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Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Sonnar-7
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Now that the Zf is out and that was kind of an oddball project for Nikon when you look at their choices from the past years to be back in business with the big ones.
Nikon showed us that that can still make some crazy moves like they used to.
What would be your dream lens from Nikon for street photography for the Zf or the other ones?

I’d like to see something like a 58mm 1.8 Plena like af prime lens (single coated?)with some rendering flaws like a bit of glow or halation but preserving those rond bubble bokeh balls and that central sharpness. An updated design, maybe shorter, fatter and with some minor markings, I don’t mind the lack of aperture ring.
It could set it up apart enough from the fabulous 50mm 1.8s.

I could wish a 58mm 1.4 but curiously I don’t think even in a dream scenario, that Nikon would do it. And Maybe 1.8 might keep the price reasonable.

Nov 16, 2023 at 05:50 AM

Keith B.
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

My "street photography" is usually manual focus, using focal lengths of mainly 35mm and 28mm at small apertures when possible, with an occasional detour to 20/21mm or 80-200 zoom, all manual focus. The wide angles I expect to able to scale focus, and have even put my own focus marks on the barrels with paint marker, since the native engraved marks are frequently not accurate. I puts dots at 15', 10', and 5'. In low light I expect to eye focus, since the depth of field at the wider "low light' apertures is too shallow for scale focusing.
I got a Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 35/2 this summer which is superb for my use. The 35/2 Apo's focus markings are accurate and the only thing missing is that I'd like Cosina to make a 28mm and 21mm lenses of similar comport. However, if you are after really old fashioned image quality, the 35/2 Apo ---and presumably the 50/2 Apo they make---probably would be "too sharp" and have too high contrast. For a more old-timey look, I'd get some old Nikon manual focus primes...but their use would require an adapter like the FTZ, that throws off the feel or balance of the camera in hand. There are tons of 50/55, 35, 28mm lenses to choose from in that world.

Nov 19, 2023 at 08:43 PM

Vinnie_VdB
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

There is a 50mm S 1/8, another 50mm S 1.2 and of course the 58mm f/0.95 NOCT. I do not expect any time soon indeed another lens in this range.
The 40mm f/2 lens is probably a widely used small lens for street photography if I look around me.

Nov 19, 2023 at 09:28 PM

patotts
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Just give me a "perfect" 50/1.4 in a reasonable size and price.

Nov 20, 2023 at 01:09 PM

Sonnar-7
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

patotts wrote:
Just give me a "perfect" 50/1.4 in a reasonable size and price.

Yeah, I wish they would do that. Everybody must have had that thought, the disappearance of the 1.4 in the line up sure is visible but every brand does it.
I wouldn’t mind an L-Line, for Legacy of whatever, with a fat short 50mm 1.4, with the wide Z-mount and some old revisited optical formulas, they can have something more compact.
If the purpose is more for stills and « character » rendering, like they tried with the 58mm 1.4 in their time, they can argue a lack of absolute sharpness and if they don’t mind giving us some swirl they can even go crazy with some 1.3/1.2 aperture.
With those traits it wouldn’t eat up neither the share of the 1.8s or 1.2s line, I think people who want crazy sharpness wouldn’t touch the L line with a stick and people who want some occasional quirks might go for both lines.

Nov 20, 2023 at 03:34 PM

Vento
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

To be honest, I don't see the problem here.
There are hundreds of lenses out there, of all kinds, maybe you should start with that before you wish for an imaginary, currently non-existent Z lens.

I am not the classic customer for a Zf, if I want retro, then I still own more than half a dozen analog SLR cameras from 35mm format to 6x4,5 medium format, with exactly this operating concept, including the appropriate lens collections.
But if I were to use such a camera, I would definitely use it, alongside Nikkor Z optics with AF, with high-quality manual focus lenses, like the Cosina/Voigtländer lenses for the Z-mount.
For example, the 50mm f/1 Nokton Z or if you want more flaws wide open, some SA glow, the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton, which also support the complete MF Assist features of a Zf.
The two Apo-Lanthars, albeit with different basic characteristics, are also wonderful optics for a Zf.
If you need UWA, the 15mm Super Wide Heliar.
Lenses with exceptionally beautiful rendering across the board, which additionally complement each other in perfection with the concept of the Zf.
I know of few lenses that manage the balancing act between the requirements and possibilities of modern lens designs and the importance of an organic, coherent, harmonious rendering so well.

Apart from the native, existing solutions, almost anything and any lens can be adapted to the Z-mount.
So if you are looking for a special look, you will find plenty of solutions, be it Z-mount, F-mount, Sony E-mount, M-mount, or Vintage solutions like M42, Nikon F, Canon FD + EF, Contax/Yashica, Leica M, Pentax, Minolta, or medium format, Mamiya 645/6x7, Hasselblad/Rollei 6x6, Pentax 645/6x7, Zenza Bronica 645/6x6/6x7...
You could go for the AF-S Nikkor 58/1.4 G, or adapting some of the Sony f/1.4 optics, if you are looking for that focal range/aperture value.
Personally, I still adapt many M42 optics, such as the CZJ 58/2 Biotar, various SMC Takumar lenses, some Tomioka stuff like the 55mm f/1.4 Auto Rikenon, but also FD optics, such as the Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 L, or my still existing Sekor lenses for the Mamiya 645 system.
Anyone who, given this gigantic selection of lenses, cries for a special lens that doesn't currently exist is doing something wrong.

The Z-mount is so universal that the only limiting factor here is money and your own imagination.
With a few exceptions, almost all lenses can be adapted.
Even a Rollei V/S Heidosmat MC 90mm f/2.4, one of the two lenses of my old Rollei Twin slide projector, can be adapted and used with a suitable Heliocid on my Z camera.

Nov 20, 2023 at 05:33 PM

elkhornsun
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Any focal length shorter than 50mm results in perspective distortion which is not good for people's faces or bodies. There is also the matter of personal space which varies by culture and standing 3 feet from someone and taking their picture is going to make most people tense up and this is clearly visible in most of the pictures posted of people.

I understand why 50 years ago when people were using rangefinder 35mm cameras that only had a 50mm or a 35mm prime lens as options why this limitation affected the photos taken. But there is no reason today to not make use of the excellent zoom lenses that are readily available and quite affordable

Nov 20, 2023 at 07:17 PM

Vento
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Ultimately, this is a very individual decision and depends very much on what kind of pictures you want to take.
Zooms offer flexibility in the focal length range, but this flexibility comes at the price of limitations in the max aperture.
Everyone will weigh this up individually and it also depends heavily on the latitudes in which you are living/traveling.

Ultimately, there is no universal truth.
Especially now in the dark season here in Northwestern-Europe, I would never go out with an f/4 zoom for street photography, always preferring a very fast, compact prime lens.
Quite simply because the limitations of a zoom in this range are simply too great.
Even with an f/2.8 zoom you get problems in the current season/pre-Christmas period, quite apart from the fact that such an f/2.8 zoom is large, heavy and anything but inconspicuous.

Whereas a solution such as a CV 40mm f/1.2 Nokton, for example, not only gives me much more leeway when choosing my aperture, but is also an absolute dwarf even compared to the most compact f/4 zooms.
The weight and size advantages are even more pronounced when you use M-mount lenses.

You can also vary the focal length as you wish.
Not everyone wants to take street portraits, so of course more extreme wide-angle focal lengths also have their place in street photography and are used accordingly.

Everyone has to find their own compromise and make sacrifices where they can best cope with them.
That's why such absolute statements, like prime lenses are a relic of the past, or everything below 50mm is useless for street photography are complete nonsense.

Nov 21, 2023 at 02:13 AM

Jepser
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

I like the 50mm (o r40-58) in most situations. But for my street photography I always end up using 24-25mm.

Nov 21, 2023 at 04:52 AM

gear-nut
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

The 40 is an awesome street lens. After that, the 58/1.4.

Nov 21, 2023 at 06:54 AM

lexdiamonnyc
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

my dream "imaginary" perfect street lens is the rumored 35 1.2S... if it's anything like it's 1.2S siblings its sure to be something special.

Nov 21, 2023 at 11:57 AM

foto16
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Since we are dreaming, 35mm f1.4 AF in the size of a Leica Summilux.

Nov 21, 2023 at 12:22 PM

akul
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Keith B. wrote:
My "street photography" is usually manual focus, using focal lengths of mainly 35mm and 28mm at small apertures when possible, with an occasional detour to 20/21mm or 80-200 zoom, all manual focus. The wide angles I expect to able to scale focus, and have even put my own focus marks on the barrels with paint marker, since the native engraved marks are frequently not accurate. I puts dots at 15', 10', and 5'. In low light I expect to eye focus, since the depth of field at the wider "low light' apertures is too shallow for scale focusing.
I...Show more →

I am glad you defined your style of Street photography. By reading yours, obviously my style ( if there is any ) is very different. Street photography, to me, is the hardest one to define an I keep seeing other people's definition of Street Photography and it rarely aligns with my perspective. Since I moved away from NYC, or NY state altogether subsequently, my opportunity to shoots street has diminished drastically, but, over the years, I had my own approach to street photography, In my case, I was just interested in capturing the ever revealing scene of the city and the sense of dwellers. Mainly drawn to the different light condition, shaft of light coming down through the valley of buildings, dark alley with construction lamps, street lamps at night, lights pouring out of food stand or tiny shops, etc... I never liked or were ever good at following, or hide cameras of shooting focusing on 'people'. Instead, I see a scene, thinking about the field of view (lens) I had that day, in my case, find a composition, worked on capturing moment, decide on DOF, and capture. It was usually not a person that grabbed my attention. They were just dwellers. Many times, at that very moment, people walk into the scene. Sometimes that added to the scene, sometimes not. I never was interested in capturing facial expression or human drama. If I see face in the shot, I usually see if I could darkene the shadow to obliterate. Anonimity, I guess was more interesting to me. So, in that parameter, lenses could be anything but probably more in the 24mm - 55mm range. Sometimes 85mm. 55mm f1.2 Nikkor S, 55mm f3.5 Nikkor micro AI, 50mm F1.4 AF-D, 58mm f1..4 AFS, 35mm f2 ZF.2, Nikkor 24mm f1.8G, Nikon 85mm f1.8G were probably the most used. In other words, small lightweight lenses in the focal range were all good,

So, from my perspective street lenses for ZF I would be interested in are:

1. 1.8S series, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm. Unlike others, I don't find new lenses to be too 'clinical'. Clean, and sharp, but not in negative way. One problem with Nikon's current line up is the lack of 28mm f1.8S.

2. Voigtlander lenses. They all seem to be great lenses. I currently have one lens ( 40mm /f1.2), but 35mm/f2 Apo, 50mm/f2 Apo, 58mm/f1.4 Norton, 90mm /f2.8 Apo, 28mm /f2.8 Color Skopar, Even the 21mm /f1.4 All looks great.

3. I was just reminded how lovely rendering Nikon 28mm /f1.4 D and Tamron SP 35mm /f1.4 provides. They are heavier and bulkier, but I feel they will be great for Street Photography.

I also like high contrast, BW treatment for Street Photography, so that may play into my list, but not essential, because it is mostly the PP and not the lens.

Luka

Nov 21, 2023 at 01:02 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

elkhornsun wrote:
Any focal length shorter than 50mm results in perspective distortion which is not good for people's faces or bodies. There is also the matter of personal space which varies by culture and standing 3 feet from someone and taking their picture is going to make most people tense up and this is clearly visible in most of the pictures posted of people.

I understand why 50 years ago when people were using rangefinder 35mm cameras that only had a 50mm or a 35mm prime lens as options why this limitation affected the photos taken. But there is no reason today...Show more →

Street photography is not portrait photography. It has an entirely different esthetic. Contemporary street shooters are not choosing their lenses because of lack of choice. It is their preference.

There are street masters like Bruce Gilden who get up close and in people's faces. His favorite FL is 28mm. His technique is to shoot before people know he is taking their picture. The short FL serves to exaggerate their reaction. This is key to esthetic. Yes, I find his style a bit rude and would never use it myself. But the images are often amazing.

Then there are street photographers like Alan Schaller who captures people in their environment. His favorite FL is 24mm. He avoids any kind of confrontation in his style.

There are many contemporary street photographers active today. There is a reason they prefer wide to normal fast prime lenses. Those FL capture the esthetics of the genre that they are after.

These people all have access to the zoom lenses, yet choose not to use them. They value size and a particular style that defines their work.

There is a reason the the company best known as the master camera maker for street photographers over the last 100 years choose a fast 28mm f/1.7 prime for the Q camera line. It says "street" in its rendering. Unfortunately, there is nothing available in a native Z mount AF lense that delivers the optical performance and size of the Leica f/1.7 Summilux on the Q cameras. If I was looking for a street lens for the Zf I would try to get as close to this lens as possible. The first thing I would give up in my search is AF. The excellent focus aids in the Zf makes this a reasonable compromise. I would look primarily towards Voigtlander and Leica lenses, native and adapted. I would pick from these the focal length that helps me define my style.

Nov 21, 2023 at 01:17 PM

sungphoto
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

For street photography, having a longer barrel is like having an arrow pointed at your target, so in the past I've preferred small cameras like the Sony RX1R2 (that flawed little camera has such a gorgeous lens) or an X100V (or F/T/etc) that disappear (this is also why the Ricoh GR series is so popular). I brought the Leica Q2 to Morocco for about a month, and generally was not impressed - the EVF is not very good and the autofocus is super frustrating compared to my Nikons. I was hoping that the 28 1.7 would be more impressive, but the Nikon 28mm 1.4E in my experience produces more pleasant rendering.

My favorite focal lengths for street photography tend to be around 35mm, but it depends on the city and how dense the crowds are. New York you can pretty much do all with a 35mm, same with Havana, and Tokyo. My desire would be for a full frame autofocus 35 f2, with a pancake form factor that is inobtrusive on the street.

That said, I don't think it's possible to design a 35mm that flat without it being integrated into the design of the camera, like the Q2, RX1R and X100 series, so I am not holding my breath and just use the Nikon 35 1.8 S. I think the most important thing about street photography isn't the lens or camera body, it's getting out there and pounding the streets for hours looking for the right moment.

Looking at my favorite street photos, they mostly seem to be made with either a 35 or 28

Nov 21, 2023 at 04:36 PM

akul
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

1bwana1 wrote:
Street photography is not portrait photography. It has an entirely different esthetic. Contemporary street shooters are not choosing their lenses because of lack of choice. It is their preference.

There are street masters like Bruce Gilden who get up close and in people's faces. His favorite FL is 28mm. His technique is to shoot before people know he is taking their picture. The short FL serves to exaggerate their reaction. This is key to esthetic. Yes, I find his style a bit rude and would never use it myself. But the images are often amazing.

Then there are street photographers like...Show more →

Then, there is Daido Moriyama who seemingly does not care about what he shoots with. Using Ricoh, but I got an impression that he was given the camera so he used it. He just roams around Shinjuku Nichome with his camera stick next to his cheek and shoots like machine gun. His majority work looks like coming from PP work. His early works were powerful. Hard to say “Loved it” but powerful and captured the ethos.

Nov 21, 2023 at 04:55 PM

fotografur
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

sungphoto wrote:
For street photography, having a longer barrel is like having an arrow pointed at your target, so in the past I've preferred small cameras like the Sony RX1R2 (that flawed little camera has such a gorgeous lens) or an X100V (or F/T/etc) that disappear (this is also why the Ricoh GR series is so popular). I brought the Leica Q2 to Morocco for about a month, and generally was not impressed - the EVF is not very good and the autofocus is super frustrating compared to my Nikons. I was hoping that the 28 1.7 would be more impressive, but...Show more →

Very nice examples

Nov 21, 2023 at 05:49 PM

akul
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Nov 21, 2023 at 08:52 PM

akul
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Apology in advance for image dump. Dug up some really old street shots (in my definition) from NY era. Most are shot with Nikon but somel of them are shot with other brand.

I agree with Steve aka 1bwana1. At least in my world of street photography, it got nothing to do with portraits.

Luka

DSC_2186N24-70_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_2312ZF35L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_3897 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_4269ZF21 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5094N50 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5241N2470 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5398ZF35 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_6339ZF35 copy_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_0399BWZF3514L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_1286ZF21L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_3754ZF35L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_4820ZF3514BWL_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_4982ZF21L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5670CY28L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5672CY28L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_5873ZF21L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_8061bw-ZF100L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_8865ZF35L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_9541ZF3514L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

_DSC0066_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

_DSC0081_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC_6306ZF35L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC00776L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC00819_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

DSC01268L_DxO by Luka, on Flickr

Edited on Nov 21, 2023 at 10:51 PM · View previous versions

Nov 21, 2023 at 09:51 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Dream StreetPhotography Prime Nikon Lens for the Zf?

Well if we are going to post images of our street shots, I will limit my posts to lenses that you can get to shoot on your Nikon Zf.

We will start with one shot with my 28mm Voigtlander f/2.0 Ultron VII (VM), on my Leica M10-P. A really good, very sharp, lens with great color, and wonderful rendering. I believe you can buy it in a z-mount also these days. I caused a bit of a traffic jamb shooting this one. I was driving to a meeting downtown when I saw this guy with the yellow basket about to cross the street and walk by the mural. I couldn't believe the color match. I pulled over into a red zone then spent about half an hour shooting others walking by. Still, this first set was the best.

So a 24mpx FF sensor, and a Z compatible lens. This image could have been shot on the Zf as easily the leica, with similar IQ, and enjoyable shooting experience.

Leica M10-P, VM 28mm Ultron ASPH II

Edited on Nov 21, 2023 at 11:36 PM · View previous versions

Nov 21, 2023 at 10:44 PM

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