Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

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Archive 2009 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

TheObiJuan
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p.2 #1 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

I just recently switched from Canon to Nikon's D700.
I'm let down by the 17-35's corners even at f/5.6.
The 16 fisheye is great.
The 80-200 does everything I need and vignetting is not a problem.
Thank god for Sigma making a usable 50mm.

I wish a sharper 85mm with better bokeh were available. The 50mm doesn't have the reach I need anymore since I'm not on a APS-C body anymore.

Despite the lens lineup, the bodies are stellar and options endless.
I swapped 4 months ago and never looked back.

Nov 22, 2009 at 01:32 AM

Aaron Tengbom
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p.2 #2 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

Andre Labonte wrote:
louis fusco wrote:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html
http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm
http://www.luminescentphoto.com/
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/index.htm

loads of older mf primes that are a pleasure to use too as well as the all singing all dancing 2.8 pro zooms.

You put KR on the list!!!!

Please, give the OP a fighting chance of getting good information.

Well the OP did ask for an idiots guide...

Perhaps the OP should list what he currently has that gets used so the replies could be more tailored to his usage.

Nov 22, 2009 at 01:50 AM

bishopj100
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p.2 #3 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

Thanks to everyone for all the posts

My current lineup is a 1DS2 and a 5D1 as a backup

My main (favorite) lenses that I use for the majority of my wedding work are

50 1.2L
45 mm TS
85 1.8
28-70 2.8 L

I also have a 28 1.8 and a 70-200 2.8L which aren't used all that much.

The wide aperture lenses are used for low light inside churches and receptions. I can't get away with using the Canon zooms and my current bodies for low light shooting, thus I have to use the primes. I'm just wondering if the high ISO capabilities of the D700 will allow me to use the Nikon 24-70 2.8 inside church and reception venues.

My biz partner has a full lineup of L WA lenses (24L, 35L) and a 5D2 but is extremely frustrated by the low light focusing of the camera. The D700 seems to be the perfect wedding camera IMHO. Why can't Canon make that exact camera? At the moment I could care less about video and fusion. Sorry wrong forum....

Thanks for all the suggestions. I love FM members!

Nov 22, 2009 at 02:10 AM

Kit Laughlin
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p.2 #4 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

bishop, you wrote:

I shoot mostly weddings and e-sessions at the moment.

I am curious: how does the 45 TS-E fit into that? Excellent lens, but (as an event shooter as well as shooting architecture myself) I can't see how that slowish lens fits into the wedding scenario (especially as you mention that Canon zooms are too slow).

In my experience, the D700 can be 'set and forget' to auto ISO 6400; as well you can set minimum shutter speed before the camera ups the ISO. I would use the Nikon 50/1.4, or the Sigma version, or the Zeiss ZF 50/1.2, if MF is OK. The 24–70/2.8 is a very very good lens, too, BTW. I have not owned the Canon equivalent, but I am sure others here have. cheers, kl

Nov 22, 2009 at 02:42 AM

williamkazak
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p.2 #5 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

You should be able to use the Nikon 24-70 because I use the 12-24mm F4 Nikon zoom at the weddings on a D300. AF works fine with that lens. Why would you want to switch and lose out on all of your nice Canon lenses?

Nov 22, 2009 at 02:45 AM

Two23
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p.2 #6 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

You give NO clue what you want to photo, how you photo, and what light conditions. I really can't recommend anything since I don't know what you are trying to do. As for Nikon primes, I tried them and was quite disappointed. They are nudging quarter century old design now. I had trouble with CA when used on DSLR. OTOH their new zooms are state of art. Canon owners buy adapters so they can use the new Nikon zooms! No way I'm putting the old Nikon single focal lenses on a high dollar camera. Twenty years ago single focals were better than zooms, but with modern coatings, CAD, ED elements, AFS, and so on the pro zooms now are the lenses with top image quality. At least in Nikon mount.

Kent in SD

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:52 AM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #7 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

bishopj100 wrote:
Thanks to everyone for all the posts

My current lineup is a 1DS2 and a 5D1 as a backup

My main (favorite) lenses that I use for the majority of my wedding work are

50 1.2L
45 mm TS
85 1.8
28-70 2.8 L

I also have a 28 1.8 and a 70-200 2.8L which aren't used all that much.

The wide aperture lenses are used for low light inside churches and receptions. I can't get away with using the Canon zooms and my current bodies for low light shooting, thus I have to use the primes. I'm just wondering if the high ISO capabilities of the D700 will allow me to use the Nikon 24-70 2.8 inside church and reception venues.

My biz partner has a full lineup of L WA lenses (24L, 35L) and a 5D2 but is extremely frustrated by the low light focusing of the camera. The D700 seems to be the perfect wedding camera IMHO. Why can't Canon make that exact camera? At the moment I could care less about video and fusion. Sorry wrong forum....

Thanks for all the suggestions. I love FM members!

Something to think about:
You have some excellent Canon glass. Would it not be possible to buy a higher-end Canon body that would solve your issue with the 5D2? Granted the body will be expensive, but so will switching. Not to mention the time it will take to get used to your new gear.

As for Nikon matches to your Canon glass lineup

50 f/1.2L --> 50 f/1.4 AFS you loose 1/3 stop but get a near comparable lens.
45 T/S --> 45PC-E Canon's version allows axis rotation while I think that Nikon's does not. Nikons is an optical gem.
85 f/1.8 --> 85 f/1.8 The Nikon version is comparable (now if we were talking Canon's 1.2 version of the lens... different story)
28-70L --> 24-70 AFS one kick butt lens.
70-200 2.8L --> 70-200 f/2.8 VRII The new Nikon lens is likely better than Canon's. The VR-I version vignettes more, so get the newer version.
28 f/1.8 --> 28 f/1.4 a rare, discontinued and extremely expensive lens. Nikon is remis in offering a new offering of this lens.

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:53 AM

Rooster L200
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p.2 #8 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

ANOTHER SWAPPeR HERE..... never looked back either, once you see what d700 af does, canon bites the dust.... 14-24, 24-70 and 80-200afs.... looking for the 50/1.2 in the future..:-)!

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:43 AM

qbazdz
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p.2 #9 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

You can also consider Nikkor 17-35 2.8 to cover you WA.
BTW. Is there any sensible alternative to this one guys, but a bit cheaper?

Nov 22, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Kit Laughlin
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p.2 #10 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

The 24–70 covers an important part of that range (for events, pretty much this is the only lens I use) but for the full range, no.

Nov 22, 2009 at 12:05 PM

qbazdz
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p.2 #11 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

I am just looking for some WA replacement to N14-24 which could take Cokin filters and cover 15(16)mm upwards.

Nov 22, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Kit Laughlin
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p.2 #12 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

Understand, and no, not to my knowledge. cheers, kl

Nov 22, 2009 at 12:37 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #13 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

qbazdz wrote:
I am just looking for some WA replacement to N14-24 which could take Cokin filters and cover 15(16)mm upwards.

I find the Lee filter system is quite nice and they now have an adapter that fits the 14-24. I've check Cokin out and it seems it lacks quality compared to the Lee system.

Nov 23, 2009 at 04:58 AM

bishopj100
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p.2 #14 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

Kit Laughlin wrote:
bishop, you wrote:

I shoot mostly weddings and e-sessions at the moment.

I am curious: how does the 45 TS-E fit into that? Excellent lens, but (as an event shooter as well as shooting architecture myself) I can't see how that slowish lens fits into the wedding scenario (especially as you mention that Canon zooms are too slow).

In my experience, the D700 can be 'set and forget' to auto ISO 6400; as well you can set minimum shutter speed before the camera ups the ISO. I would use the Nikon 50/1.4, or the Sigma version, or the Zeiss ZF 50/1.2, if MF is OK. The 24–70/2.8 is a very very good lens, too, BTW. I have not owned the Canon equivalent, but I am sure others here have. cheers, kl

The 45 TS is not used for the ceremony or reception.....low light, moving objects. I use it mainly for couples sessions and portraits of the b+g. Its only used when we have time to slow things down a bit and get some intimate shots of the couples. Its an amazingly sharp lens with no tilt or shift added.

Nov 23, 2009 at 06:14 PM

Chestnut
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p.2 #15 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

Kit Laughlin wrote:
I am curious: how does the 45 TS-E fit into that? Excellent lens, but (as an event shooter as well as shooting architecture myself) I can't see how that slowish lens fits into the wedding scenario (especially as you mention that Canon zooms are too slow).

I believe Jamie's use of the 45-TS is used more for the portrait aspects that don't require shooting in very very dim lighting. I use my 24 PC-E lens for the same thing. Tilting the lens allows for plane-of-focus manipulations to achieve very lovely effects (when done right, and not overdone).

But of course, I could be wrong... it's just how I see it, and how I shoot.

Nov 23, 2009 at 06:59 PM

Kit Laughlin
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p.2 #16 · Idiots guide to Nikon lenses?

bishop and Chestnut: I can see that perfectly, and (and this is the big part), I definitely can see how shooting groups could benefit from tilt. I just never thought of using TS lenses this way (and I have been a commercial photog, for 30 years). Head slap! Thanks for that (a perfect example of why I love this forum). cheers, KL

Nov 23, 2009 at 07:17 PM

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