lens recommendations for an FE-2?

[nikon_sam]

If I can only have one Nikon lens, it'd be the 35mm f2. I currently have the AF version used mainly on my F100. It's a *very* versatile lens.

The last Nikon lens I got was the Nikkor-O 35mm 2.0...I love this lens...and it looks great even on my F5...😎

 

[morgan]

My FE-2 showed up today, and it's pretty great. Small, but heavy (at least compared to my R-D1), but nice. I'm gonna load it up with film tonight and take it for a quick run tomorrow.

 

[Laforet]

Congrats on getting the FE-2, it is pretty much the FM3A without the mechanical speeds that you will probably never need. I would also recommend getting a softie (Nikon AR-9 is not bad, but Tom A's mini softie are better) and a type E2 grid screen. MD-12 motordrive seems to be growing under every rock so get one and see how you like it.

As for the lens, older lenses are fine, but do take caution with pre-AI lenses that does not bear the "C" marking which means multicoating. Most single-coated lenses perform adequetly however they tend to have less contrast. I have a AI'd 50/2H.C. that takes wonderful photos, and there is no rubber on the barrel!

A few lenses that has not yet been mentioned

-AIS20/3.5: Excellent superwide in a tiny package, takes 52mm filters, at infinity it is less sharp than the f/2.8 version but close-up it is great, it does not even have CRC.

-AIS24/2: Journalist's lens, signature similar to that of the 35/1.4. Most people hate this lens because it is not very sharp for what most people use it for and flares quite a bit, but if you get the conditions right, namely avaliable light, large aperture and subject at 1m-3m you get unbelievably lively photos.

-AI28/2.8: Different to the AIS version, some people may find this little confusing. Very saturated colours and exceptionally flare resistant, however not well liked for obvious reasons.

-AIS300/4.5IF-ED: Not sure if this is your thing, but this is probably the best 300mm for value you can get in the Nikon line. As good as the early AF300/4 (Cant say for the AFS version, have never used one), takes 72mm filters and is very compact, fits inside a #2 Lowepro lens case.

 

[morgan]

Thanks, Laforet. That 28/2.8 sounds pretty interesting, as does the 20/3.5. I have the K2 screen in there, and it came with a B2 as well. What really strikes me is the shutter sound. Man, is it loud and thunky. And I thought my R2A was loud. But there's a solidness to the FE2 that inspires confidence. I'm always worried about knocking the rf out of alignment with my bessa (it's happened a few times), but I feel like the FE2 is a little tank. I put a roll of expired reala in there and I'll do some shooting over lunch. It's a nice day for it here in Boston.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've posted this link elsewhere, but is worth doing again-
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

Bjorn gives excellent info on nearly every Nikon lens made.

The Nikkor I miss most is the 28/2.0.

 

[historicist]

Just to completely ignore what the OP wanted, I would suggest the 45mm 2.8 AIP. I think it's got probably the nicest bokeh of any 35mm lens I've ever used, plus its very small without being inconvenient to handle. In practice, I rarely find the slow speed to be a problem, but it's certainly not an available darkness lens (I have other cameras for that, so I don't really mind).

A couple of examples:

 

[mfogiel]

Strange, that nobody has pointed to the best lenses ever made for Nikon - the Zeiss ZF line... I have both the Nikkors and Zeiss, but I have kept the Nikkors for the autofocus function handy on DSLR's, otherwise, in comparable focal lengths, Zeiss is simply a class above - the last time I did a test of the Makro Planar 50 against the Nikkor 50/1.4, the difference in sharpness up to f 5.6 was dramatic ... However, my choice of lenses for the Nikon gravitates toward longer than normal or makro capable, as the rangefinder is simply much better for the wide to normal range at middle or long distances. I use the Distagon 25/2.8 for its capability to shoot very close up (it focuses down to17cm from the lens) - here's an example wide open:

The Makro Planar 50/2 for its great versatility and sharpness:

The Planar 85/1.4 for its rendering in portraiture:

and as a short tele:

And the Makro Planar 100/2 - the best lens of the whole ZF line, when I want a versatile tele with a super resolution, at any distance:

 

[morgan]

Some great shots there! The zeiss 85/1.8 looks very smooth. KEH has one for $789, but I've got to get some more time in with the Fe2 before I go for more expensive glass. I still have a laundry list of M-mount stuff I want (the new cv 28/2 and an M6). But i can see myself really using this camera. I'll need fast glass though, which is never cheap.

 

[Chris101]

...

...

What the heck is that! It's real scary! The only thing I could figure is an aerial photo of the CERN laboratory after yesterday's black hole experiment...

 

[morgan]

So I got my first roll back with the FE2 and the 50/1.8. It's a great little camera. The lens is pretty nice, but do you guys find it low contrast and maybe a little flat? It reminds me of my old leica 35/3.5 in a way. It might do better with b&w than color. How does the 50 1.4 and 1.2 compare?

 

[stuken]

I've been through a few nikon lenses. My current set up is a 28mm 2.8 AIS, 50mm 1.8x2(one AF-D, one E series) and an 85mm f2 AIS. The 28mm is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used, second only to a 55mm macro. Both my 50mms are wonderful, although the modern one is a hair sharper at the wider apertures. The 85 f/2 is really sharp. I've been considering getting a new 50mm 1.2. For $500 new with warranty you can't really go too wrong. These get attached too an FM (my first real camera) and a D200.

I've owned a few of the pro zooms, and they were fantastic, but I love my primes.