35mm - Which system ?

[mfogiel]

The best body is Nikon F3 with HP+Dk17M. The best lenses are Zeiss Makro Planar 50/2 and Distagon 28/2, or the Contax 28/2.8 and 45/2. You could adapt these lenses to M mount and get a Zeiss Ikon, or simply get the ZI with the 28/2.8 Biogon and 50/2 Planar. Nikon lenses are basically useful at f5.6-f8.0 only.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

If you're using for work, I'd suggest something uber-reliable and exceptionally good glass but for which you can find spares and replacement / additional lenses in any big town or city. There's some nice options up there and there's also Olympus OM (with which I shot weddings and portraits in the early 80s), Canon F1N and Pentax. However, Nikon F3(HP) would be my choice. I've had two down the years and they were stellar in terms of build quality, metering, accessorising and the range of top quality Nikon glass available is immense. For me, it's a no-brainer. But that's just for me.

 

[alistair.o]

I voted for the F3 etc;. I would be happier if I could change the selection 50mm f1.4 to an Ai'd 50mm f1.4 Nikon Nikkor Auto S (which is my own variety and I like the look)

 

[littleearth]

Thanks everyone !

I'm seriously considering the Nikon F3 HP because I want the AP mode, the FM3A would be perfect but it's too pricey.

As to the glass, I'll probably go with the 28mm AIS, but for the 50mm I'm considering adapting a 50mm Summicron R with the Leitax adapter.

As much as I love the results I see from the Contax G glass, I'm not entirely sure about it's AF and small viewfinder.

 

[bhop73]

My vote might be biased because I own and love an F3

 

[BillBingham2]

The 28/2.8 AIS drives the decision for me.

I'd go F/F2 with plain prisms but that is me. The F3 with a P screen (too busy for some, just right for others) and an AR-10 would be my tweaks.

My system would be the same 28 but with an 85/1.8 from yesteryear. While a very large chunk of glass I love the way it renders. I would have to run some tests on different 50s from Nikon to decide which. I've read reviews going just about every which direction as to the best 50mm Nikkor so I think it's very sample specific.

Good luck.

You mileage may very but if you stick with a F/F2/F3 and a 28/2.8 AIS your results and fun will not.

B2

 

[Dirk]

I voted for the Nikon setup because of your reliability requirement. Image-quality is almost as good as the Leica and Zeiss lenses, but for professional purposes you gotta have a rig you can rely upon. The Nikon meets that requirement, the other bodies not so much.

 

[mfunnell]

I said go for the Nikon system, much though I love the 45mm Planar that goes with the G1. The three things which would incline me that way for the stated purposes were avaialbility and price (including for both purchase and backup), ease of repair/replacement should that be required and visual (optical/mechanical) confirmation that focus is where you want it and think it is. While I've come to terms with focusing my G2 and can mostly put focus where I want it, there's still that 5-10% of doubt which might matter a lot if used when working for clients.

None of the offered options would be my choice for an equivalent system, but that wasn't the question.

...Mike

 

[Jerevan]

I voted Nikon F3, mainly because they are quite reliable and the lenses does not cost a fortune.

Saying that the Nikon lenses only are useful at f5.6/8 is really just - to put it very nicely - opinion. An interesting photograph seldom hinges on the brand of the lens - more likely on brain and eyeballs. 😉

See if the lenses work for you and if not, change them out. Doing handheld work tends to level the field to a great degree.

 

[Sparrow]

... no point having a F mount nikon if you don't also own a 105/f2.5

Just a thought 🙂

 

[Jerevan]

Agree with that, Sparrow! 🙂

 

[wakarimasen]

I voted Nikon, as that's pretty much the setup I have: albeit with a 50mm F1.8 rather than the F1.4. Oh .... and the 105mm F2.5 😉

To be fair though, I never owned or used any of the other options.

 

[besk]

I'd suggest the F3 hp also (easiest for portraiture) with a cheap completely manual backup body if necessary. Late 28/3.5 and a late, multicoated 50/2.

 

[ZeissFan]

Reminder: "Contax" is a brand name and not a manufacturer. Yashica had the rights to use the Contax brand, and when Yashica became part of Kyocera, those rights were transferred to Kyocera.

Kyocera didn't shut down. It only ended camera production.

For commercial work, I'd go with the workhorse. Nikon. For personal work, buy what you want. There are no rules that say you can only own one system. The only limits are those you place on yourself - unless you live in North Korea. But, hey, this isn't a political discussion.

 

[Cyriljay]

I shoot mostly with RF cameras. I have a Nikon F5 and love the nikon F series . Great cameras and have lot of lenses and can do all kind of photography on this

 

[nongfuspring]

I'd go with the F3. If you're a fan of Zeiss they made the ZF series lenses for Nikon F mount after Kyocera stopped making Contaxes. I imagine they're optically the same as the C/Y version but quite a bit more expensive - the 50mm 1.4 ZF planar is about double the price of the C/Y version at used prices.

RX, RXII, ST, Aria, S2 and RTSIII make better choices for Contax bodies than the RTSII which doesn't have a great reputation for reliability. Contax SLRs seem to be coming down in price a bit these days, with the exception of the RTSIII and S2 they can all be had for about the price of a comparable condition F3.

Personally I'm not sure if I'd bother adapting a Summicron to Nikon F unless you already own one.

 

[Corran]

I've said this before, but if you're going for a Nikon and a 28mm, the 28mm f/2 is better than the f/2.8 model, at least in testing I did. My f/2.8 was the vaunted AIS model (the f/2 was an AI). This was only obvious in the corners and at equivalent apertures. The f/2 model wide-open has a touch of spherical aberrations, but, the f/2.8 model can't open up another stop! 🙂

The 28/2.8 is very good for close up though.

They seem to be about the same price.

 

[kxl]

The best body is Nikon F3 with HP+Dk17M. The best lenses are Zeiss Makro Planar 50/2 and Distagon 28/2, or the Contax 28/2.8 and 45/2. You could adapt these lenses to M mount and get a Zeiss Ikon, or simply get the ZI with the 28/2.8 Biogon and 50/2 Planar. Nikon lenses are basically useful at f5.6-f8.0 only.

This......

 

[narsuitus]

I want to shoot with a 28mm and 50mm only, and my main concern is reliability and image quality.

Of the choices you listed, I voted for the Nikon F3.

Over the years, I have used the Nikon F, F2, F3, and F4. All were very reliable.

Today, I still use the F2 and F4 with the two focal lengths you listed (28mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4). Both lenses produce excellent image quality.

For head & shoulder portrait work, I also use the 105mm f/2.5 and/or the 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. Either works well with the two lenses you listed.


https://flic.kr/p/8Xctou

 

[Fuchs]

Over the years, I have owned and used all of the poll choices, bodies and lenses. My humble advise is to stay away from Contax and Leica R4 because of reliability issues as all other posters have pointed out. They are real and a royal PITA.
The only camera and lenses combination that have survived over the years are a couple of Nikon F3, the 28/2.8 AIS and a Summicron-R 50/2 converted to F mount thanks to Leitax. The F3 have tolerated gracefully all sorts of mistreatings and they seem like they will continue working as the first day.
If you do not use glasses, the plain non-HP finder has a bigger image than the HP, and somehow it feels more comfortable to me to focus the Summicron.
A Leica M6 is also a reliable tool, but more limited.