I've been thinking about manual focus lenses for a bit now for the possible tactile feel of the focus ring. Do the focus rings have a weighty feel to them or do the rotate effortlessly? Are there any lenses that have a high amount of rotations (I guess a long throw?) from mfd to infinity to allow for really precise focusing with tiny adjustments? Looking at longer lenses like 85 or higher or possibly wides in the teens with 1.x apertures. Not looking for amazingly sharp options, wanting a character-full lens.
mach250 wrote:
I've been thinking about manual focus lenses for a bit now for the possible tactile feel of the focus ring. Do the focus rings have a weighty feel to them or do the rotate effortlessly? Are there any lenses that have a high amount of rotations (I guess a long throw?) from mfd to infinity to allow for really precise focusing with tiny adjustments? Looking at longer lenses like 85 or higher or possibly wides in the teens with 1.x apertures. Not looking for amazingly sharp options, wanting a character-full lens.
First of all welcome.
Here's the thing with these older Nikkor MF lenses. They all feel different. Some have very smooth focusing rings, (well damped), while some are loose. It all depends on the condition of the lens you happen to purchase. I dare say, the majority of them feel just right, at least the ones I have purchased through the years. Now, I can't say that on some of the zoom rings. I have had my share of them feeling loose.
The Ais lenses have a shorter focus throw then their non-ais counterparts.
As Leighton replied they really vary according to initial design and then the use/abuse it enjoyed once it left the factory. Some people here by ANIB pristine lenses. Others, like me decent good working lenses.
You can get an 85mm, 105mm in the 1.4 - 1.8 apertures and a lot in the 35mm - 50mm range with apertures at 1.2 thru 1.8. There is nothing < 2.8 in the 20’s or teens.
I see you live in Tampa! A short trip to Auburndale (Polk County) will get you to Marshall’s Camera who stocks dozens of NMF glass that you can play with and/or buy. Yes, a shameless plug for an old time camera store that many in this thread have done business with. Call … ask for Arlen.
D810 + Nikkor S 58mm f1.4F ai'd, ISO 100, f/2 at 1/60s; built-in flash + diffuser; each image 44% cropped (16/36MP). The lens has the original 2x close up lens fitted in the front, and is mounted on a D7200.
The original collar from the 300/4D AF-S fits perfecly on this old Medical, giving a more balanced setup for critical macro applications.
Jose - looks like it's in pretty good condition to me. I'm posting a bit of camera porn too, mostly because I can't believe that things have changed so much in just the last few years that we can now put vintage Nikkors on a flagship Canon (or Sony, or Fuji or whatever).
I took the pic with the 85mm f1.8H on a Z7. I put the 85mm on the Canon R5 and took the pic of Ponte Milvio.
HCE HCE wrote:
Scott All very nice but I love how the stone work echos the nearby mountains in the third photo.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
D800 24mm PC-E
Jay - it's amazing the difference the angle makes. In some shots the tower looks enormous and the house looks like a toy but the 4th pic almost inverts that.
Ken - are the boulders you photographed the size of a SUV? They don't look that big.
bruni wrote:
Jay - it's amazing the difference the angle makes. In some shots the tower looks enormous and the house looks like a toy but the 4th pic almost inverts that.
Ken - are the boulders you photographed the size of a SUV? They don't look that big.
ben
Ben,
The big ones were huge and yes! On the drive there, perhaps ~~ 5 miles ~~, I thought it odd that there was dirt and gravel over blacktop but learned later it’s bedrock. Parts of Ireland and Baltic regions enjoy the same phenomenon.
Leighton described this well. I have a 135 f2 AI that has a very long throw, really good with precision focusing. The 135 f2 has amazing character for me. A lot of the manual Nikkors have very nicely damped rings, although how they have been treated over the years may affect particular copies of the lens. The 85 1.4 AIS, 85 1.8 H have been particular faves on the thread for the apertures you are looking for and definitely have their unique character. There's a 105 1.8 too. Teens with 1.x aperture? I can't think of one.
leighton w wrote:
First of all welcome.
Here's the thing with these older Nikkor MF lenses. They all feel different. Some have very smooth focusing rings, (well damped), while some are loose. It all depends on the condition of the lens you happen to purchase. I dare say, the majority of them feel just right, at least the ones I have purchased through the years. Now, I can't say that on some of the zoom rings. I have had my share of them feeling loose.
The Ais lenses have a shorter focus throw then their non-ais counterparts.
The ginger bread cottages at Martha's Vineyard are one of the must see attractions. There's a whole street full of these colourful homes, in the Oak Bluffs area not far from the ferry terminal at Vineyard Haven.
