I know there are other options out there. I am comparing these 3 only. My applications are portrait at MFD and landscape at infinity. My criteria is good value vs performance, require minimal post processing out of camera (contrast boost, vignetting reduction, sharpening) and portability (size and weight).
The Pancolor seems to acquired a good reputation for portrait and the price has climbed steadily to $700+. However, it does not clear the 5D2 at infinity. The price and mirror clearance seems to write this lens off this list. But is it so good for portrait?
The Bokina seems to be heavy with its all metal construction. And I do not need the macro (long focusing throw) feature. The bokeh is excellent though. Does anyone know its landscape capability?
The Nikkor AI-S 105/2.5 seems a perfect balance between size, price and performance. However, its common availability and affordable price seems to speak otherwise. Why didn't it command a steadfast price increased if it is really that good?
Any advise and comment on these 3 lenses will be appreciated.
p.1 #3 · Which of these 3 tele primes are best on 5D2?
ManWearPants wrote:
The Bokina seems to be heavy with its all metal construction. And I do not need the macro (long focusing throw) feature. The bokeh is excellent though. Does anyone know its landscape capability?
The Bokina is pretty heavy but still quite a lot lighter than the Vivitar 90/2.5 macro (which is practically the same optically but with a more thicker metal construction). It's also very sharp at infinity. The bokeh is as creamy as it gets -- very attractive for close-up and portrait applications. CA correction is quite good: only some blue/yellow bokeh CA and no red/green CA.
One of the strengths of the Pancolar (not Pancolor) 80/1.8 seems to be that is has less bokeh CA than other fast 85mm lenses.
p.1 #4 · Which of these 3 tele primes are best on 5D2?
ManWearPants wrote:
The Nikkor AI-S 105/2.5 seems a perfect balance between size, price and performance. However, its common availability and affordable price seems to speak otherwise. Why didn't it command a steadfast price increased if it is really that good?
It was a mass-produced lens at a focal length that has survived from their rangefinder days, and it wasn't a particularly expensive lens (relatively speaking) to begin with. It's also not a complex design, limiting the types of failures you're likely to see. So good to great copies are abundant, most of the AiS line has been supplanted by AF lenses, and many Canon users who can easily adapt the lenses wouldn't dream of touching anything made by Nikon, all of which helps keep the price low. Nikon has the best bargains in MF lenses (24/2, 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.2, 105/2.5, 180/2.8, 200/2, and 300/2.8), and the resulting image quality from any of them would come at a surprise given the typical used prices. So don't let low prices stop you from trying out some excellent glass.
p.1 #5 · Which of these 3 tele primes are best on 5D2?
freaklikeme wrote:
It was a mass-produced lens at a focal length that has survived from their rangefinder days, and it wasn't a particularly expensive lens (relatively speaking) to begin with. It's also not a complex design, limiting the types of failures you're likely to see. So good to great copies are abundant, most of the AiS line has been supplanted by AF lenses, and many Canon users who can easily adapt the lenses wouldn't dream of touching anything made by Nikon, all of which helps keep the price low. Nikon has the best bargains in MF lenses (24/2, 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.2, 105/2.5, 180/2.8, 200/2, and 300/2.8), and the resulting image quality from any of them would come at a surprise given the typical used prices. So don't let low prices stop you from trying out some excellent glass....Show more →
yeah, the cheap price of this lens is really about supply. this was best portrait/reportage lens nikon made when nikon was king. everybody who shot nikon had one. this plus the fact that it was in production in some variant for like 50 years means that there are probably more copies of this lens in existence than there are photographers willing to use manual focus. as far as performance goes, it's awesome. i've seen lots of favorable comparisons to the zeiss makro planar. the only reason i'd sell mine would be to replace my ais version with the ai version.
