Favorite old Nikon SLR lenses - or dogs?

[ampguy]

How do you folks who have used the 50/1.2 or 55/1.2 find it compared to an fast 50 RF lens?

Any other favorites? I'm looking on the wide side since I have a crop sensor (d40x).

I like the ones I have, 28/2.8, 43-86 zoom early version (a SC version went for $38 or so in what looked like great shape today on on the auction site), but since I have this lens formulation, I think if I got another, it should be the 11 element version.

Also, like the 70-200 AI f4.5 zoom, with tripod, possibly the best zoom lens ever made.

What are some of your favorites, or non-favorites in F mount, manual focus?

 

[antiquark]

You might be interested in this page, the photographer likes old lenses and has lots of digital tests of AI, AI-S and pre-AI Nikkors.
http://www.momentcorp.com/review/index.html

 

[hans voralberg]

The Nikkor-O or any pre-AI 35/2 is excellent and have very pleasant bokeh, also on the crop sensor it's 50, which is nice. I have the 50/1.2 AI and find it very nice too, sharp enough at the center and comparable to a Nocti.

 

[david.elliott]

I really really like my 24/2 AIS even though it seems to not get such great reviews. 🙂

Also love my 105/2.5 AI

Check out the no-metering flickr group.

 

[dof]

Ah Nikkors,

The much respected 105mm f2.5 AI/AIS lens earns its well-deserved praise in my experience. I had a D200 for a short time and was quite taken with how three dimensional the images shot with this one looked. The color and contrast are also just about all I could ask for from a small-format lens.

I also find the 24mm f2.8 AIS to be a real winner. It gives very even rendering across the image field, especially when stopped down a stop or two from full aperture.

I have to admit that I'm not much impressed with the 50mm f1.2 AIS. It features a bit too much barrel distortion for my liking in a 50. At wider apertures, the out of focus rendering is less than pleasing. Unfocused highlight areas tend to take on the appearance of large blobs of light that are out of proportion with their actual size. I use it when I need the speed.

 

[novum]

I bought a Nikkor 50/1.2 from KEH not long ago. I like it fine. It has a little vignetting, which is something I found surprising, but its rendering of color contrast and out-of-focus blur (won't say it!) is satisfying, though it depends on the background, too. For example, most backgrounds look great out of focus; bare tree limbs, not as nice. It has a hint of barrel distortion, true, but it's a fine performer overall. I only have a CV Nokton 50/1.5 and an M-Rokkor 40/2 to compare it with, along with a Rollei 80/2.8 Planar PQ in medium format. It's a hell of a lot better than the other Nikkor 50s I've owned.

Edited update: I use this lens on an FM2n, and I have never used it on a digital camera. I just don't like the ergonomics of digital cameras. This is a better lens than I am a photographer. I'm man enough to admit it!

 

[cary]

Favorite MF Nikkor lenses:

105mm f2.5
85mm f1.8
35mm f2
28mm f2

 

[Pablito]

The 28mm 2.8 AI is the worst Nikon lens i've ever used. really bad in the corners even stopped down. The 28mm 3.5 is a much better lens. Been happy with all the others, from 24mm 2.8 to 200 f4. 50mm 1.2 is excellent for what you can do with it. Also 35mm 2.8, 85mm f2, 135 2.8. all very good.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Have dozens of Nikkor lens sites bookmarked, but didn't have this one. Good reading, and images. Thanks!

You might be interested in this page, the photographer likes old lenses and has lots of digital tests of AI, AI-S and pre-AI Nikkors.
http://www.momentcorp.com/review/index.html

 

[nikon_sam]

The Nikkor-O or any pre-AI 35/2 is excellent and have very pleasant bokeh, also on the crop sensor it's 50, which is nice. I have the 50/1.2 AI and find it very nice too, sharp enough at the center and comparable to a Nocti.

I do have the above mentioned lens only it's been Ai'd...and it's one of my favorite manual focus lenses...glad I finally got it, sorry I waited so long...

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Hans

Thanks Hans

I have a great M42 Vivitar branded 35/1.9 that I hope to get an F adapter for and use in manual mode. I've heard great things about the 50/1.2, most prefer to the older 55/1.2 but at some point, I think I'd like to try one, even though starting to get long with the crop sensors. I've seen some similarities with the f1/Noctilux (latest German) with either the 50 or 55 1.2, mainly the football shaped lights in night scenes, very interesting stuff.

The Nikkor-O or any pre-AI 35/2 is excellent and have very pleasant bokeh, also on the crop sensor it's 50, which is nice. I have the 50/1.2 AI and find it very nice too, sharp enough at the center and comparable to a Nocti.

 

[ampguy]

not so concerned about reviews

not so concerned about reviews

A lot of reviews for my favorite stuff is pretty bad, I think the naturgraf site gives my 43-86 early zoom a 1.5 out of 5, but I like the lens, not for it's accuracy, but for it's low contrast look on film and being a compact zoom with 2:1 zoom ratio.

I really really like my 24/2 AIS even though it seems to not get such great reviews. 🙂

Also love my 105/2.5 AI

Check out the no-metering flickr group.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks dof

Thanks dof

I've heard mostly good things about the 24, and 105 you mention but haven't used either. I think the 50/1.2 and 55/1.2 wide probably do have distortion and optical defects, not unlike a Noctilux, but I've seen great images on flickr and other places from both of these 50s. the later 50/1.2 gets more money used, as the 55/1.2s are older and have gone through 6 generations, so it's bound to have some worse than others with that many revisions. Later ones are pretty good, from what I've seen though.

Ah Nikkors,

The much respected 105mm f2.5 AI/AIS lens earns its well-deserved praise in my experience. I had a D200 for a short time and was quite taken with how three dimensional the images shot with this one looked. The color and contrast are also just about all I could ask for from a small-format lens.

I also find the 24mm f2.8 AIS to be a real winner. It gives very even rendering across the image field, especially when stopped down a stop or two from full aperture.

I have to admit that I'm not much impressed with the 50mm f1.2 AIS. It features a bit too much barrel distortion for my liking in a 50. At wider apertures, the out of focus rendering is less than pleasing. Unfocused highlight areas tend to take on the appearance of large blobs of light that are out of proportion with their actual size. I use it when I need the speed.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Novum

Thanks Novum

Great point about the lens behaving differently on film vs digital, especially cropped digital. I've heard great things about the 50/1.2, I've used the 50/1.5 Nokton, and 40/2 Rokkors and loved them both on RFs.

I bought a Nikkor 50/1.2 from KEH not long ago. I like it fine. It has a little vignetting, which is something I found surprising, but its rendering of color contrast and out-of-focus blur (won't say it!) is satisfying, though it depends on the background, too. For example, most backgrounds look great out of focus; bare tree limbs, not as nice. It has a hint of barrel distortion, true, but it's a fine performer overall. I only have a CV Nokton 50/1.5 and an M-Rokkor 40/2 to compare it with, along with a Rollei 80/2.8 Planar PQ in medium format. It's a hell of a lot better than the other Nikkor 50s I've owned.

Edited update: I use this lens on an FM2n, and I have never used it on a digital camera. I just don't like the ergonomics of digital cameras. This is a better lens than I am a photographer. I'm man enough to admit it!

 

[ampguy]

Hi Pablito

Hi Pablito

I have the non AI 28/2.8 mainly known as the long focus one (.3m vs .2m for newer 28/2.8s) and with full frame, it had more distortion than several RF 28s I've used, but better overall color than a couple. With crop DSLR, that distortion is reduced and even with digital, the color and freedom from flare is better than some expensive RF glass.

I'd like an 85/2 sometime, all the lenses you mention sound like great ones to try.

The 28mm 2.8 AI is the worst Nikon lens i've ever used. really bad in the corners even stopped down. The 28mm 3.5 is a much better lens. Been happy with all the others, from 24mm 2.8 to 200 f4. 50mm 1.2 is excellent for what you can do with it. Also 35mm 2.8, 85mm f2, 135 2.8. all very good.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've owned and sold:

Ai-S 20mm f2.8 (my sample was pretty soft in the corners at f2.8, but great by f8
Ai-S 28mm f2 (my sample was pretty soft in the corners at f2, but great by f5.6)
Ai-S 35mmf 1.4 (gets really good by f4)
Ai-S 85mm f2 (very sharp even at f2 but the bokeh is pretty harsh)
Ai-S 180mm f2.8 (outstanding performer but large)
E Series 75-150mm f3.5 (good little lens)

I still own:

Ai-S 24mm f2.8 (a great allrounder)
Ai-S 28mm f2.8 (just got this recently, focuses really close)
Ai-S 50mm f1.2 (excellent over the entire field by f2 but pretty funky at wider apertures)
Ai-S 50mm f1.4 (better at f1.4 than the 50/1.2, but not as good from f1.8 to f2.8)
Ai-S 105mm f2.5 (a legend!)
Ai-S 105mm f2.8 Micro (an outstanding lens on digital, I take 90% of my product shots with it)

 

[wintoid]

I have a late serial Nikon 50mm f1.2 which is a good lens, but I don't much like its character. I've bought the new Sigma 50mm f1.4 now, which is "my 50", so the 1.2 will go at some point. The 28mm f2.8 AIS is superb!

 

[jonmanjiro]

I have a late serial Nikon 50mm f1.2 which is a good lens, but I don't much like its character. I've bought the new Sigma 50mm f1.4 now, which is "my 50", so the 1.2 will go at some point.

For best performance, the trick with the 50/1.2 is to stop it down to about f1.8 - f2 where it really hits its stride. It changes personality completely, kind of like having two lenses in one. No doubt the Sigma is really good though, being a modern design etc.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Jon and Wintoid - hey, if you sell your 50/1.2, I hope you put it in the classifieds or on ebay, I'd definitely check it out.

 

[drewbarb]

I really really like my 24/2 AIS even though it seems to not get such great reviews. 🙂

Also love my 105/2.5 AI

Me too, Dave- though the 105 I love is the f1.8. I'd love to get an f2.5 in LTM (or use an adapter to mount an S- version), but on Nikon bodies shooting film or digital, the f1.8 is a real fave for concerts, weddings, and portraits. It's a great available light lens, too.

Another favorite is the 180mm f2.8 ED. Lovely.