Help me grow my collection :)

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

Hi,

I have invested in a small collection of MF and AF lenses.
Do you think there is a lens that can be adapted to the Nikon F mount that can improve my collection? If so I'd love to hear about it.
I can't afford to spend $1500 on a lens, so please keep that in mind when making your recommendation.
I know I can get 'faster' glass in some cases for a few hundred dollars or an expensive Macro Planar Zeiss. But if it is only a marginal gain in quality or 1 extra f-stop then it might not be worth it right now for me.
What I am looking for is something that my collection shouldn't really be without like a golden oldie that I might have missed.

I got:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 manual focus AIS lens
NIKON AI-S NIKKOR 200mm f/4
Nikon 80-200, 4.5 Ai lens
Nikon Nikkor zoom 75-150mm F/3.5 series E
Nikon 300mm, 4.5 Ai lens
Nikon 35mm f/2 AI Nikkor-O
NIKON NIKKOR 28-70MM AF 3.5-4.5
Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm f/2.8 VMC
NIKON Nikor Micro-Nikkor-P C Auto1:3.5 55mm
Tamron 35-210mm f3.5-4.2 AI-S AIS
Nikon Tamron 28mm f2.5 lens Ai-S
Tamron SP 20-40mm F/2.7-3.5
SIGMA 24MMF2.8 MACRO
Nikon 100mm f2.8 AI-S Series E
Nikon 105mm F2.5 AI lens
Voigtlander 40mm F 2 SLIIN Ultron
Vivitar 75-205mm 1:3.8 Lens
Quantaray 28-80mm 1:3.5-4.5 Lens
Promaster 19-35Mm F/3.5-4.5
AF PROMASTER LD NIKKOR 28-20
Vivitar ( Komine ) 35 mm F1.9
SIGMA/NIKON 28-70mm f/2.8D DF EX
NIKON TAMRON Lenses SLR Lenses 28-85 mm, 100-300mm, 28-105mm.
Tamron Adaptall2 80-210 f/3.8
TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 DI LD IF MACRO
Tamron SP 60-300mm
Tamron 135mm F/2.8 Lens
Nikon AF MICRO Nikkor 60mm F2.8D
Vivitar Series 1 70~210mm f2.8-4
Nikkor-N.C 28mm f/2
Nikkor-Q 135mm f/2.8
TOYO OPTICS 28MM F2.8
Nikon Lens Series E 35mm 1:2.5
sigma 16mm
Nikon AI-S 135mm f/2.8
TOYO OPTICS 28-80mm f/3
Nikkor 25-50mm f/4 AIS Lens
MC HELIOS-81N 81H 2/50 AI
Tamron SP AF 90mm F2.8
MEPRO 135MM F/2.8 NIKON F
Voigtlander 28mm F 2.8 SLiiN Color-Skopar
Voigtlander 58mm F 1.4 SL-II Nokton
VEGA-12B 2.8/90 Russian Lens Nikon AI
Leica Leitz GmbH Wetzlar 13.5 cm f4.5 Hektor
Formula 5 MC 28mm f2.8
Nikon Lens Series B 50mm 1:1.8
Nikon Lens Series E 50mm 1:1.8
Tamron 1:2.5 28mm Adaptall 2
Tamron CF Tele Macro Lens 35-135mm 1:3.5-4.2
Tamron CF Tele Macro Lens 1:3.8 1"4.5/250 75-250mm BBAR MC

hoanpham · Expire: 2015-01-18

nice collection.

you have covered well between wide and 300mm.
get a fast 50, a mirror (tamron 55BB)...

BrianS · Joined: 03 Aug 2013 Posts: 92

http://www.leicaplace.com/f35/pentax-super-takumar-50-1-4-modified-rf-coupled-m-mount-151/

http://www.leicaplace.com/f13/minolta-50-1-4-mc-mount-adapted-rf-coupled-m-mount-71/

http://www.leicaplace.com/f13/canon-50-1-4-fl-mount-m9-m-monochrom-60/

My Favorite Inexpensive Fast-50s, I HAD to make them into Leica M-Mount.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I think there's one lens on the list that I've got, the Vivitar Series 1 70~210mm f2.8-4. So I can't really comment on what you're missing from what looks like a very nice collection. With that Vivitar Series 1 you have one of the best lenses, of its range and type, there is. And I have no doubt there are many excellent lenses on your list, which is similar in length to mine. What I'm doing now is filling the gaps, and researching for the best to fill those gaps. You seem to have it covered from 16 to 300, so I would go for a good 500, and then change the lenses you have for something that might be better.
But above all, use the ones you already have and get the best out of them, only then will you have the need for better glass. Wink

Oldhand · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:53 am Post subject:

Wow, that is a lot of lenses.
I think you have the field comprehensively covered for just about any photographic assignment apart from an extra long tele lens.
As for golden oldies, Jupiter 11A or Jupiter 37A with Nikon F mount will give you a taste of a couple that I value.
They won't fill any gaps in your lineup as you don't seem to have too many.
Might be time to take them out and use them more. Inevitably this will lead to finding favourites that you will love and others that you might not "need" any more.
Happy image making
OH

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7568 Location: Hong Kong

Adding a fast short tele like Nikon 85mm F1.8 may be useful in some situation...

frenched · Expire: 2014-06-17

No Zeiss?

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

Mos6502 · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 960 Location: Austin

What sort of collection would be complete without a CZJ Tessar? Laughing

(although not sure there are any adaptable to Nikon F)

Otherwise looks pretty well stocked.

56 DIN · Expire: 2021-11-18

Gurdie · Expire: 2013-02-20

The caption says: Help me GROW my collection. Are you willing to sell or trade anything? You seem to have quite a lot duplication.

Sigma 16 mm is a fisheye, right? You don´t have many ultrawides, I´d look a Tokina 17 mm/f 3.5 or a Nikkor 20 mm lens, maybe a Russian Mir-20. If you want a really wide, Samyang 14 mm could be an interesting lens and not very pricey.

You have Helios-81N lens. so you probably know, that there are other Russian/Ukrainian lenses with F-mount. The Russian lenses with interchangeable A-mounts (Tair-11A, Jupiter-37A etc) can also be mounted on a Nikon.

anktonio · Expire: 2017-02-22

Glub... Maybe a 50 sonnar design, J-3 or J-8? I mean to say something ... you have spare!
Happy shots!

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

56 DIN · Expire: 2021-11-18

i thought for effects, you cannot yet get with your collection and this was smooth bokeh in portraits and with the 50mm 1.2 you get this "glow" wide open in BW pics
for a wide angle macro: the 20mm Nikon 3.5 with a K1 ring is a suggestion of Nikon specialist Bjørn http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html
my proposal was more towards the Nikkor 200 micro or a CV 180 close focus

anyhow (this is my personal experience, as i am collecting, too and not photographing enough) if you want to use too many lenses at the same time, you will not know one of them really, so the quality of the lens remains undetected. Means this "super" result, you are searching, will only arrive, if you do not spent a lot of time with the combination, you choose to get it.
If i get you right, buy a Nikon K1 ring - the thinnest extension Ring for Nikon, check your wide angles with it and then if necessary buy the 20mm 3.5 to get what you want

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

I second the ultra-wide idea. A decent 18 or 21mm lens is definitely missing!

Nikkor 3.5/20, Zuiko 3.5/21 or Tokina (Vivitar) 3.5/17 for example.

danfromm · Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Posts: 590

You need a 700/8 Questar.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

I also support the idea of a very fast normal lens, such as a 50mm f/1.2. You've no fisheye, so you might consider something in that range. I'm not familiar with the Sigma 16mm, which is the only ultra-wide you mention. Is the Sigma 16mm a full-frame fisheye? If so, consider a 17-20mm. The Tokina 17mm is oen of the best around. As others have also mentioned, a very long telephoto -- At least 400mm. The Tamron 55BB is a good suggestion, but it's limiting because it does not have an adjustable aperture. I note that your only 300mm prime is the Nikkor f/4.5 -- not the ED version. Consider an upgrade here. If you go with a fast 300mm with low-dispersion glass, like the Tamron 300mm f/2.8 LD IF, you can use the Tamron 1.4x and 2x TCs to get a 420mm f/4 and a 600mm f/5.6. Those are good numbers for fast teles. And my experiences with this lens and these two TCs is you have no image degradation when using them. Tamron also made a 400mm f/4, which sells for about the same as the 300mm f/2.8 and which is comparable, optically.

eno789 · Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 159 Location: California

I assume you're using Nikon FF DSLR?

There's a good post at http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51872176 well worth reading.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

All I can see you need is:
An ultra wide 17-21mm range. OM 21/3.5 is good.
A fast wide 24/1.4 or 35/1.4 Nikkor should do.
A super fast normal 50-58/1.2 Nikkor or OM.
For your first Zeiss, Contax C/Y 35-70 Leitaxed.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3202 Location: The Netherlands

I think your collection is quite complete, don't you have quite enough Wink

. A good ultrawide perhaps?
I agree with former posts the Tokina RMC 17/3.5 is very good.

Other affordable lenses I can recommend:
Nikkor Ai-S 28/2.8
Tomioka 55/1.2
Tokina ATX 90/2.5 macro
Nikkor-H 85/1.8

All stellar lenses.

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

You have some Nikkor lenses.

Why not add Nikkor S.C 50mm f:1.4 and Nikkor S.C 55mm f:1.2.

maldaye · Joined: 19 Jun 2013 Posts: 316

Current recommendations

Samyang 14 mm
Tokina (Vivitar) 17 mm/f 3.5
Russian Mir-20
Nikon 20mm f3.5
Zuiko 21mm f3.5
OM 21/3.5 with adapter
Nikkor 24/f1.4
Nikkor 28mm f/2.8
Nikkor 35mm f/1.4
Nikon 50mm 1.2
Tomioka 55mm f/1.2 adapter needed
Nikon 85mm F1.8 or F1.4
Tokina ATX 90/2.5 Macro
Jupiter-37A
Tamron 300mm f/2.8 LD IF
Tamron 400m f/4
Tamron 500mm 55bb
Questar 700mm - nothing pop up on search on ebay - where you buy this?

Contax C/Y 35-70 - adapter needed

Oldhand · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:14 pm Post subject:

Jupiter 11A was also a suggestion.
See here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1336132.html#1336132
It might be time to get out and use what you have.
Until you do this, the lenses are no more use than the boxes that they came in.
Cheers
OH