Ronald M
Veteran
As to the lenses. They MUST be either AI or AIS (or AI converted from non AI) lenses. Do not mount a non AI lens on the D700 as it has a mechanical aperture follower which can jam and be damaged by a non AI lens if one is mounted. Other than this pretty well any Nikon AU or AIS lens work brilliantly with this near pro camera. BTW it is easy for anyone with basic skills to make the AI conversion of a non AI lens. The instructions are readily found on the internet.
Quote above from Peterm1 page one.
Very important
Quote above from Peterm1 page one.
Very important
raid
Dad Photographer
Hi Peter. I find the yellow dot in focus confirmation to be accurate and very useful.
raid
Dad Photographer
My Nikkor 50/1.4 was AI'd, and it works well on the camera.
peterm1
Veteran
I have three versions of this lens and like them all - two of them I had to AI convert. The most recent one I bought is the AIS one which I picked up cheaply ($35) at a camera fair as it had a sticky aperture. Fortunately the AIS is ultra easy to strip down - both the front and rear element groups come out en bloc leaving the aperture assembly in the barrel. That can then be flushed with solvent. Which I did. It may require more cleaning from time to time but given it's so easy that task is not much of a chore (I do not plan on disassembling and regreasing the helicals at this time - that IS a chore). It is a very nice lens to use - smaller than the earlier versions with better coatings.
raid
Dad Photographer
My Nikkor lenses are limited and they non AI. Still. some are available these days as AI at low cost. A 24mm lens would be perfect for me to get next.
Dogman
Veteran
My love of photography started with a Nikon F in the early 70's but I started switching to a series of other brands over 20 years ago. Then a few months back I got reacquainted with the brand after buying a used D800. That has led to an expensive and enjoyable journey with several different camera models and lenses. My most recent camera being a D700 that was advertised as "like new". And it was! It looked like it had never been used and the shutter actuations were less than 300. I've really enjoy using that camera. It's heavy but it's solid and feels comfortable in hand. While 12mp may seem small by today's standards, I've been very impressed with how the photos look when printed. The images from the D700 stand up well even in comparison to 24mp and 36mp files.
Although my vision is limited and I mainly depend on AF lenses, I have recently picked up a few older manual focus Nikkors. The focus confirmation dot is really helpful to me with these lenses. One of the MF Nikkors I bought is an older 50mm ƒ/1.4 with the silver barrel that had been AI'd in the past. The thing looks like the front element has been sandblasted, thus it sold for a pittance. Yet I like the soft gray tones it produces for B&W and the muted pastels when shooting in color. I also found a very nice and very cheap 200mm ƒ/4 lens that is surprisingly sharp and well preserved for a 50+ year old lens.
Although my vision is limited and I mainly depend on AF lenses, I have recently picked up a few older manual focus Nikkors. The focus confirmation dot is really helpful to me with these lenses. One of the MF Nikkors I bought is an older 50mm ƒ/1.4 with the silver barrel that had been AI'd in the past. The thing looks like the front element has been sandblasted, thus it sold for a pittance. Yet I like the soft gray tones it produces for B&W and the muted pastels when shooting in color. I also found a very nice and very cheap 200mm ƒ/4 lens that is surprisingly sharp and well preserved for a 50+ year old lens.
peterm1
Veteran
Raid I think from memory the 24mm f2.8 is rated highly. I think it was one of the first to have Nikon's vaunted CRC (close range correction) from quite early versions (CRC being introduced in 1967 - the time this lens was first released). I prefer the MF versions to the AF versions of this lens. Mine is one of the earlier versions with the scalloped focus ring and has been AI converted by the factory.
The other wide angle lens I really like is the 35mm f2.0. In particular there is something special, in my view, about the rendering of the earlier versions of this lens. I own this lens (AI converted) and the AF one and while the AF one is fine (I keep it for times when I want a light AF 35mm instead of a larger zoom) the early MF one is special in my view. The other MF ones may be as good as the earlier MF ones though - I have not had the chance to check properly. But I note that the MIR site suggests that the 35mm f2 O.C. version dating between 1973 and 1975 may have had thorium glass. I believe this is the one I have and it may account for the rendering I like so much.
Overall though, my own experience leads me to agree with the following:
"......And this reference to clinical versus characterful images brings us to the Nikkor’s greatest selling point. This lens, first designed and produced in the 1960s, provides us with a way of capturing shots today that’s impossible to replicate with a new lens. The images it makes, while gorgeous and precise, aren’t perfect. There’s a uniqueness to the depth of field, the color rendition, the contrast and resolution, that sets it apart from a modern Nikkor (or any modern lens for that matter). Even when shot on today’s mirror-less cameras, the lens allows us to make images that are unpredictable, with a bit more character and feeling."
https://www.casualphotophile.com/2017/06/19/nikon-nikkor-o-35mm-f2-pre-ai-lens-review/
Another wide angle you might consider is the 28mm f2 which I think tops most versions of the 28mm f2.8 (at least until the AIS one came out as that lens had a redesigned optical layout which is acknowledged as having improved them quite a lot.)
The bottom line it seems to me is that almost any Nikon lens of the era is good and their best are superb.
Dogman
Veteran
I agree with Peter concerning the 24/2.8--it's a wonderful lens. I had one of the early ones with the metal focus ring that I actually wore out over several years of use. I then got the newer model with the rubberized focus ring. Both were excellent. In fact I think I still have that second MF 24mm somewhere packed away. You might also consider the 24mm AF-D if autofocus appeals to you. I bought one of those recently and I love it. It has that early lens look. The image is sharp in the center, gets softer toward the edges and there's a beautiful vignette at the wider openings. This is a look I very much like and a look newer lenses don't have, although a bit of post processing can help in this area.
EDIT: Although I've been on a bit of a binge of lens buying lately, I've begun to believe I could live with a 24mm and a 50mm (or their equivalents) as my only lenses and be pretty happy.
EDIT: Although I've been on a bit of a binge of lens buying lately, I've begun to believe I could live with a 24mm and a 50mm (or their equivalents) as my only lenses and be pretty happy.
ZivcoPhoto
Well-known
Any of the AIS or earlier NIKON wide angles with close focus (CRC - floating elements) are pretty terrific. +1 for the 28mm F2 - the OOF gives it the edge to me over 28mm F2.8 AIS. The 35mm F1.4 AIS is a very good lens for D700 - with the CRC it focuses amazingly close. I used the 24mm F2.8 non AI for years with film but I got the 24mm F1.4 G “super-lens” last year and on D700 I have seen nothing better in that focal length.
raid
Dad Photographer
Peter, I view the D700 as a very reliable camera, and I can see myself traveling with this camera and using one or two lenses only. I need to first dig out whatever Nikkor lenses I own, and then choose one lens for AI modification by someone who does such conversions/ Yes, the 24mm 2.8 may be a reasonable option as my second D700 lens along side my 50 1.4
I may have a 35mm lens in Nikon mount, but I better look for it first. The 35/2 would also be good to have.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Since I have a lot of MF lenses, I use the focus dot on my D700 quite a bit. I use AF lenses as well. Whether MF or AF, I like it when the lens has a CPU so I can have the EXIF info displayed in Aperture. MF lenses with a CPU let me use the same lens on my film Nikons and on the D700. These include the CV 20mm f/3.5 P lens; Zeiss 25mm f/2 ZF.2 Distagon; 35mm F/2 ZF.2 Distagon; and the little 45mm f/2.8 Nikkor P lens. And I use the 28mm and 35mm PC Nikkors; the 135mm and 180mm MF Nikkors; and I have a Leitz 180mm APO-Telyt converted to Nikon mount. So with this rather large array of MF lenses, the little green focus dot allows me a greater range of lenses for the D700, and is a good anti-obsolescence feature as well.
Alpsman
Well-known
I still use my reliable D700 for theater fotography with mostly a 50mm Ai on it. The green focusing dot is very helpful in dim light. For finetunig of the distance I just move forward or backward and the focus is spot on. Besides, I dont have any autofokus lenses so I only use Ai or Ai/S lenses on the camera.
raid
Dad Photographer
This reborn thread made me today recharge the battery for my D700. It will be ready for use again.
maigo
Well-known
I am the new owner of a Nikon D700 DSLR
There is a used D700 at my local camera shop. 71000 shutter count. $600CAD ($450USD).
This thread and the DSLR scanning thread are making me think seriously about buying it.
Is 71K a high count or just mid-life?
There is a used D700 at my local camera shop. 71000 shutter count. $600CAD ($450USD).
This thread and the DSLR scanning thread are making me think seriously about buying it.
Is 71K a high count or just mid-life?
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Alpsman
Well-known
My D700 is 11 years in my hands and I bought it new, shutter count is 39.017, it have some dents, a sunburn in the mirror housing and still takes pix and pix and pix. The rubber coating is still OK and the accu lifespan is "new".
My D800 is a second hand buy from a professional, have a shutter count of 156.788 and still takes pix & pix & pix. And the rubber coating is also still OK. The accu lifespan is "new"
. . . .
My S2 is from 1958 and still works ;-)
The decision is yours.
Greetings from the snowy valley!