p.1 #1 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
Hi, new to the forums, but I’ve been shooting photography for more than a minute. I use the Canon R system for work, and over the years I’ve spent time with Leica, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad and Pentax 6×7 on the film side.
I recently picked up a Nikon F6 and I’m looking to build a small lens kit. I mostly shoot portraits and travel photography in a documentary style—lots of environmental portraits, street moments, and everyday life scenes. I really enjoy a vintage look to my images.
Right now I’m specifically looking at the 105mm AI‑S f/2.5 because of its classic rendering, and I’m thinking of pairing it with the 28mm f/2.8 AI‑S for a compact, on‑the‑go kit.
For those of you who’ve spent time with the F6 (or other Nikon film bodies), how do these two lenses perform on film, and are there any alternatives you’d recommend for portraits and travel/documentary work?
Any thoughts on a good two‑ or three‑lens setup to begin with would be much appreciated.
p.1 #2 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
tofunjay wrote:
Hi, new to the forums, but I’ve been shooting photography for more than a minute. I use the Canon R system for work, and over the years I’ve spent time with Leica, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad and Pentax 6×7 on the film side.
I recently picked up a Nikon F6 and I’m looking to build a small lens kit. I mostly shoot portraits and travel photography in a documentary style—lots of environmental portraits, street moments, and everyday life scenes. I really enjoy a vintage look to my images.
Right now I’m specifically looking at the 105mm AI‑S f/2.5 because of its classic rendering, and I’m thinking of pairing it with the 28mm f/2.8 AI‑S for a compact, on‑the‑go kit.
For those of you who’ve spent time with the F6 (or other Nikon film bodies), how do these two lenses perform on film, and are there any alternatives you’d recommend for portraits and travel/documentary work?
Any thoughts on a good two‑ or three‑lens setup to begin with would be much appreciated....Show more →
You've got a great start with those 2x. They both perform great on film.
The 28 f/2 AI-S I find to perhaps be a touch stronger at mid to far distances than the 28/2.8 whereas the 28/2.8 is better at close distances, although the former is no slouch. I personally enjoy the 50/1.2 AI-S in the middle of that trio, although the 50/1.8 AI-S (either long nose or pancake, but not Series E) is a touch cheaper and no slouch. The 55/2.8 AI-S or 55/3.5 AI-S are also a great middle lens to use. Those are optimized for macro more than general purposes shooting so perhaps less ideal for closer portraits, but is still a great lens.
28 + 50-58 + 105 has always been my preferred set of lenses for Nikon film bodies (and at sometimes I've carried at 180/2.8 or a 20/4 long ago. There's very little in the type of shooting you've described that you can't do with that set of lenses.
p.1 #3 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
The 28 f/2.8 Ai-S and 105 f/2.5 are classics for a reason. Can't really go wrong with 'em. Agree with @huddy@ on the 28 comparison. The 28 f/2 Ai-S is a bit stronger at distance, the 28 f/2. 8 Ai-S is a bit better up close. Both good, but the f/2.8 has a price premium lately. I like the f/2, personally.
I do disagree on avoiding the 50 f/1.8 Series E, though. It's practically just as good as the long nose 50 f/1.8 Ai-S, just some subtle coatings differences. Just don't pay Ai-S prices for the Series E. The long nose ergonomics are a bit better, though.
My F6 kit is mostly just the 28 f/1.8G or 35 f/1.4 Ai-S. Sometimes I use the 35 f/1.4G if it's largely for family stuff. And don't overlook the AF/AF-D lenses, either. The 24 f/2.8D, 28 f/2.8D, 35 f/2D, 50 f/1.8D, 85 f/1.4D or 85 f/1.8D, and the 28 f/1.4D if you want to spend on it are all great choices.
p.1 #4 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
Thank you for the suggestions! I have been eyeing the 50/1.8 AI-S as well. I like its compact form factor. I find as I get older portability becomes a bigger factor. I'm not sure why that is, perhaps I'm just tired of lugging a heavy camera bag around
p.1 #7 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
tofunjay wrote:
Any thoughts on a good two‑ or three‑lens setup to begin with would be much appreciated.
Not lenses, but flash. The F6 is compatible with modern flash like the SB-900. I've used the F6 with that flash, and with the R1C1 macro combination. Works great. And if you're travelling, a flash may come in handy. If you really want the vintage look, just point it at your subject! Or use bounce for something usually more palatable. For portrait, even environmental, flash will often come in handy.
p.1 #8 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
OffTrail wrote:
The 28 f/2.8 Ai-S and 105 f/2.5 are classics for a reason. Can't really go wrong with 'em. Agree with @huddy@@ on the 28 comparison. The 28 f/2 Ai-S is a bit stronger at distance, the 28 f/2. 8 Ai-S is a bit better up close. Both good, but the f/2.8 has a price premium lately. I like the f/2, personally.
I do disagree on avoiding the 50 f/1.8 Series E, though. It's practically just as good as the long nose 50 f/1.8 Ai-S, just some subtle coatings differences. Just don't pay Ai-S prices for the Series E. The long nose ergonomics are a bit better, though.
My F6 kit is mostly just the 28 f/1.8G or 35 f/1.4 Ai-S. Sometimes I use the 35 f/1.4G if it's largely for family stuff. And don't overlook the AF/AF-D lenses, either. The 24 f/2.8D, 28 f/2.8D, 35 f/2D, 50 f/1.8D, 85 f/1.4D or 85 f/1.8D, and the 28 f/1.4D if you want to spend on it are all great choices.
p.1 #9 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
tofunjay wrote:
Right now I’m specifically looking at the 105mm AI‑S f/2.5 because of its classic rendering, and I’m thinking of pairing it with the 28mm f/2.8 AI‑S for a compact, on‑the‑go kit.
For those of you who’ve spent time with the F6 (or other Nikon film bodies), how do these two lenses perform on film, and are there any alternatives you’d recommend for portraits and travel/documentary work?
Any thoughts on a good two‑ or three‑lens setup to begin with would be much appreciated.
You absolutely can't go wrong with the 105/2.5 AiS. For a wide-angle, I'm a 24mm guy (shot probably 70% of my street-photography with a 24/2), and the 24/2.8 AF-D can be had for very little money and is supposed to be superiour to the 28/2.8 AF (though the 28/2.8 and 28/2 AiS are considered the pinnacle of Nikkor wide-angles). You should also consider the aforementioned 24/2 AiS: It's very compact for a fast wide-angle, and though it has a swirly bokeh wide-open, the effect can give interesting shots, and it renders very nicely stopped down. Sometimes having f/2 makes the difference in getting a shot on film. I also enjoy my 18/2.8 AF-D despite its bad reputation on the internet: It's a compact ultra wide-angle, and I sometimes take it as part of a two-lens travel kit with the 105/2.5.
p.1 #11 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
Is there a reason for looking at manual glass only? The G lenses are very good and are not actually heavy (the slower ones, not the f/1.4 variaety), they can actually be lighter than the older AI metal lenses depending what you are looking at. Plus you get AF etc. I understand if you are specifically looking for older school rendering, but if you only want to shoot manual lenses then why an F6 and not the FM2n, for example?
Personally I'm quite attached to the 58/1.4G. Works great on film, on digital on everything. It has its own look which is marvellous.
You could also look at the Voigtlanders if you want to stick to manual focs, the 58/1.4 is a very nice lens, I had it briefly but went back to the 58G. The 40/2 Ultron is another brilliant little lens, I've owned a few copies of this in Nikon and Canon mount, used it with film and digital and it just has its own great look.
My current travel/family kit is a 35/1.8G and 58/1.4G by the way on a D810. I have a F65 somewhere but don't really shoot film anymore (except large format). I have owned and used extensively the F100, F5, F3, FM2n in the past.
p.1 #12 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
I’m open to af lenses as well. I chose the manual focuses lenses at first because I have more experience with the ai-s series of lenses and I like their vintage rendering. I have no experience with Nikon’s autofocus capable lenses but I do want to try some out and take full advantage of the f6’s af features. I came a across a deal on the f6 body that I couldn’t pass ip which is why I am looking for recommendation for lenses . I don’t know much about the D810, any particular reason for the switch from the previous models you described?
panos.v wrote:
Is there a reason for looking at manual glass only? The G lenses are very good and are not actually heavy (the slower ones, not the f/1.4 variaety), they can actually be lighter than the older AI metal lenses depending what you are looking at. Plus you get AF etc. I understand if you are specifically looking for older school rendering, but if you only want to shoot manual lenses then why an F6 and not the FM2n, for example?
Personally I'm quite attached to the 58/1.4G. Works great on film, on digital on everything. It has its own look which is marvellous.
You could also look at the Voigtlanders if you want to stick to manual focs, the 58/1.4 is a very nice lens, I had it briefly but went back to the 58G. The 40/2 Ultron is another brilliant little lens, I've owned a few copies of this in Nikon and Canon mount, used it with film and digital and it just has its own great look.
My current travel/family kit is a 35/1.8G and 58/1.4G by the way on a D810. I have a F65 somewhere but don't really shoot film anymore (except large format). I have owned and used extensively the F100, F5, F3, FM2n in the past....Show more →
p.1 #13 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
tofunjay wrote:
I’m open to af lenses as well. I chose the manual focuses lenses at first because I have more experience with the ai-s series of lenses and I like their vintage rendering. I have no experience with Nikon’s autofocus capable lenses but I do want to try some out and take full advantage of the f6’s af features.
I too am a big fan of the AiS lenses (which makes up the bulk of my Nikkor collection) but I have over time purchased a number of AF-D lenses, in some cases duplicating an AiS lens I already own. IMO the AF-D lenses are not that different from their AIS equivalent, and still have that classic Nikkor rendering. For me the advantage of the AF-D lenses is (duh!) autofocus on my Df, which I appreciate given my aging eyesight, while the disadvantage is inferior MF haptics. I think you have to get into the more modern AF-S and G Nikkors before you start to see a substantial change in Nikkor rendering, so if you want that vintage look consider AF or AF-D lenses.
p.1 #16 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
I'd definitely recommend the Nikon 180mm 2.8, I've had and enjoyed both the manual focus version and still have the autofocus version (only used on digital but hear it was also great on film from a workshop I took almost 2 decades ago). .
The 105mm DC F2 is good too, but so is the 2.5 Ai-S.
p.1 #17 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
tofunjay wrote:
I’m open to af lenses as well. I chose the manual focuses lenses at first because I have more experience with the ai-s series of lenses and I like their vintage rendering. I have no experience with Nikon’s autofocus capable lenses but I do want to try some out and take full advantage of the f6’s af features. I came a across a deal on the f6 body that I couldn’t pass ip which is why I am looking for recommendation for lenses . I don’t know much about the D810, any particular reason for the switch from the previous models you described?
Ok cool, just asking. In the end, there are so many good Nikkors for F-mount we are spoilt for choice. From the AI era all the way to the latest G ones and the Voigtlander SL line. I'm sure you'll end up trying a few, we always end up doing that, don't we?
As to why D810 vs the F100/F5/etc? Well it is digital!
p.1 #18 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
Many of the screw drive AF lenses (AF, AFn and AF-D) have optical formulas that are either identical to earlier manual focus lenses, or are old enough optical designs that they offer "vintage" rendering. The AF-S G lenses are typically more modern looking rendering, but can be very nice.
That said...among 28mm lenses, I quite like my 28/2 AI. It has the same optics as the AIS but a longer throw to its focus ring. I figured this would be better for more precise focus adjustments.
The 35/2 D is a great lens on film. It is a different optical formula than the manual focus 35s. But you probably don't want both a 28 and 35.
The 50/1.4 D and 50/1.8 D are optically much the same as their MF predecessors. I have both a 50/1.2 AIS and 50/1.4 D. They're soft wide open. The 1.2 AIS is more dreamy looking wide open, and sharper at f/2 and 2.8. But if you want AF, the 50/1.4 D or 1.8 D are plenty good.
I tend to use my 60/2.8 D Micro-Nikkor as a general use prime more than any 50mm lens. It is fantastic IMHO.
My favorite all-around short tele prime is, of all things, the Tamron 90/2.5 D macro (model # 152E). Its barrel is very plasticky but it's light weight and compact. More info: https://www.tamron.com/global/consumer/sp/tamron90mm/
p.1 #19 · New to FM – Nikon F6 lens advice for portraits & travel
Best portrait lenses with f-mount are the 105mm DC and 135mm DC lenses. These are unique in their ability to defocus the foreground as well as the background. The 105mm is more usable indoors as compared to the 135mm. I would avoid the Nikon 24-120mm as is it is very soft and better to go with one of the 24-70mm lenses.
. I don’t know much about the D810, any particular reason for the switch from the previous models you described?
