I picked this lens up from a local camera shop that is going out of business about a month ago. It was a spur of the moment buy, but I got it for $100 with a Hoya UV Filter. Not a bad deal, I'd say.
Anyway, I brought it home and threw it on my D7000. All I can say is WOW!!!!! This lens is incredibly sharp. Right down to 2.8, its tack sharp. I've already gone through a roll of Kodak 125PX on my N90S with JUST this lens. Its GREAT! Take a look for yourself:
Congratulations on finding a gem at a wonderful price. The 28/2.8 AI (and AI-S) is a great lens and you will enjoy using it for years. I personally have the faster 28/2 AI, and it stays glued to one of my bodies. I'm sure that it will do the same for you!
Hey thanks guys! As soon as I develop the film I shot with it, I'll have to get some of the results up here. Another great thing with this lens is how close it can focus! Can't get enough of it!
mshi wrote:
If you plug in the crop factor of D7000, it's about 43mm FL with effective f/4.2 at wide open.
I understand the effective FL when compared to a 35mm frame but I don't understand the f/4.2 at wide open. Seems to me that f/2.8 is still f/2.8 no matter how you crop the final image.
janicholson wrote:
I understand the effective FL when compared to a 35mm frame but I don't understand the f/4.2 at wide open. Seems to me that f/2.8 is still f/2.8 no matter how you crop the final image.
Jerry
you are right , there is no loss of light it is just a cropped image
the DOF changes between DX and FX because the assumed COC is different. f2.8 on FX requires f4.2 on DX to get the same DOF, with suitable COC assumptions.
Herb...
janicholson wrote:
I understand the effective FL when compared to a 35mm frame but I don't understand the f/4.2 at wide open. Seems to me that f/2.8 is still f/2.8 no matter how you crop the final image.
I used to have a hard time with this too. But this is a simple way of looking at it...
Take an 85mm @ 1.8 for example. Mount it on a full frame camera. Let's assume in order to fill frame with the subject you have to stand at 8 feet. Now... put the same lens at same aperture setting on a crop camera. In order to get the same field of view.. you would have to step BACK.. to get the same subject to fill the frame.
the distance between you and your subject has changed. This increases depth of field. So both sides are right. Aperture doesn't change.. but because you have to move further away for any given lens.. depth of field does increase.
janicholson wrote:
I understand the effective FL when compared to a 35mm frame but I don't understand the f/4.2 at wide open. Seems to me that f/2.8 is still f/2.8 no matter how you crop the final image.
You're having precisely the experience I did the first time I mounted one of Nikon's manual focus lenses on my D700. It was love at first shot. For me it was the 105 f/2.5 AI-s, but that experience has led me over the last year to buy 18 manual focus lenses, including both the 28 f/2.8 AI-s and the 28 f/2 AI that I was shooting with this afternoon.
I take so much pleasure shooting with these lenses that the AF lenses I own practically never get used. I also find myself wanting to shoot every day. I was out twice today. I'm glad you're having a good time and that you've shared it with the rest of us. As Laura said, you might want to check out the thread devoted to shooting with Nikon's manual focus lenses mounted on Nikon cameras. When I started the thread I expected to chat with a few folks and watch the thread disappear, but it really has captivated the interest of quite a few people. I can't tell you how many folks have sent PMs to me announcing their intention to buy their first MF lens because of that thread. There was even one woman from Toronto who sold her Canon gear so she could buy a Nikon camera and a few MF lenses. It definitely can be addiction.
Have fun! These lenses are not only great to use, but you can buy them for a pittance compared to what you pay for AF lenses. All you have to do is use the fingers of your left hand...
pisq wrote:
... the AI-s is reputed to be the best, and close focuses to 0.2m
It is. Different optical formula. The AIS is the one to have, not the AI.
From the execrable expert Bjørn Rørslett:
28/2.8 AIS: "Nikon designed this lens to yield sharp images even used for close-up photography. This was achieved thanks to its advanced 8-element design and a CRC feature acting on the front elements as with the 28/2 Nikkor. Images taken up close really are extremely sharp in the middle part of the picture and sharpness extends quite gracefully into the corners."
28/2.8 AI: "Prior to the 0.2 m close-focus model (see above), more modest optical designs were manufactured and none could come anywhere near the performance of the later version. A simple 5-element formula was later employed for the AF 28 mm f/2.8 lens and this likewise is a mediocre performer. Probably Nikon targeted these lenses at the amateur market and considered low price more important than optical performance."
