Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S) · 1981–2005
Nikon's 180mm f/2.8 began as a press lens for the 1970 Sapporo Pre-Olympics. In 1981 designer Sei Matsui reworked it into this ED version, with five separate elements and extra-low-dispersion glass in the front one, while keeping it smaller and lighter than before. Nikon's own lens history calls it the lens that made ED glass accessible, at a time when ED meant big, heavy super-teles. It's usable wide open, with very little color fringing in the blur, and Nikon's writer says he can't remember noticeable ghosts from years of use. It weighs about 800 g, focuses to 1.8 m, has a built-in hood and takes 72mm filters instead of the usual Nikkor 52mm. On a mirrorless body it's a fast tele for portraits, stage and sport, about 270mm equivalent on APS-C. It works on Nikon's FTZ adapter with stop-down metering. Look for the gold ring and the Nikkor*ED name.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Nikon F (AI / AI-S) lens, and its mount sits 46.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Earlier 180mm f/2.8 lenses (the Nikkor-P Auto from 1970 and the AI from 1977) are a 5-element, 4-group design without ED glass, weigh about 880 g, and show more colored fringing in out-of-focus areas, according to Nikon. The manual-focus ED lens ran from 1981 to about 2005. The later AF Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED lenses from 1986 use internal focusing and are a different design; on the FTZ adapter they focus manually.
Haze, fungus and oily aperture blades are the usual age faults. It's a heavy lens, so look for dents, a bent filter ring and a worn finish, and check the front element for scratches.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy the ED titled tested and working, with a filter and rear cap, at $280 delivered, at the bottom of the band, or the US dealer's copy at $170 once you've read its notes. There are at least 129 for sale and most ask $280–380 delivered, nearly all from Japan dealers, while the two US copies here ask $170 and $383. Look for the gold ring and Nikkor*ED on the name ring, since the older non-ED 180mm is heavier and shows more color fringing, and check the large front element and the 72mm filter thread in the photos for scratches and dents. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back, and skip the as-is copy titled with fungus at $346 and the $1,070 copy at about 3.3 times the median. It needs a Nikon F adapter, and Nikon's FTZ works with it on a Z body; the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$170.14delivered
The lowest delivered lens here at $170 with free shipping and Best Offer, from a 99.8% US dealer, about half the median. The title says *Read, so find the fault in the description, and look for the gold ED ring in the photos.
Nikon Nikkor AI-S 180mm f2.8 *ED Lens AIS *Read #405
$279.75est. delivered
Titled tested and working, with a filter and rear cap, at $280 delivered from a 100% Japan seller, at the bottom of the band. Ask what the test covered and for a photo of the blades at f/8.
Nikon Ai-S NIKKOR ED 180mm F2.8 MF Telephoto Lens Filter Rear Cap Tested Working
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$170.14delivered
$170.14 · free shipping
Buy It Now$170.14
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
US dealer. Titled *Read, so the description lists faults. Cap in the photo.
Seller: robertscamera
99.8% positive
Used$279.75est. delivered
$199.75 + $80.00 shipping
Buy It Now$199.75
Good buy
Titled tested and working, with a filter and rear cap.
Seller: yuya_black
100% positive
![[N MINT] Nikon Ai-S Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED MF Telephoto Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ftIAAeSwa3RqyXFe/s-l500.jpg)
Used$319.99est. delivered
$269.99 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$269.99
Our take
N MINT by the dealer's grade. Filter in the photo.
Seller: jumpei111
100% positive
![Nikon Ai-S Ais NIKKOR ED 180mm f2.8 MF Telephoto Prime Lens As-Is [FUNGUS] Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hSAAAeSw8ohqFN2M/s-l500.jpg)
For parts$345.95est. delivered
$315.95 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$315.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Sold as is with fungus, at more than the median. Skip it.
Seller: moriyasu
100% positive
![SN:432xxx Nikon Ai-s Nikkor 180mm f2.8 ED Lens Late [Tested Top MINT] From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AwIAAeSwmfhqzzyj/s-l500.jpg)
Used$434.99est. delivered
$384.99 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$384.99
Our take
Titled late, with a 432xxx serial, tested. Top MINT by the dealer's grade.
Seller: lingenterpr-0
99.8% positive
![[Unused 447xxx] Nikon Ai-s Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED Prime MF Lens Boxed From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wlcAAeSwS1lqtkpe/s-l500.jpg)
New old stock$599.98est. delivered
$499.99 + $99.99 shipping
Buy It Now$499.99
Our take
Titled unused and boxed, with a 447xxx serial. Box and case in the photo.
Seller: rebirth_japan
100% positive
![[EXC+++++] Nikon Ai-s Nikkor ED 180mm F/2.8 MF Telephoto Lens from Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vQkAAOSwMvZg4GQm/s-l500.jpg)
Used$234.99est. delivered
$199.99 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
Check the seller
Seller and feedback weren't shown. EXC+++++ by the seller's grade.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
![Rare Nikon Ai-s Nikkor ED 180mm f/2.8 SIC Telephoto MF Lens [Optical Top Mint]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/88QAAOSwAKJmvCNI/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,070.00est. delivered
$750.00 + $320.00 shipping
Buy It Now$750.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled SIC and Optical Top Mint, with $320 shipping. About 3.3 times the median.
Seller: hardwareshop_busyutooljp
100% positive
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