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Which Nikon prime lens should I get?
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:25 pm    Post subject: Which Nikon prime lens should I get? Reply with quote
Newer Nikkor 50/1.8? E Series? Older Nikkor 50/2? Something I do not know about? Helios 44-M made in F-mount?
Do not mention the 45/2.8; price WAY to high. Same for any V. Ultron or Zeiss F-mount; wow!
Leaning hardest toward FE/FM ...


PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
any Laughing all are excellent no price how much their price tag.

Let us know in what focal length you are looking for.

I was amazed by Nikkor 50mm f1.8 and f2 both, f2 is cheap really.


PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well I avoid Nikon because of the silly prices for the lenses...I've only a Nikkor 50mm f1.8, but if you have plenty of cash.............................................................


PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Any 50mm Nikkor is great.


PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The original Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Ai/Ai-S is quite possibly the best of Nikon's 50mm primes. It was the direct replacement for the f/2 and is noticeably better.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 50/f2 is going for beans and peanuts on ebay, the 50/1.8 for not much more ...


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Check out 85/2 or 55/2.8 (which is macro but does well at mid - distances).


patrickh


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
fish4570 wrote:
Newer Nikkor 50/1.8? E Series? Older Nikkor 50/2?
fish4570 wrote:
The 50/f2 is going for beans and peanuts on ebay, the 50/1.8 for not much more ...


Paul- Just to avoid any confusion with all of the helpful advice from everyone above, make a note that the 50/1.8 Series E is not a "Nikkor" lens. Wink Nikon didn't feel like they were up to the same level, so they simply called them "Nikon", and kept the "Nikkor" name reserved for the better lenses. Wink

Also note that the 50/1.8 Series E was one of Nikon's lightest lenses... So if you're still after heavier gear to help with the stability, you probably wouldn't want the Series E lenses. Wink


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Scheimpflug wrote:
Paul- Just to avoid any confusion with all of the helpful advice from everyone above, make a note that the 50/1.8 Series E is not a "Nikkor" lens. Wink Nikon didn't feel like they were up to the same level, so they simply called them "Nikon", and kept the "Nikkor" name reserved for the better lenses. Wink

One thing is definitely for certain, the Series E 50mm f/1.8 truly wasn't at the same level as the Nikkor, as the original 'Nikkor' f/1.8 (1978-1985) and the 'Series E' f/1.8 (1979-1985) are actually completely different (although similar) optics. Another important note is that after the Series E line was discontinued, the Series E optic eventually found itself in the later "Nikkor" 50mm f/1.8 "pancake" (1985-2005) and all of the AF versions.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excalibur wrote:
Well I avoid Nikon because of the silly prices for the lenses...I've only a Nikkor 50mm f1.8, but if you have plenty of cash...


I never have plenty of cash, but nevertheless I find most Nikkors price/value outperform a lot of options available. Just avoid the f/1.2 lenses, fast/wide like 28/2 and some rarer versions. The 85/1.x are also sought after by both crop frame and full frame users, hence they collect a price too high imho.

The following lenses can all be had for less than $100, some for as little as $50 and they can all safely be applied to demanding commercial photography (with a corresponding pro DSLR body).

Nikkor: 55/3.5 Ai, 55/2.8 Ai-S (outstanding), 50/1.8 Ai-S (outstanding), 50/1.4F, 50/1.4 Ai (outstanding), 50/1.4 Ai-S (outstanding), 105/2.5F, Nikkor 105/2.5 Ai/Ai-S (newer better than pre-Ai or "F" version), 135/3.5 Ai (outstanding), 135/2.8F (outstanding) and 135/2.8 Ai-S.

The Nikon E-series is great bang for the buck as long as you avoid wide open: Nikon 35/2.5E, Nikon 50/1.8E, Nikon 100/2.8 E.

These are also excellent performers even on full frame DSLR. They cost more, but can be had for less than $200 if you are not in a hurry to buy the first you find on eBay: Nikkor 24/2.8 Ai-S, 28/2.8 Ai/Ai-S, 35/2.8 Ai, 35/2 Ai-S, 85/1.8N,

If you are unsure about what you are bidding on click here for all lens types, versions and photos of them:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excalibur wrote:
Well I avoid Nikon because of the silly prices for the lenses...I've only a Nikkor 50mm f1.8, but if you have plenty of cash.............................................................


Won a S.C Nikkor 50/1.4 for 50$ + 32$ shipping. Condition looks good. The guy is selling a lot of stuff, but camera equipment. Starting price was 50, as I was the only bidder... So you just need to be patient and you can get nikkor's for a reasonable price.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
***I never have plenty of cash, but nevertheless I find most Nikkors price/value outperform a lot of options available***

Well I though fish4570 was a film guy and not a pro, so if you are only interested in sharpness and not shots wide open then there are plenty of very good alternative lenses a lot cheaper than Nikon e.g Canon fd....and is the Nikkor 50mm so much better compared to an Olympus 50mm, Hexanon 50mm, FD 50mm or even a Pentacon 50mm and so on, same argument for 35mm and 135mm range.
And it's worth remembering that Photoshop is your friend and an equalizer, for shots posted to be viewed on a computer screen.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have 50/1.4 and it pleases me.
Yes, any Nikkor is great.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excalibur wrote:
Well I though fish4570 was a film guy and not a pro, so if you are only interested in sharpness and not shots wide open then there are plenty of very good alternative lenses a lot cheaper than Nikon e.g Canon fd....and is the Nikkor 50mm so much better compared to an Olympus 50mm, Hexanon 50mm, FD 50mm or even a Pentacon 50mm and so on, same argument for 35mm and 135mm range.


The subject and topic of this thread is: Which Nikon prime lens should I get?

I only replied to fish's question, and given what the topic subject asked I think he is unlikely interested in Canons, Olys, Pentacon etc.

Lenses that excel on large full-frame DSLRs will also excel on full-frame SLRs, which is why I recommended them to him. If they cost only $50-100 then even better.

For the record: Yes I make a living out of photography. Yes I weekly test shitloads of equipment for magazines and websites, but I make a living on how well I use the equipment to satisfy clients. Lens testing is perhaps 6% of my revenue. I used the "shoot wide open" angle as wide open at minimum focusing distance seems to be the norm for any lens praise (or bash) on this forum - it's good to know what the worst possible performance of the lens can be.

Vilhelm

Last edited by Esox lucius on Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:29 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Dear Paul, this is my nikon history:

Had a EM around, with the E 50. Nice useful camera, nice pancake like lens.
Bought a FE.
Bought a Micro 55/3.5 Ai (or Ai'd) + non AI tube
Bought a 35/2 Ai
Bought a 24/2.8 pre-Ai, but that was Ai'd aftermarket
Just bought a 105/2.8 Ai

They are all excellent lenses and with some hunting can be had inexpensively.

I also have a non Ai T4 mount, an Ai TX mount, and an Adaptall-2 Ai mount, for the slew of lenses that go with them.

The E 50 is a good lens, the real Nikkors I'm sure are better, but at 50mm the differences are likely to be fairly minor. Except that I had one lying around, I probably would have gone with something more exotic and old...

The micro 55 was the first lens I used with the FE, and I used it for general photography. Most of the time those fast f/stops are decoration, I mean in daylight and with ASA400 film. For my style of shooting I'd be happy with just the 55.

But of course, I'm a mf addict. The 35/2 is excellent and much cheaper than a Pentax 35/2... the night time internal reflections may be a problem, but I've never experienced that with mine. It is physically large but it focuses close. The 24 I consider a special purpose lens, though I have spent a day out with just it. A bit too wide for daily use, but because I was freed from the Pentax pricing on these, I figured, why not. It has a David White Ai conversion.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
100 lenses 200 opinions 300 choices.......low risk

regarding the prices of Nikon primes, i see that it went down a little bit in the last year, f.e. 50/2 is now a real bargain for € 30.- With the link in Vilhelms post, you can easy find out the differences between the lenses and also see, where you might buy a cheaper elder version, that has exactly he same optical formula, than the newer one. Be aware that it not always went up.
I would not exclude the E series.
Anyhow, Nikon prices are not so fashion driven like f.e.Triotars today, or Flektogons, so you don´t risk much to make up your own opinion.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, I would agree: just about any Nikkor is low risk, and often the old ones that are beat up externally are fine optically.


But Paul, you do know the FE/FM are compact and fairly light weight as these things go? You may not get the added heft relative to a Spotmatic - the FM is 590g and the SP1000 is 620g, a real spottie a bit heavier.
A Nikkormat FTN is 765g.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Which Nikon prime lens should I get? Reply with quote
fish4570 wrote:
Newer Nikkor 50/1.8? E Series?


I'd give this one a try. Very compact and pretty cheap (guess no one really wants this cheap looking lens). And a very good performer.

Klaus


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think thos weights are close enough. but I still might go for the Nikkormat. A friend has one that I will try to get hold of just to heft it, and see how my hands fit ...


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
gentlemen, thank you all for your advice.

Vilhelm, thank you for the link.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
***I only replied to fish's question, and given what the topic subject asked I think he is unlikely interested in Canons, Olys, Pentacon etc.***

Well other views can sometimes help, as I made a mistake when buying a better Nikon than my EM, so bought a N2000 body for peanuts and find many lenses in Nikon mount are double the price of a Minolta or Canon FD mount...erm so after paying a whopping £18 for Tamron adapter can at least use the N2000 with Tamron lenses.


PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In my experience, Nikkor 50/2 has better bokeh than the 50/1.8 version. The earlier 1.8 versions are a bit sharper though (depending on the version you get; latest two were made of plastic, and are actually Series E lenses rebadged and multicoated).


PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:29 am    Post subject: Re: Which Nikon prime lens should I get? Reply with quote
exaklaus wrote:
fish4570 wrote:
Newer Nikkor 50/1.8? E Series?

I'd give this one a try. Very compact and pretty cheap (guess no one really wants this cheap looking lens). And a very good performer.
Klaus


Remember that he is after heavier gear... Wink


PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:09 am    Post subject: Re: Which Nikon prime lens should I get? Reply with quote
Scheimpflug wrote:
exaklaus wrote:
fish4570 wrote:
Newer Nikkor 50/1.8? E Series?

I'd give this one a try. Very compact and pretty cheap (guess no one really wants this cheap looking lens). And a very good performer.
Klaus


Remember that he is after heavier gear... Wink


Maybe a full-metal hood may help... Embarassed Embarassed

Klaus


PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
not sure why the 28/2.0 is getting bashed here, I personally think its an awesome lens, even wide open. Ive taken some pretty amazing shots with, it has a bit of distortion but nothing crazy considering its a 28.

Now the 20s and 24/2.0 on the other hand....not nearly as good
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