Consider the older 85/1.8 pre-AI instead of the 85/2. It's a bit larger, but better in most ways. You just have to fit it with an AI aperture ring, or convert it yourself (which is quite easy).
And yes, the 105/2.5 is in many ways better than the 105/1.8, unless you absolutely need that extra stop.
I'll probably just get the 105mm f/2.5 for now and see how things go with it. It may be I'm in a "honeymoon" stage with MF and I'll end up hating it
I got pretty good at it with my former A850, though, so hopefully I'll like it as much with the D700. That A850's viewfinder, though - wow, made MF actually fun
I'm predicting I'll get addicted to the smooth feel of a MF lens (I very vaguely remember them with an old Canon SLR my grandma had), so I'll be revisiting this thread to review the suggestions!
BenV Yeah I've looked at the Samyang, and the samples I've seen all look good, so I'll have to considering it more before committing - I hear it's great wide open, but stopped down it actually starts getting worse? We'll see.
+1 for the 105 f2.5
+1 for the 55 F3.5
-1 for the 50 f1.2 (I felt that if you purchase a 1.2 lens, it should be sharp at 1.2)
+1 for the 180 2.8 ai-s ed (not inexpensive though but very nice)
+1 for the 35 1.4 ai-s (love this one...almost sold it but am glad it didn't sell)
I'm relatively new to Nikon and though I could afford to buy more expensive lenses, as I did when I built my Canon kit, I've been have a great time familiarizing myself with the Nikon lens lineup that includes some oldies but goodies. I read enough early on to know that the 105 f/2.8 was worth investing in. I paid $197 for a mint copy but there were many available for less money. I'm still rather amazed that one can find such an outstanding lens for so little money. I shot this a couple of days ago. I posted it elsewhere but it belongs here as well. This was wide open on the D700.
I'm awaiting delivery on another AIS lens, the 200 f/4 that I bought for $89. I find pleasure in shooting with manual focus lenses. When I can buy them for less than a hundred dollars it only adds to my delight...
I'll probably just get the 105mm f/2.5 for now and see how things go with it. It may be I'm in a "honeymoon" stage with MF and I'll end up hating it
I got pretty good at it with my former A850, though, so hopefully I'll like it as much with the D700. That A850's viewfinder, though - wow, made MF actually fun
I'm predicting I'll get addicted to the smooth feel of a MF lens (I very vaguely remember them with an old Canon SLR my grandma had), so I'll be revisiting this thread to review the suggestions!
BenV Yeah I've looked at the Samyang, and the samples I've seen all look good, so I'll have to considering it more before committing - I hear it's great wide open, but stopped down it actually starts getting worse? We'll see.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but it's my understanding that stopping down the Sammy is not as sharp as the Nikkor, this is not the same as the stopping down and the image gets worse. Lenses should performs better stopping down
- Highly recommend the 50mm f1.2 (not cheap and best to get a brand new one so you get one that is sharp wide open)
- 105mm f2.5 or the 105mm f1.8
- 200mm f4.0 Micro AiS - damn this thing is sharp and a fraction of the cost of the new 200mm AF version
- Some of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses - like the 70-210mm f2.8-3.5 or 28-90mm f2.8 - very sharp and very cheap
- Nikon series E 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 100mm f2.8 - vivid colors, light, and sharp. The 50mm f1.8 E is just pancake sized and cheap - nice and sharp by f2.0 (mid aperture)
- Tamron adaptall lenses with Nikon AiS mount - work just like the Ais on D700 or D3 - very good value for the $$$'s
yukselserdar wrote:
And apparently also the 75-150mm E ais, which i should receive in a day or two
Yup, the 75-150E is a great lens. I was just looking through some shots, and remembered that this was taken with the 75-150 on my retro FX FE2. Apart from being a close-up shot of a wild condor, it's a good example of the 75-150's distinctive football-shaped circular bokeh. It's probably wide open -- if I remember right, I was desperate for shutter speed, and my heart was pounding because of the rarity of the shot.
I like my 24 f2 better than my 20 f2.8. I also have a 100 f2.8 Series E (AiS). not sure how it compares to the 105s but it is one AiS lens that is still cheap. I paid $60 for mine saw one recently on Ebay for $90 with a few hours to go. The lens is about the size of a 50mm, weighs nothing (all plastic) but makes nice images. I have always liked images I have seen attributed the 105 f1.8, but they have gotten too expensive to buy for testing.
Enjoy,
cputeq wrote: BenV Yeah I've looked at the Samyang, and the samples I've seen all look good, so I'll have to considering it more before committing - I hear it's great wide open, but stopped down it actually starts getting worse? We'll see.
Of course it doesn't get worse when you stop it down. It just doesn't improve as much as other lenses do. It will easily outresolve your D700 sensor at f/5.6.
Unfortunately I already have an auction bid on 85mm f/2 -- I hope someone outbids me >,<
I paid for a 105mm f/2.5 though, $149 for mint condition (almost) is pretty decent I guess - Hopefully the seller will come through and ship it 2-day to my house (for a little extra $) so that I'll have a day to practice with it before my son's birthday on Saturday
About twelve months ago, so folks re-ignited the fire inside me. I returned to the hobby after about 10 years of being a "Japanese tourist" with a P&S Sony. To celebrate my return, I had to acquire my first love, a Nikon F2. I got myself a mint, almost like new, F2A and the hunt began to procure some good lenses.
The first one was a mint 105mm/2.5. I had that lens back in 1983 or something and it was amazing. The sample I got now was the AI-S and it is still one of the sharpest lenses I've ever tried. Following that, I got these:
50mm/1.4 : lovely lens and reasonably priced
35mm/2 : one of the best wide-angles in the F-mount, sharp and with good low-light capabilities
28mm/2.8 : lovely lens
24mm/2.8 : lovely lens
16mm/3.5 : Ren Konwell doesn't consider this lens as good as the f/2.8 versions of the 15-16mm Nikkors. I like it a lot and it was a steal, I got it for something like 200 € together with a mint FM2N.
I looked for, but never found a good sample of the 300mm/4.5, I had one slip through my gritty fingers just because I was too sleepy to bid for it in eBay, next morning it was gone.
I have been using these lenses with the Princess (the F2A) but also with an F5 and my D700. Amazing results, but I think I am somewhat spoiled these days by the convenience of the zoom lenses and I safe-keep the manuals for the F2A only.
I'll suggest the 200mm f/3.5 AF, built for the F3/AF. Somewhat rare, but very much a gem. Superb build quality; they don't build autofocus lenses like this now. 2 ED elements. I use it as a manual focus lens on my F2.
I still inventory 9/10 Nikkors, bought new, late 60s thru the 70s. I kept my 105 F2.8 Macro and sold the F2.5 (my macro for my D3s and Canons). Both the 24 and 28mm F2.8s are heros. I have the almost as good F2.0s for the speed. The 35mm F1.4 is the only "Nikkor Way" to have enjoy F1.4. The first 20mm F3.5 (72mm filters) is also well respected.
I also kept my old favorite 52mm non AIs (converted) 85mm F1.8. I never liked the 50mm F1.4 (but I am bored with 50s on FF). Strangely, I was cold to the 135 F2.8 but love my 135L Canon F2.0.
I have the 300mm F4.5 ED/IF which I had chipped for the modern bodies. It is a lightweight but slow lens compared to the F2.8. Good IQ too.
.
yukselserdar wrote:
Great examples of the 75-150mm, though the bokeh tends to get busy. Do you use it as a macro as well ?
Bokeh can get busy but it can also be quite smooth - much dependent on how you use it.... I haven't tried macro yet but I certainly will give it a wirl with some tubes.
