Have FM3A ... but where to for a couple of lenses?

I would skip anything below 85mm, but if you want a 50mm I would go with a makro - it seems to me like there is a 55/2.8 makro that is well regarded. Over 50 mm 3 lenses merit attention: the 85/1.4, 105/2 DC and the 105/2.5. Surely, if you can get the Planar, do not look back. I use this camera with the 50/2 Makro Planar, 85/1.4 Planar ( a great lens and better than the Nikkor) and the 100/2 Makro Planar. Sometimes I also put the 25/2.8 Distagon on if I want to shoot something strange and close up, however no SLR has a reason of existence against a rangefinder in the wide to normal range, unless you need close up or critical composition, so save yourself the money and frustration and do not get any wide lenses for it.


FM3A, 25/2.8 Distagon:

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FM3A, 50/2 Makro Planar

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FM3A, Planar 85/1.4 ZF

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FM3A , 100/2 Makro Planar

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Keith said:
I checked eBay and a Hong Kong seller has the brand new 50mm f1.4 ZF Planar for $640.00 ... if I like the camera one of these could be in my future as I'm an habitual 50mm shooter!
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After comparing the Nikkor AI-S 50mm f1.2 and Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.4 back to back, I kept the Nikkor and sold the Zeiss. The Nikkor was sharper across the frame, and the bokeh was better. YMMV.
 
jonmanjiro said:
While there are differences in barrel design and the amount of focus throw, the K (new), Ai, Ai-S, AF, AF (new), and AF-D versions of the Nikkor 50mm f1.4 are the same basic seven element six group optical formula. So there shouldn't be much difference between them. Sample variations and user preference are probably greater factors.
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The focus throw, yes, if I remember well... But you're right, they're practically the same...
 

Taken with a 15 5.6 AIS and a D3

Where to go for lenses?. Try my kitchen floor😛. Keith you feel dirty, think how I feel? No really, congratulations on your new body. The FM2 is a great Nikon and will serve you well. As far as lenses try www.KEH.com. talk to Arthur ,great guy and there BGN grading are very clean.

Gregory
 
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i used to use an old Nikor f2 50mm Ai and loved it before upgrading to the more modern 1.8 AF-D when i bought my f80 and retired the FE, although this lens is designed for autofocus systems, it has a very comfortable focus ring, and aperture ring with the traditional little black ridge to couple to the camera's ttl. you can pick them up new for about £90, what this is in ausi dollars (monopoly money 😛) i don't know, but its a wonderful choice, i can say the same for the nikor 35mm f2 AF-D lens i have, though this is more pricey at around £230.
 
Juan- The 50/1.4 AI is redesigned optically over the older version. I think the update occurred with the compact design just before the Ai lenses were introduced. In F-Mount, I have the older Nikkor-S 50/1.4, Nikkor-SC 50/1.4, old version Nikkor 50/1.4 "RIFR", new version Nikkor 50/1.4 "RIFR", Nikkor 50/1.4 AI, Nikkor 50/1.4 AIS, and AF-Nikkor 50/1.4. The latter is very sharp as well.

I remember the 50/1.4 AI series lens is slightly heavier build, 5 screws for the mount instead of three. The early AIS version of the 50/1.4 uses a horrible lubricant that fouls the aperture blades. A trip to Nikon did not cure it, I ended up flood cleaning it repeatedly and put in a heavier spring for the aperture blades to operate. BEWARE of buying 50/1.4 AIS Nikkors sight-unseen w/o return policy.

Brian

Juan Valdenebro said:
Brian,

I know you are really deep about lenses, so your opinion is more important than mine, even for myself...

Just wanted to comment again (did it some months ago) that there's a test somewhere with many 50s, and the test was done with a bottle of Jack Daniel's... As the test is available with some resolution, I printed it, and the sharpest one was the 1.4 AI, at least for the close distance shown in the test: sharper than the more modern versions including the AF ones.

Of course it can be a samples thing, or even a focusing thing, but the one I got (KEH's Bargain) is amazing: beautiful bokeh and comfortable, precise focusing. Wide open it's not soft at all, it has just that great glow for portraits...

Cheers,

Juan
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Just to add- I keep a 55/1.2 AI on the Nikon F2AS, 55/1.2 Nikkor-SC on the F2SB, and factory Ai converted Nikkor-SC on the F3HP. My FE2 (honeycomb shutter blades) got the 50/1.4 AIS. The 50/1.4 Ai is on the Nikon EL2.
 
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http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

you can take a look at the rating for different lenses.
For cheap combos (what I use):

- 28-50 F3.5 is my walkaround lens. It is better than most modern zoom lenses.I also use it on d700 as landscape lens
- 50/1.8 ais pancake. I have F1.2 when I need it but most the time I prefer the 1.8 Version, it's super tiny and costs less than 100$.
 
Keith- I'll stay away from the usual lenses I use for my Nikon bodies as they are auto-focus. There are a couple of lenses that are real gems if they meet your needs that I have experience with:

1. 105/2.5 is simply a legend in the Nikon world and has been terrific in all forms since the S rangefinders. If you want to try out the F mount lenses this one truly is a "must have".

2. The 45mm 2.8 P is a fantastic, beautifully built modern Tessar if you don't need speed in that length. I like it so much I actually bought an extra one. Beautifully compact it was actually part of a kit with the FM3A when introduced.

Enjoy your new FM3A, it's a terrific camera. And remember, your Olympus stuff is always there for a fix if you need it.

Kent
 
Keith - Congrats on the FM3a. That is a nice price.

My thoughts: if you're looking to go cheap and just use the camera a while and decide if you like it, and knowing that you like the 50mm length, get a 50mm f1.8 lens. The AI/AIs versions are well built and compact and not expensive, but the series E (which functionally is an AIs) is down right cheap. It's so compact it's almost a pancake lens. You only lose a little speed vs the larger f1.4 but the f1.8 is still an excellent performer. Even the series E is very ruggedly built compared to today's plastic lenses. With a little luck you can find one for $50 or less and the glass will be just fine.

After that, if you like it, then step up to the Zeiss (though opinions vary on that lens). And either the 105 or 85. The 105/2.5 is a legend but as Brian said the 85/2 is underrated. I actually sold my 105 in favor of the 85 because it's smaller, better for a travel kit, and I like the little extra room the 85 allows. For me the 35/85 travel combo can't be beat.
 
I would recommend the 50mm (6th version) AI-S. For portraits the 105mm f2.5 AI-S is legendary. In the 35mm range the Zeiss Distagon f2.0 is the best with the 35mm f2.0 Nikkor AIS a close second. The problem here is that the Nikkor did have some production problems & and problems with this lens have been reported though those who have used them successfully love them. Between a used Distagon and a Nikkor (used) there may be no difference in price. As far as the 24mm & 28mm range...it is probably a toss up in the f2.8 catagory. As far as the 85mm is concerned it is no slaggered but the 105mm is better.
 
Keith,

For you I'd recommend a 35/1.4, 50/1.2, and a 300/4.5 ED-IF. IF (internal focus) is a rocking technology. I think it would be interesting to see a 300 in your hands, might be an interesting challenge.

If you want something in between the 50 and the 300 there are lots to choose from. I love the 85/1.8 and the 180/2.8, and there's always the 105/2.5. I just got the 180/2.8 ED that I'm selling CLAed and have updated the posting. The 105 that I had flew out the door two weeks ago.

The classic combo from years back was the 24/2.8, 50/1.4 and 105/2.5. Take a look at Ken Rockwell's site's for pretty good basic reviews. Some times I think he got duds on some lenses and perhaps was not really looking at over all performance.

One thing I have to say is that the 28/2.8 AIs is the best general wide lens that Nikon has ever made. Focuses close, reasonably fast, sharp and great look.

B2 (;->
 
If I read your original post, you didn't sound at all too sure if you will stay with the FM3A. If that is true, then I would stick with a 50mm for now (either 1.4 or 1.8 AI/AIS). They're both good and they're both inexpensive. 105/2.5 is of course legendary and is typically reasonably priced, so, as other have mentioned, that may be a good option.

35/1.4 and 85/1.4 also very good but command a premium, so if you're not yet committed to the platform, it may be wise to hold off on these. The Zeiss ZF lenses are fantastic, especially if you shoot color.

Another thought -- non-AI lenses are cheap and plentiful, and some are extremely good. However, your should NOT mount them on your FM3A as is -- you need to have them AI'd first.

You might want to contact John White at http://www.aiconversions.com/ to work out something re: shipping to OZ. I've sent in a couple of lenses to him and he does good work. Or, if you're up to it, you may want to give it a try yourself.
 
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kxl said:
35/1.4 and 85/1.4 also very good but command a premium, so if you're not yet committed to the platform, it may be wise to hold off on these.
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Yes they do cost more, but you can find deals if you take your time. Reselling great lenses for less than rental is not hard to do even in todays market.


kxl said:
Another thought -- non-AI lenses are cheap and plentiful, and some are extremely good. However, your should NOT mount them on your FM3A as is -- you need to have them AI'd first.

You might want to contact John White at http://www.aiconversions.com/ to work out something re: shipping to OZ. I've sent in a couple of lenses to him and he does good work. Or, if you're up to it, you may want to give it a try yourself.
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John is a great guy and does a wonderful job. He has done three way shipping for me in the past saving buyers money. If you want someone to run tests on a lens here and act as a middle man I'm happy to help.

You can pick up older lenses and get them AIed either buy getting a beaten up version of the same lens and swapping the aperture ring or finding and original unused kit (there are some still out there). I prefer older lenses with metal focusing ring, but that is me.

B2 (;->
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Keith- make this easier for us.

How much do you have to spend on Nikkor lenses...
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If I thought too seriously about how much I 'actually' have to spend I probably wouldn't have bought the FM3A ... but as we all know available funds and 'GAS' are strange bedfellows! 😀

I'll just do whatever I have to in the way of gear shuffling if it comes to the crunch and I'm actually totally smitten by the FM3A.

I've been contacted by a fellow Australian RFFer who tends to be more of a lurker ... he has a swag of lenses that I can pick from ranging from 24mm up to 500mm. There is a 50mm f1.4 in amongst it all so I'll probably PM him tonight and get him to send me that so at least I can run the camera through it's paces when it arrives in a few days to make sure all is well. If I really like the way the FM3A handles and it seems like a good thing I will quite likely sell something from the cabinet to fund the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 Planar from the Hong Kong seller. I really do like the way Zeiss lenses render and although Jon Manjiro said he ditched the Zeiss in favour of the Nikkor I suspect I would prefer the look of the Zeiss.

I hadn't actually realised that Zeiss made SLR/DSLR lenses in various different mounts and this has now given me a totally different perspective on the FM3A's potential capabilities ... financially this may not be such a good thing though! 😛
 
Ah, the magic Zeiss name. It makes grown men become totally irrational. 😉

Seriously, didn't some magazine review declare the Zeiss 50 1.4 the "best lens ever made?"
 
Pickett Wilson said:
Ah, the magic Zeiss name. It makes grown men become totally irrational. 😉

Seriously, didn't some magazine review declare the Zeiss 50 1.4 the "best lens ever made?"
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I wish you hadn't told me that Pickett ... I'm so young and impressionable! (read ... old and foolish) 😛
 
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