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

Your favourite 28mm and 35mm lenses for Nikon
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 3:34 am    Post subject: Your favourite 28mm and 35mm lenses for Nikon Reply with quote

There seems to be a consensus about certain Nikon 28mm model that everybody thinks is fantastic, but I don't remember which one it is. Can you guys enlighten me?

Also, is there a 35mm Nikon lens that's also clearly superior to the other versions?


Last edited by invisible on Sat Nov 14, 2015 12:49 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 4:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Horses for courses. There is no 28mm that suits everyone.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The AI-S 2.8/28 is the one everyone says is the best, not only among Nikkors, but also one of the best out of all 28s.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The AI-S 2.8/28 is the one everyone says is the best, not only among Nikkors, but also one of the best out of all 28s.


I am sure that it is a fine lens, but I have the f2 AIS version, and it is very useable wide open. Not really a landscape shooter, so cannot offer an opinion there, but it has excellent close focus, and the wider aperture gives extra potential for DOF control. The bokeh of wide angle lenses from this era is never completely smooth, but can be quite interesting, almost painterly. It is still quite a compact lens, and shares the 52mm filters and lens caps that some of the best Nikkors do, which is handy (e.g. 50mm f1.2 and 105mm f2.5). Only downside is that it is not as cheap as the f2.8 version which must have been produced in much greater numbers.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:59 am    Post subject: Re: Your favourite 28mm and 35mm for Nikon Reply with quote

invisible wrote:
There seems to be a consensus about certain Nikon 28mm model that everybody thinks is fantastic, but I don't remember which one it is. Can you guys enlighten me?

Also, is there a 35mm Nikon lens that's also clearly superior to the other versions?


Nikkor 28mm f2 AIS.



I plan to buy the 35mm f1.4 AIS as well.

Cheers.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1 for the 28/2 Ais, i have a copy that was given to me for free, as it was dissasembled and butchered by someone. I fixed it as much as it was possible, yet it is still very good.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Basilisk wrote:
I am sure that it is a fine lens, but I have the f2 AIS version, and it is very useable wide open. Not really a landscape shooter, so cannot offer an opinion there, but it has excellent close focus, and the wider aperture gives extra potential for DOF control. The bokeh of wide angle lenses from this era is never completely smooth, but can be quite interesting, almost painterly.

How would the 28/2 Ais compare against, say, the Vivitar 28/2 Close Focus (Komine) and the Vivitar S1 28/1.9? In particular in terms of wide open performance (centre sharpness, edge resolution, vignetting).

Beautiful image, wolan!

How about 35mm? Is the 35/1.4 Ais the best one out there?


Last edited by invisible on Sat Nov 14, 2015 4:34 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

+Nikkor 28mm f2 Ai-S:

With Nikon D300, @ f5.6:




@ f8


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always heard the 28mm 2.8 Ai-s was optimized for close focusing (20cm MFD) with legendary performance wide open, but the 28mm f2 was much sharper at infinity when stopped down.
I would love to thest them both.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

invisible wrote:
Basilisk wrote:
I am sure that it is a fine lens, but I have the f2 AIS version, and it is very useable wide open. Not really a landscape shooter, so cannot offer an opinion there, but it has excellent close focus, and the wider aperture gives extra potential for DOF control. The bokeh of wide angle lenses from this era is never completely smooth, but can be quite interesting, almost painterly.

How would the 28/2 Ais compare against, say, the Vivitar 28/2 Close Focus (Komine) and the Vivitar S1 28/1.9? In particular in terms of wide open performance (centre sharpness, edge resolution, vignetting).

Beautiful image, wolan!

How about 35mm? Is the 35/1.4 Ais the best one out there?


Thanks.
WO is useful. I have no metadata in the RAW file, so I cannot swear it, but I think this was a test shot I made WO (f2):


Last edited by wolan on Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:59 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The best reasonably priced 35/1.4 you can buy for nikon is probably the Samyang 35/1.4

I have the nikkor 35/1.4 AI-s but from what I've seen, the samyang is better at similar price, although bigger and heavier.
Some say the nikkor 35/2 is better but I can't compare since I don't have it.
The nikkor 35/1.4 is barely useable at f1.4. The OOF is nervous in some situations and has spherical aberrations (glow), but close to f2 and everything gets better. In both APS-C and fullframe sensors.

Here is a photo taken with a Sony A7II whith a nikkor 35/1.4 at f5.6 if I remember well
DSC00994 by Flávio Maia, on Flickr

The 28/2 is a nice lens. I can't compare with the AI-s 28/2.8, but on a Sony A7II it performs reasonably well. At f2 there is some spherical aberrations (glow), but from 2.8 is a very good performer, even on a fullframe camera.
It's quite heavy, so the nikkor 28/2.8 AI-s could be a better option if you want a light weight option.

This photo was taken with Sony A7II with Nikkor 28/2 at f5.6 (I think)
DSC01013 by Flávio Maia, on Flickr


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 8:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The AI-S 2.8/28 is the one everyone says is the best, not only among Nikkors, but also one of the best out of all 28s.

I'm sure there are some that will argue for the Leica R 28 Elmarit II.
I'm a fan of the Nikkor O.C 35/2


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Love my nikon 28mm f2 ai-s, absolutely superb performer. Much better than the 35mm f1.4.

On a D810.
Autumn Colours by Kyle, on Flickr
Vibrant Morning light by Kyle, on Flickr

It's very good up close too
Fuchsia by Kyle, on Flickr
Clematis Guernsey Cream by Kyle, on Flickr

Wide open
Blossom Bokeh by Kyle, on Flickr


The 35mm f1.4 ai-s can be pretty decent too though.
Senedd by Kyle, on Flickr
Victoria Place by Kyle, on Flickr

close up performance is pretty good again.
Bluebell by Kyle, on Flickr

Wide open
Burnt Ground by Kyle, on Flickr


Last edited by Kei on Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:55 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just Vivitar 28/2.8
#1

#2

#3


PostPosted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MaXXXic wrote:
Just Vivitar 28/2.8

Love the #3.

#3
Like 1


PostPosted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to agree with that thumbs-up, very nice.
Not very usable for night shooting though, but that's ok, I have my CV15III for that purpose.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love my Nikkor O.C. 35mm f/2
Samples


PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rudolfkremers wrote:
I love my Nikkor O.C. 35mm f/2
Samples

Very nice!
I'm waiting for Vivitar 35/1.9, hope it also will be a good performer.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nikon 35/1.4 ais is good at f2. At f1.4 is soft. The focus throw is too short: from 1m to infinity is less than 1cm.
Samyang optical is better. Focus throw 1-infinity is about the same, maybe a little bit longer.

I don't have the zeiss 35/1.4 but tested it. Still focus throw is too short to use at >1m distance.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The best Nikon 28 is the 28 1.4 AF but that is way expensive and I don't have one.

In reality, I have a 28 2.8 AIS that I bought new when I bought my D700 and I think Nikon still sells this lens. I picked it because it has Close Range Correction and is known to be one of the best 28 lenses. I added a CPU from a damaged 28 AF lens long before the Dandelion chips were available. This is the best choice lens if you are planning on adding a CPU because the 2.0 is very difficult to upgrade. I know this first hand.

Lens lust always sets in especially after buying the Df and I now have the 28 2.0 and 35 1.4 AI lenses both chipped. I agree the 35 1.4 is a bit soft at 1.4 but that is why I bought it for its character. The 28 2.0 is quite nice also but much bigger than the 2.8 version. I do not recommend either of these lenses if you are planning to add a CPU.

I also have a 28 3.5 H lens. This is also quite nice and often found cheap. Look for one with the factory AI kit. I have seen lots of them along with the 35 2.8 S lenses. I don't know what it is but the Non AI lenses seem to do really well in the snow.

I don't have one but the 28 Series E often gets good comments. This is another lens that can be had cheaply. Nikon has a plethora of 28 and 35 lenses most of them are very good. Take your pick.
Pete


PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all for the responses and samples. I ended up buying the Nikon 28/2 and Nikon 35/2, both Ais. Haven't had a chance to try them in the field, but I expect them to be stellar judging by the samples I've seen here and the quick photos I've snapped.

Since I also own both the Vivitar 28/2 Close Focus (Komine) and the Vivitar Series 1 28/1.9, I might one day do a "showdown" Smile