Field
Well-known
Get the F3 $150. Go for it!
Then choose from...
Wide
Budget Choice:24mm f2.8 $150
Medium Choice:28mm f2.8 $320
High Choice: 20mm f2.8 $400
35mm is too close to 40mm (OM 35mm F2 $250)
Standard
Super cheap: 50mm f/2, great lens always sharp, higher resolution than 1.4 or 1.2 50mm (huge waste of money) $60
Budget: 55mm f2.8 micro, probably sharper than CV open
Medium: 40mm F2 CV, FANTASTIC lens. $400
High end: 58mm f1.2, amazing but... $3,000
(OM 50mm macro f3.5 $150, macro f2 $650)
Portrait/telephoto:
Only real option: 105mm f2.5 P.C (Not the newest, and not perspective corrected, it is just an upgraded sonnar) $150-200. (unless you come across an AI'd old P for cheap, still an amazing lens)
(OM 100mm f2.8 $200, f2 $1200, 90mm f2 $700)
Vivitar F3 flash adapter $45
Then choose from...
Wide
Budget Choice:24mm f2.8 $150
Medium Choice:28mm f2.8 $320
High Choice: 20mm f2.8 $400
35mm is too close to 40mm (OM 35mm F2 $250)
Standard
Super cheap: 50mm f/2, great lens always sharp, higher resolution than 1.4 or 1.2 50mm (huge waste of money) $60
Budget: 55mm f2.8 micro, probably sharper than CV open
Medium: 40mm F2 CV, FANTASTIC lens. $400
High end: 58mm f1.2, amazing but... $3,000
(OM 50mm macro f3.5 $150, macro f2 $650)
Portrait/telephoto:
Only real option: 105mm f2.5 P.C (Not the newest, and not perspective corrected, it is just an upgraded sonnar) $150-200. (unless you come across an AI'd old P for cheap, still an amazing lens)
(OM 100mm f2.8 $200, f2 $1200, 90mm f2 $700)
Vivitar F3 flash adapter $45
Matus
Well-known
Thanks - now we are taking 
Actually - from the Nikon stable my choices would be following:
WIDE:
Budged & light: 20/4.0 Ai or 20/3.5 AIS
Light & great: VC 20/3.5
Medium Wide:
Semi-budged: 30/2.0 AF-D (reportedly better than either AIS version)
Light & great: VC 40/2.0 - the lens seems to be so good that it is worth it
Tele:
maybe some 85 or 100. For the 100 I would go with the E version as it is light and users seem to love it.
------------------
The above does not rule out either OM or Contax systems of course
Actually - from the Nikon stable my choices would be following:
WIDE:
Budged & light: 20/4.0 Ai or 20/3.5 AIS
Light & great: VC 20/3.5
Medium Wide:
Semi-budged: 30/2.0 AF-D (reportedly better than either AIS version)
Light & great: VC 40/2.0 - the lens seems to be so good that it is worth it
Tele:
maybe some 85 or 100. For the 100 I would go with the E version as it is light and users seem to love it.
------------------
The above does not rule out either OM or Contax systems of course
Ade-oh
Well-known
I would go back to my original point. In practical terms you will not be able to distinguish between transparencies taken with Canon, Contax, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus or Pentax manual focus SLRs and lenses, provided they are properly exposed. IMHO, the best lightmeter on a cheap, used SLR is on the OM-2/OM-2sp/OM-4 but in most situations the others will be equally as good, so just go with what you're comfortable with.
Field
Well-known
Nikon F3 can not use Autofocus lenses.... There was a special autofocus version but the lenses for it fit no other Nikon camera.
Matus
Well-known
Well, correct me if I am wrong, but I guess that F3 can use AF lenses in MF mode - as most of other MF Nikon bodies ...
Field
Well-known
True, but no VR or G series. They removed the aperture ring on them.
You should note that many AF lenses are plastic... which to me loses a little bit of an appeal when buying a metal brick.
The F4 will do AF but no VR... often sold of peanuts. I am thinking about getting one because of the much more advanced mirror and shutter. Is it attractive? Nooooooo but it works pro.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm
I am surprised at the lower speed lenses you have decided to look at for the different sizes. Personally I am all for slow lenses that perform well. They allow me to use 400 speed film in daylight and still select the DOF I want to some degree. For the same reason I often prefer slower film because it allows more fill options with flash, and total aperture control.
I went walking around with a f1.4 50mm lens a month back and found it irritating because at 400asa it almost exhausted my shutter speed capability on my Nikon F (getting rid of now). I know I know... it sounds silly but seriously I would never want a .95/1.1/1.2 lens for daaperturey work unless my camera had 1/4000's or higher shutter speeds.
You should note that many AF lenses are plastic... which to me loses a little bit of an appeal when buying a metal brick.
The F4 will do AF but no VR... often sold of peanuts. I am thinking about getting one because of the much more advanced mirror and shutter. Is it attractive? Nooooooo but it works pro.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm
I am surprised at the lower speed lenses you have decided to look at for the different sizes. Personally I am all for slow lenses that perform well. They allow me to use 400 speed film in daylight and still select the DOF I want to some degree. For the same reason I often prefer slower film because it allows more fill options with flash, and total aperture control.
I went walking around with a f1.4 50mm lens a month back and found it irritating because at 400asa it almost exhausted my shutter speed capability on my Nikon F (getting rid of now). I know I know... it sounds silly but seriously I would never want a .95/1.1/1.2 lens for daaperturey work unless my camera had 1/4000's or higher shutter speeds.
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shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Sorry, I did not intend to become a burden - I did not join too many SLR discussions yet so did not know that some lenses get too much unearned criticism. OM system is a candidate and so is the 35/2.0. I am just looking at the prices what takes a while as this lens is not so common.
Right now, for a reason unknown, I feel quite a strong attraction towards Nikon F3 and Contax Aria. Will see how this develops
If you can pick up a Contax ST. Do it, that block of granite is my current favorite SLR.
Matus
Well-known
If you can pick up a Contax ST. Do it, that block of granite is my current favorite SLR.
I had a look at different Contax SLRs and I have to admit I have a hard time to somehow get a grasp of the relevant differences between different models like 167, 159, ST, RX (Aria is latest, lightest and with matrix metering - so that puts it a bit aside) from the user point of view and not just a spec sheet. I guess I could make use of some enlightenment here ...