This year I downsized all the way to a single Fuji X100F and packed it around with film cameras. Loved operating that way.
But I always kept my high mileage D610 for film scanning and a drawer of old stuff.
In spring my family bought a small 16' camper trailer and now I find myself outside more in places that having a big camera on me isnt so bad. So I have started taking the Nikon out again. After shooting the Sierras with it last weekend it became a little obvious that I need some better modern corrected optics (to be fair I only brought the plastic 50/1.8D). At rock bottom F mount lens prices on the used market these days it seems like a better option than buying into a big ILC mirrorless kit again since this isnt my income (ironically I did the most professional work this year in about 15 years - a couple of gigs - but I digress).
OK, but seriously, if you are still rocking DSLR what are you most used lenses?
I've got NO zooms so thinking about an ultra wide and a tele combo. I miiiiight want to stick to G lenses in case I do pick up a Z at some point and get the FTZ adapter. Currently I have a lot of ye old F mount stuff:
60/2.8 Micro D
85/1.8 D
50/1.8 D
28/2.8 AIS
Needs: fun, landscape, occasional soccer game (I shot an entire season with a 200/4 AI lens. wow was that a workout! So my AF tracking speed expecation are pretty low after that lol) and, uh, yeah, fun.
24 f/1.4G, 35 f/1.4G, and 60 f/2.8G
24-70 f/2.8G and 70-200 f/2.8G VRII
105 f/2.5 Ai'd
35-200 f/3.5-4.5 Ai-S
75-150 f/3.5 Series E
I use all of those on the Z8 and D5 and they work great. For autofocus, I've tried/rented/owned a handful of Z lenses now and I've come to the conclusion that I just generally prefer the look from the G era glass. And then for manual, while there are a lot that I use and enjoy, it's those three that I use the most.
For what you're asking about, the 24 f/1.4G would probably be a fun buy. It can do landscapes of course, but a fast 24 does give a unique look without feeling like you're miles away from normal.
ottokbre wrote:
This year I downsized all the way to a single Fuji X100F and packed it around with film cameras. Loved operating that way.
But I always kept my high mileage D610 for film scanning and a drawer of old stuff.
In spring my family bought a small 16' camper trailer and now I find myself outside more in places that having a big camera on me isnt so bad. So I have started taking the Nikon out again. After shooting the Sierras with it last weekend it became a little obvious that I need some better modern corrected optics (to be fair I only brought the plastic 50/1.8D). At rock bottom F mount lens prices on the used market these days it seems like a better option than buying into a big ILC mirrorless kit again since this isnt my income (ironically I did the most professional work this year in about 15 years - a couple of gigs - but I digress).
OK, but seriously, if you are still rocking DSLR what are you most used lenses?
I've got NO zooms so thinking about an ultra wide and a tele combo. I miiiiight want to stick to G lenses in case I do pick up a Z at some point and get the FTZ adapter. Currently I have a lot of ye old F mount stuff:
60/2.8 Micro D
85/1.8 D
50/1.8 D
28/2.8 AIS
Needs: fun, landscape, occasional soccer game (I shot an entire season with a 200/4 AI lens. wow was that a workout! So my AF tracking speed expecation are pretty low after that lol) and, uh, yeah, fun. ...Show more →
I had the 60/2.8 AF soon after release, which I think was the same as the later AF-D. The focus throw was so short it was terrible for manual focus distance work. Does that lens focus on any semi-modern camera - maybe the D850?
Situationally used quite a bit:
- Ai-S 28mm f2.8
- AF-D 20mm f2.8
Honorable mentions that don’t see enough use:
- Ai-S 105mm f2.5 and CV 90mm 2.8 APO
- Nikkor-H 50mm f2
I recently picked up the AF-D 28-105mm f3.5-4.5. Maybe it will replace the role of the 28-70 sometimes, but the latter is better imo so it will probably remain the most used lens.
I've kept most of my F-mount lenses; I still own a DSLR camera (along with Z6).
My most used ones are
- AF-S ED 70-200/4G VR
- AF-S ED Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8G VR
- AI 50/1.4
For FLs shorter than 50 I use Nikkor Z zooms (14-30 & 24-70).
Since you mentioned ultra wide and tele combo, and AFS/G, I would think a pairing from the G f2.8 trio, or for lighter weight the 16-35 f4 and 70-300 E. Carry on nicely with the FTZ if needed, though if you get into Z glass your thoughts might change some.
I'm a prime-only shooter, and a relative late-comer to DSLR (a Nikon Df), so have a pretty small stable of AF-D lenses. My most-used are these three:
18/2.8D
24/2.8D
28/1.4D
I also have, but rarely use these two as I typically prefer their MF brothers (particularly the tiny Voigtländer 180/4):
85/1.4D
180/2.8D
Finally, I just purchased the 105/2 DC, and hope to make more use of that on my next trip.
