Lens recommendation for Nikon SLR camera

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Steve M.

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I had a Leica R Summicron 90 2 lens that had been used on my Nikon N8008S almost solely for portraits, but sold it tonight. Any ideas on what I could buy for cheap that would still make decent portraits? Using an adapter with the lens would be OK, like I did with the Leica lens. Third party is good too.

I also have a Canon FT QL, but the Nikon has a neat self timer that fires the shutter 5 or 10 seconds after the first shot fires, which is a neat feature, so Nikon mount would be better.
 
For a Nikon 8008s I'd go for a "Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF-D" lens, a bit on the plasticy side but a beautiful lens. It just seems like a good fit and it is a very nice lens.



-Thomas
 
Sure, the Nikon 85mm lenses are the obvious candidates, but don't forget the Tamron 90/2.8. Yes, I know, it's a macro lens, but the way it renders makes it an excellent choice for portraiture.. In my view it earns extra bonus points for having a long focus throw, allowing very precise manual focusing.

Another lens with a long focus throw is the Samyang 85/1.4. On paper that would be the better portrait lens because of its 1.4 maximum aperture, but in real life, I prefer the Tamron over the Samyang for portraits. The out of focus rendering of Samyang can be a bit gnarly, close focus is only 1 meter, and the focus mechanism isn't nearly as smooth as the Tamron.
 
Depends on your preferred focal length. Nikon has a large range of excellent lenses suited to portraits and many of them quite inexpensive these days especially if you are willing to go MF and even more especially if you are willing to buy an early lens (though bear in mind if it is non AI it will need converting (easily done by a home handy man with average skills) for use on later bodies. I would speak well of any 85mm f1.8 and even the 85mm f2 which is generally regarded as inferior (though my sample is still very good). Any 105mm Nikkor lens is excellent for portraits though some think them a little too long. They are legends in fact and this range of lenses is just about synonymous with Nikon. The earlier ones are Sonnar design lenses and the later ones Gauss - take your pick but I kind of like the early Sonnar design for portraits though both are great. And all 135mm Nikkor lenses are just about as excellent (the f3.5 version is under valued and like the 105mm was redesigned from Sonnar to Gauss at some stage - Again make your pick) The 2.8 versions of this lens (early or late) are equally superb in my view and the last (AIS version) is perhaps best of all.

I recently pulled the trigger on a more expensive version of the 105mm - the 105mm f1.8 AIS which is a somewhat rare and super lens. I am still awaiting the arrival though. This lens is regarded as being perhaps the best of the bunch for those who don't mind the weight .

As noted in other posts on this thread, the AF 85mm f1.8 is also excellent (the f1.4 version is even better for portraits but not for general work and is considerably more expensive so may not be in your ball park.

Another option out of left field is one of the other AF zooms which were contemporaneous with your N8008s (I still have one of these incidentally and will not sell it as it is my go to film camera for those relatively few occasions when I need one.) I use the 35-70mm AF f2.8 which is superb and was widely used back in the day by professionals due to its optical and physical qualities. These days they are dirt cheap. Another lens I regularly use is the 70-210mm AF D f4 -5.6. As a consumer lens it "should" be ordinary but it is not. It happens to be very good. And also damn cheap to buy. I regularly use it as it is much much lighter than pro lenses in this range.

85mm f1.8

Corona of flowers by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

70-210mm f4-5.6 AF D

Life on a Hong Kong Street 8 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

35-70mm f2.8 AF

Ferryman by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
 
trisberg said:
For a Nikon 8008s I'd go for a "Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF-D" lens, a bit on the plasticy side but a beautiful lens. It just seems like a good fit and it is a very nice lens.



-Thomas
Click to expand...

+1 I own this lens. It's excellent. $475 new.

If you have some dosh, the 105/2 DC (Defocus Control) ($8-900 used, $1200 new) along with the 135/2 DC are supposedly the ne plus ultra of portrait lenses available by any manufacturer.

The Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO 1:1 Macro also gets raves and is supposed to be an excellent portrait/short tele and macro lens. $400 new.
 
The 105mm f/2.5 Ai or AiS are excellent. 85mm f/1.4 of any version are also just as good. Even the 85mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens. The build quality of all these is outstanding as well and you really can't go wrong with any of them.

Phil Forrest
 
105 2.5 Ai is superb.

The original 105 is same quality at distance, but not as sharp at near min focus. This lens has a rear element the size of a dime. Ai and AiS have rear elements as big as will fit. They are Sonnar and Gauss designs respectively.

Nothing wrong with 85 2.0 or 1.8, any one.

Any one Ai or AiS or converted will go on Nikon DSLR
 
When we shot Nikon AF, we used the 85 1.8 and it's a wonderful lens. Now we've morphed to Canon EOS digital but I still shoot, and love, Nikon film cameras. I have both pre-ai and AIS lenses and my favorite is the 85 1.4. If you can find a good one and don't mind manual focus, it's a winner. The 105s are also good but perhaps a bit too long for portraits.
 
peterm1 said:
I use the 35-70mm AF f2.8 which is superb and was widely used back in the day by professionals due to its optical and physical qualities. These days they are dirt cheap. Another lens I regularly use is the 70-210mm AF D f4 -5.6. As a consumer lens it "should" be ordinary but it is not. It happens to be very good. And also damn cheap to buy. I regularly use it as it is much much lighter than pro lenses in this range.[
70-210mm f4-5.6 AF D

Life on a Hong Kong Street 8 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

35-70mm f2.8 AF

Ferryman by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Wow -- verrry nice. I was torn between the 80-200/4.5 AI and the 70-210 AF-D. I went with the 80-200, and it's a great lens but rather heavy. I prefer to shoot with a 50 rather than a mid-range zoom, but I gotta tell ya... these images look terrific. I can see myself picking up both.
 
Nikon 105 f2.0 DC

Nikon 105 f2.0 DC

This is a superb lens. Very sharp, but with gorgeous (and adjustable) bokeh. One of my favorite lenses.
 
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