Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

help me with wide angle for Nikon F mount
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:44 pm    Post subject: help me with wide angle for Nikon F mount Reply with quote
Hi,

I am looking to fill up the gap for wide angle for Nikon F mount. I currently have Nikon 50mm f1.8 and Nikon 16-85mm. But I want something that is manual focus 20-40mm range wide for tack sharp at infinity. I will not stick to Nikon if there is better old lens out there. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Wilco


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I am no expert in Nikkor, but I do love my nikkor-n 24/2.8 ...


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I just got a used Zeiss Distagon T* ZF 25/2.8; when I get the opportunity to test it thouroughly, I'll let you know if it's sharp.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nikkor 20/2.8 AIS


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nikkor 28/3.5 AI-S Wink


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would go for the Nikkor 20/2.8 AI-S. For infinity landscapes it will deliver critically detailed shots from f/5.6. The Nikkor 24/2.8 AI-S is another great option.

What camera body (SLR/DSLR, model?) are you going to use it on? What is the budget for purchase? Manual focus or AF? Too many questions and too many options.

You mention 16-85 which is a DX zoom, so I assume you are using a crop sensor. The 20/2.8 AI-S and 24/2.8 AI-S will give you field of view equivalent of a 30 or 36mm lens on DX, not so wide. If you want really wide then you probably should consider a modern DX lens, which you already have...

Last edited by Esox lucius on Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:52 pm; edited 3 times in total


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wilco, are you looking for a zoom that covers most of that focal range, or primes? You didn't say.

If a zoom,

Click here to see on Ebay

Click here to see on Ebay

Click here to see on Ebay

Click here to see on Ebay

Click here to see on Ebay

If primes, a Nikkor 20mm, whether f/2.8 or f/3.5, or a Tamron 17mm f/3.5 or a Vivitar 17mm or 19mm, for the wide end, and a 35mm f/2 Nikkor for the other end.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you don't need the rabbit's ear coupling, the 28mm and 35mm Series E lenses are much under-rated; still inexpensive but good performance.

By the way for my 28/2.8 "E" I do not have... and would not want the original rubber hood, so I found its dimensions and cut down a hard plastics hood of the right diameter to suit, works fine and looks great too Smile


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for all your input. I want to get prime and yes my camera is S5 pro and I will upgrade to D700 in next year or so. My purpose is to stitch a few photo of landscape and sharp focus at infinity is requirement. Sine a lot of member here talk about old lenses I am opening my thoughts to getting old prime which will give better IQ than current AF models. I will be shooting f5.6 and mostly f8. AF is not require for me.

Thanks


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Your S5 has an extremely capable sensor made for landscape use, if you have ever made 70x100cm prints from your files you know how well it delivers at base ISO.

The 24/2.8 AI-S has slightly less distortion than the 20/2.8 AI-S. Another low on distortion wide is 28/2 AI-S. The E-series Nikon 35/2.5 has very little distortion and gives best detail at f/8 to f/11, probably most value for money you can find in the 20-40mm range.

When I mean distortion I am talking barrel or pincussion, not perspective distortion resulting from wide field of view.

wilco wrote:
My purpose is to stitch a few photo of landscape and sharp focus at infinity is requirement.


Test your lens for accurate focus at infinity. If they are worn these older wide lenses can require adjustment. All lenses are built to focus beyond infinity, it is to allow infinity focus if these changes occur to lens. Also, temperature changes from extreme cold to hot can expand or contract lens barrels which can affect focus points on the lens.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
wilco wrote:
Thanks for all your input. I want to get prime and yes my camera is S5 pro and I will upgrade to D700 in next year or so. My purpose is to stitch a few photo of landscape and sharp focus at infinity is requirement. Sine a lot of member here talk about old lenses I am opening my thoughts to getting old prime which will give better IQ than current AF models. I will be shooting f5.6 and mostly f8. AF is not require for me.


Given that, I suggest the Nikkor AIS 28mm f/2.8 for excellent sharpness when used stopped down. (Note - the AIS is a different optical formulation to the AI and earlier models).


PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I can recommend the following list depending on your needs and budget:

24mm f/2.8 Ai or Ai-S; excellent sharpness, CRC (close range correction) for great close focusing performance; great contrast and handling of flare. Easily one of the best MF 24mm lenses ever.

28mm f/2.8 Ai-S only; same CRC system as in 24mm; even sharper than the 24mm lens; unfortunately, it seems to cost more than the 24mm.

28mm f/3.5 Ai or Ai-S; no CRC, but great sharpness and contrast over the full 35mm frame; I have one, and it's great.

35mm f/2 Ai-S; an excellent 35mm lens in all respects if you're after a relatively fast 35mm glass. On your crop body it will serve as a normal lens for the time being.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:
24mm f/2.8 Ai or Ai-S; excellent sharpness, CRC (close range correction) for great close focusing performance; great contrast and handling of flare. Easily one of the best MF 24mm lenses ever.


Wilco, If you run across a Tamron 24mm f/2.5, don't rule it out. Recently I compared my Nikkor 24/2.8 AIs with the Tamron, which I had just bought. I posted some results of my tests here. Scroll down most of the way to get to the images. I found it compares quite favorably with my Nikkor 24mm.

http://forum.mflenses.com/tamron-24mm-f-2-5-t22049,highlight,tamron+24mm.html

Since it seems that any flavor of Nikkor 20mm is steeply priced, I would also suggest that you consider something somewhat wider: 17mm. The Tokina-made Vivitar 17mm f/3.8 (and the Tokina one as well), and Tamron 17mm f/3.5 are quite good lenses. I own a Vivitar 17mm, and while it does exhibit some barrel distortion toward the edges, it's a sharp optic, and for what I use it for (landscapes and scenics) the barrel distortion doesn't matter.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi All,

As Wilco is hoping to make join-ups with the individual images, it is best to use a longer focal length with minimal curvilinear distortion. In fact when I do join-ups I use the longest lens possible that covers the height, with pictures done in vertical format.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Stricky ai-ais?

As mentioned earlier the Tamron 24mm 2.5 BBAR is a very good lens.

If you can mount non-ai, I would recommend the Niikor N 24mm.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for all your reply. How about Voigtlander SL ii 20mm f3.5?
I got the list to look for.

24mm f/2.8 Ai or Ai-S
28mm f/2.8 Ai-S
28mm f/3.5 Ai or Ai-S
35mm f/2 Ai-S
Tamron 24mm f/2.5

decision and hunting time for lens.

Thanks,


PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
142 sample photos, Voigtländer SL II Color-Skopar 20mm f/3.5 on Nikon D700

Many uploaded in original size: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=voigtlander+20mm+color-skopar&ss=2&s=int
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1