Classic Nikkor lenses for my F, any advice?

reiterating that the 50 f/2 you have is a real gem.
Throwing in another vote for the 28 f/2 -- its not stellar at anything, but its a solid workhorse. In addition to using it as intended, there was a time I threw it on my D200 as a low-light work-lens before I got my hands on the DX 35mm, and it rarely disappointed in that capacity.
 
peterm1 said:
I had a love affair with non AI glass (which to some extent I now regret as I need AI glass for my digital cameras, - you may wish to consider getting AI converted ones as they offer more choices (you can for example use them more readily on later bodies including digital ones).
Click to expand...

You should note that the recently introduced Nikon digital Df will accept Non Ai glass, it has the moveable tab last seen as standard on the F4, was optional on the F5 and F6.

Can I add a vote for the 200mm f4 ? a "best buy", I even found an Ai kit for mine last year.
 
ChrisLivsey said:
You should note that the recently introduced Nikon digital Df will accept Non Ai glass, it has the moveable tab last seen as standard on the F4, was optional on the F5 and F6.

Can I add a vote for the 200mm f4 ? a "best buy", I even found an Ai kit for mine last year.
Click to expand...

Thanks that's useful to know. I have never been tempted by the Df but this is one reason to rethink that position.
 
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141781

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141781

Corran said:
My pre-AI F and F2 kit is:



I prefer the F2 for its easy mirror lock-up, with no wasted frames like the F.
Click to expand...

My Nikon FTn, a fairly late model, does not loose a frame!
Turn the small button and mirror comes down.
The 52mm standard filter size a big plus!
The older lenses with scalloped helicoids better than the
rubber grips that are now rotting and falling off.
 
ChrisLivsey said:
Indeed that ability and the sensor from the D4 is a tempting proposition. 760g as well (F3 762g, M240 680g) Mmmm 😉
Click to expand...

I use my non-AI Nikkors on my D5200. It works perfect in M-mode. You have to guess exposure in the first shot. The histograms tells if exposure is ok (an advanced handheld meter). It is easy to take pictures this way. The D3100, 3200, 3300, 5200, 5300 etc. has no interface for the AI/AIS lenses so no aperture simulator ring to interfere with the non-AI mount. Even the built-in flash or ext. flash can be used if switched from TTL to manual mode (1/1, 1/2, 1/4 etc. flash output).
 
I think Tom had it covered. My kit is currently a Nikkor-S 50/1.4 (pre-AI), 28/2.8 AI-s, and 105/2.5 AI. All but the first I use with an AF body, since my F has been sort of relegated as a mantle display. It was my first camera, after all.
 
Vics said:
I said earlier that unlike Raid I prefered the 2.0/50 to the newer 1.8. After a day's research, I can see why the 1.8/50 is the fave of Raid, along with nearly everyone on the interwebe. I'm definitely in the market for one now! Here's a site that speaks very well of this little lens.
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html
Click to expand...

I have both (at least so far as I know... I have the AF-D /1.8, pretty sure the optical formula is identical), and they draw differently. I don't know if its the spherical aberration, but the /2 has a more vintagey feel to my eye. I love them both and both can be had for peanuts. The 1.8 is awesomely sharp, and on a crop-sensor camera like my D200 makes for an excellent portrait lens (though the Bokeh is a little on the weak side)
 
Vics said:
I said earlier that unlike Raid I prefered the 2.0/50 to the newer 1.8. After a day's research, I can see why the 1.8/50 is the fave of Raid, along with nearly everyone on the interwebs. I'm definitely in the market for one now! Here's a site that speaks very well of this little lens.
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html
Click to expand...

I also have the old 50/2. It is a very sharp lens, Vic.
 
Wanna shoot those old non-AI lenses on a digital? Get a D3100! No aperture coupling so all non-AI lenses fit, the APS-C sensor is 14MP.

I just received a 2.0/135mm AI lens, to use on the D700. It weighs in at 860 grammes and takes 77mm filters. But I love it already!
 
Some great suggestions here already!

There have been several threads like this over the years. You'll find some good info there by searching.

FWIW, my favorites from my news photo days:

24/2.8
35/2
85/1.8
180/2.8

Add the 300/4.5 (the black barrel model has higher contrast and a better tripod socket than the old chrome barrel model) to round out the kit and give yourself a little reach. Find yourself an F36 motor and you'll be set to take news pictures!

And as someone else has noted, there are some very inexpensive non-AI lenses out there in the slower models of certain focal lengths:

28/3.5
35/2.8
135/3.5

If you just want to fiddle around outdoors during the day, a kit like that added to your existing 50 will take you a long way very inexpensively. (Omit the 35 and save $50 if you're a dyed-in-the-wool 50mm guy.)

Have fun!
 
Ok some corrections:
The 135mm f/2 has a filter size of 72mm
The Non-Ai and Ai'd, and K versions of the 180mm f/2.8's are the same optical formula; the P.C versions as well as the K version has the full modern multicoating.
The ED 180mm f/2.8 is a different optical formula as is the AF 180's.
 
A few people here are commenting on the 85mm f1.8.

I do not own one of the MF ones and never have but I have seen what it can do (on the web) and I am very impressed. My favourite, needless to say is the older non AI one which both looks extremely handsome with its scalloped focusing ring and performs superbly optically. I am pretty sure this lenses optical formula did not change at least during its MF era and maybe when Nikon moved to AF although later lenses benefited from newer coatings. If "benefiting" is the correct description. In some ways I prefer the way the older coating's render - a little bit of flare when shooting against the sun does not always hurt and can add character to an image. It depends on what you are looking for in the image. (I often prefer character in an image to technical perfection).

I do own an 85mm f1.8 AF D lens and confirm that is a beauty. So much so that when the opportunity came along to buy an AF 85mm f1.4 lens and I sold the f1.8 to help pay for it I eventually went back and bought another f1.8. Now I own both and have no desire to do other wise. In my view the f1.4 is perfection for portraits and the f1.8 is likewise for general work - sharper than its faster sibling and more "technically" perfect for that kind of work when its needed.

Oh and I do own an AIS 85mm f2. While some people disrespect this lens it is no slouch. While I prefer the rendering of its 1.8 sibling, it is never the less sharp and by no means an inadequate lens. Well worth owning particularly considering it can be picked up quite inexpensively. Interestingly when preparing this post I went to eBay and found that all versions of the 85mm lens seems to be lower priced than I recall. Maybe they have fallen somewhat recently?

One final thought. For many years I have owned a 50mm f2. The early scalloped ring pre AI version of course. At some point I bought on eBay an original Nikon AI conversion ring for my lens - one of the last ones to be found on that site I think. These are hard to find for obvious reasons and also because a different ring was needed for every iteration of each lens. Every time the lens physically changed a different ring was needed. Even when relatively minor changes were made like a change to the minimum aperture. (Obvious when you think about it).

I have used this from time to time on my digital Nikons and have to say that it renders beautifully. It really is a lovely lens. And very cheap being able to be purchased for less that $100. Here are samples of images made with it.



 
Wow.., the respons to this thread is just unbelievably, thank you each and everyone for sharing of your wisdom and knowledge, I really, really appreciate every single post here! I´ve learned things that I didn´t know before regarding Nikon lenses, which will make it (or not!) easier to look for great, classic lenses.

As mention before, I got a nice 50 f2 (K-version I´ve now learned) and the outstanding 105 f2.5 Ai, so I will start looking for lenses between 21mm and 35mm, another 50mm and a 85, then some telelens later on. I do own the big tank of a 80-200 f2.8, but I prefere fixed lenses.

Ebay next, I guess there will be some exciting hours and days there looking and bidding on lenses! Still waiting for the F to arrive, but I will post some updates and pictures when I get some lenses to go with it.

Thanks again gentlemen, feel free to keep posting and discussing classic lenses here, I´m probably not the only one enjoying it 🙂
 
Some of my favorites...first the D5000 and a non Ai 50/2 and then the horse shot is a Fuji S5 Pro and the 105/2.5. Sadly my F2 and FE have fallen by the wayside...

I would like to have a 200/4...

mod2.bmp


horse358.bmp
 
peterm1 said:
I am pretty sure this lenses optical formula did not change at least during its MF era and maybe when Nikon moved to AF although later lenses benefited from newer coatings. If "benefiting" is the correct description. In some ways I prefer the way the older coating's render - a little bit of flare when shooting against the sun does not always hurt and can add character to an image. It depends on what you are looking for in the image. (I often prefer character in an image to technical perfection).
Click to expand...

One of my shooting buddies owns the AF-S 85/1.8, and I have an Ai'd Nikkor-H. One evening we were snowed in and so we swapped them back and forth on his Nikon D800E. It being his camera, I don't have the images, but I remember the only real difference being a softer contrast on the old H. (which to me was very pleasing)
 
The standard format in the 1960's when the Nikon F & Nikkormat (which is what you are inquiring about) came out was a 24mm f.28, 50mm f2.0, & 135mm f3.5. That was what a serious amateur carried. Since then the 135mm has fall out as a standard lens. The VF lenses of the 1960's were not high quality as they are now. Some of the lenses that you might look into are the 50mm f1.4, which IMHO is better than the 50mm f2.0. Also, the 28mm f3.5 and the wonderful 105mm f2.5. The 35mm f2.0 was not popular. I don't know why. Maybe it is because most people went to the 24mm for wider images, the 35mm being too close to the 50mm. There is also a 180mm lens. Remember you are using non-Ai lenses and again IMHO, their optics are not as good as the later Ai & Ai-S lenses. I do not want to imply that they are bad lenses and they will provide you with excellent results. Also review naturfotograf.com He has some nice evaulation of the lenses in question.
 
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