Just want to check with some of you experts out there.
This lens in mint condition with original box and papers.
What is the value as a collectors item?
None of the lenses on eBay sell with the box and it’s hard to put a correct value on it (for my insurance)
Prices have dropped on these. Which is good for those looking to buy. I just sold one on here for $950 that was in excellent condition. I regretted selling it immediately and bought a mint one from Camera West for $1200 (no box). I would guess around $1200-1400 currently for the box and papers.
Amazing lens. This is my favorite focal length. The 1.4E version is a technically much better lens (thought has a decent amount of purple fringing and kinda sucks for astro (for that the 28mm 1.4 ART is the bomb)), but this lens is smaller, has an aperture ring, and a really pleasant rendering to it. Sharpness is better at spitting distances and closer in. It's pretty soft wide open at infinity.
nhmorgan wrote:
Prices have dropped on these. Which is good for those looking to buy. I just sold one on here for $950 that was in excellent condition. I regretted selling it immediately and bought a mint one from Camera West for $1200 (no box). I would guess around $1200-1400 currently for the box and papers.
Amazing lens. This is my favorite focal length. The 1.4E version is a technically much better lens (thought has a decent amount of purple fringing and kinda sucks for astro (for that the 28mm 1.4 ART is the bomb)), but this lens is smaller, has an aperture ring, and a really pleasant rendering to it. Sharpness is better at spitting distances and closer in. It's pretty soft wide open at infinity. ...Show more →
Thanks. It is a lovely lens for sure. Great for environmental portraits. Never tried the 1.4E, hoping for a Z mount version to be released.
One of my favorite environmental portrait shooters, Marat Safin, has used the 28/1.4 E forever and I've been so tempted to get it just because of his work.
RoamingScott wrote:
One of my favorite environmental portrait shooters, Marat Safin, has used the 28/1.4 E forever and I've been so tempted to get it just because of his work.
RoamingScott wrote:
One of my favorite environmental portrait shooters, Marat Safin, has used the 28/1.4 E forever and I've been so tempted to get it just because of his work.
The 1.4E on an FTZ is hard to beat for sure! That lens was the last F prime lens and its autofocus is also able to keep up with anything you can throw at it. Also, thanks for the instagram link. That is def an instant follow!
RustyRus wrote:
With the F to Z megadapt screw drive AF adaptor its a bad ass combo-
The lens has a beautiful draw and the adaptor AF motor was bang on
I did not know someone was finally making a screw drive adapter for D lenses. I might need to try one for my 85/1.8 AF-D and 180/2.8 AF-D. If it works well I could see more AF-D acquisitions in my future.
Ross Martin wrote:
I did not know someone was finally making a screw drive adapter for D lenses. I might need to try one for my 85/1.8 AF-D and 180/2.8 AF-D. If it works well I could see more AF-D acquisitions in my future.
This is one of best Nikkor lenses that I used. The color rendering of this lens is very special. I prefer this lens over 28/1.4E in many occasions. One thing to note is that Nikon ran out of spare parts for this lens about 10 years so make sure you're getting good copy.
ocean2059 wrote:
This is one of best Nikkor lenses that I used. The color rendering of this lens is very special. I prefer this lens over 28/1.4E in many occasions. One thing to note is that Nikon ran out of spare parts for this lens about 10 years so make sure you're getting good copy.
Yes, agreed this is a very special lens, and the rendering is unique. It has a very solid construction, with a decent manual focus feel, and is quite handsome with its hammer-tone finish. Not to mention that it is reasonably compact for such a fast wide-angle. It is interesting to note that when it came out it was truly ground-breaking and unique in the Nikkor lineup, the first f/1.4 28mm lens, and was a very expensive, low-production lens (only 7333 copies).
Alas, the M/A focus-selector ring is VERY fragile, and is often cracked or even inoperative on this lens (the same problem was found on a few other AF-Nikkors from that generation). Nikon long ago ran out of spares (and the spare would just break anyways), but there are after-market replacements if you search. Of course Nikon will no longer even service AF-Nikkors as old as the 28/1.4D, which is a shame (they refused to consider installing a replacement M/A ring which I was willing to provide, and I had to find a local repair tech to do the work). The other flaw is the horrible and expensive dedicated hood (HK-7) which is too shallow and easily falls off. The lens does flare, so benefits from a hood, but I now use the old HN-9 which was dedicated to the original 20/3.5 UD. Also, the HN-9 takes the very cool 100mm metal/slip-on cap 100K, which gives you a giant "Nikon" logo on the front of your lens.
A while back, the philippreeve website featured a very detailed comparison review of fast 28mm lenses by Bastian K.
Including the Nikkor AF 28mm f/1.4 D, Nikkor AF-S 28mm f/1.4 E, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 Art, Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4, Voigtlander VM 28mm f/1.5 Nokton and the Laowa 28mm f/1.2 Argus.
The price for a used AF 28mm f/1.4 D is estimated there similarly to what some users have already mentioned in the thread, ~$1,300 (used) if it's in very good condition.
Is the difference in image quality between the D and E drastic enough to pay $400 more and get a lens that is non-repairable and requires a screwdrive motor to fully utilize?
It really depends on how you approach the matter.
Based on objective criteria for image quality, probably not.
The comparison on phillipreeve shows this quite clearly.
If autofocus is a must, the AF-S 28mm f/1.4 E is likely the better choice.
Not only in terms of autofocus, but also in terms of the objective criteria for good image quality.
If AF is a non-factor, then the Thypoch Simera gives you a 28mm f/1.4 that, despite its compact size, is definitely nothing to sneeze at.
It’s clearly superior to the AF 28/1.4 D in many aspects of optical aberration control, and—despite the subjective nature of this criterion—it’s also one of the best 28mm f/1.4 lenses currently on the market in terms of bokeh, costing at most one-third the price as a new lens, compared to a used AF 28/1.4 D.
But of course, that doesn’t change the fact that the AF 28/1.4 D is a very special lens with a touch of vintage rendering that isn’t found in current competing products.
It’s also relatively rare, was far ahead of its time, and thus enjoys something of a cult status; so if a buyer is primarily interested in these criteria—including the vintage touch in the rendering—then there are few alternatives.
Given its rarity and cult status, it’s also likely to hold its value very well if cared for properly, with the potential to even increase in value slightly over time.
RoamingScott wrote:
Is the difference in image quality between the D and E drastic enough to pay $400 more and get a lens that is non-repairable and requires a screwdrive motor to fully utilize?
Almost certainly not! But I do appreciate the more compact dimensions of the D: The E is 23 mm longer and 125g heavier, and the filter-size is increased from 72mm to 77mm. All things being equal, the E is the better lens AND cheaper, but the D is already at the limit of what I'm willing to travel with, and that's why I sought it out.
Vento wrote:
But of course, that doesn’t change the fact that the AF 28/1.4 D is a very special lens with a touch of vintage rendering that isn’t found in current competing products.
It’s also relatively rare, was far ahead of its time, and thus enjoys something of a cult status; so if a buyer is primarily interested in these criteria—including the vintage touch in the rendering—then there are few alternatives.
Given its rarity and cult status, it’s also likely to hold its value very well if cared for properly, with the potential to even increase in value slightly over time.
Yeah I have to admit I was somewhat collector-sucked into buying a 28/1.4D, and the "Noct" moniker applied to it by its fans didn't hurt (since I'm a very happy 58/1.2 Noct AiS owner). I also own the equally rare 18/2.8D , but due to its poor reputation was able to get one for a very reasonable price. In my collection of lenses, almost certainly the only collector's items are the two "Nocts", and my 18/2.8D will remain a fun but pretty worthless lens.
grantgoodes wrote:
Almost certainly not! But I do appreciate the more compact dimensions of the D: The E is 23 mm longer and 125g heavier, and the filter-size is increased from 72mm to 77mm. All things being equal, the E is the better lens AND cheaper, but the D is already at the limit of what I'm willing to travel with, and that's why I sought it out.
That makes sense, and if you already have a screwdrive-capable body it's less of an issue than if you're adapting to Z.
