon F4 as well.
AF-Nikkor 2/200 mm.
This beautiful lens - intorduced in 2004 - has nothing to do with the manual focus 2/200 mm. The optical design of this new lens - AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm. f/2G IF-ED - is totally new. The auto focus version has an optical construction of 13 elements in 9 groups (the manual version 10 elements in 8 groups). 3 elements are made of ED-glass and one of Super-ED glass. It has a silent wave motor for quick internal focusing, distance data transfer and the vibration reduction feature + focus memory recall. The latter enables the photographer to set the focus on a certain distance. The VR-system has 2 settings: Normal for handheld shooting and Active for handheld shooting while sitting on/in e.g. a car or motor bike. Needle sharp at all apertures and distances, down to 1.90 meter. A pity is the G-mount, thus having no aperture ring and its weight: 2900 gram.