Newbie in SLR, lens choice?

Bruno Gracia

Bruno Gracia

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Hi everybody!

Recently I found myself buying a FM2n after a long talk with a couple of friends, old photographers which use Leica and back in the days Nikon. I really am fascinated with the viewfinder and the ease of use.

They have recommended me many lenses but at the end I will need the same as I use with my Leica 21/35/50 adding the 105 which I've read many good things.

The problem comes with the 50's lenses, I'm lost because there are lot of them (I know I can't use G gold ring lenses and so, eitherway I'm not buying a Nikon FM system to waste lot of money).
Which one do You recommend? F2 or F1.8? In terms of build and optical quality? Well Won't be my lux 50 asph. but with a good technique I'm pretty sure will achieve 90% of that.

http://www.destoutz.ch/lenses_standard_50mm_f2.html

PS: I noticed since I'm open minded to other system, that good develop, wet print skills are even more important than the best equipment, and of course good eye (this is another matter) if We are talking stopped down lens.


Thanks as usual.
 
ai-s 1.8

ai-s 1.8

If it me I'd go for an ai-s 1.8 early if I wanted the 18 inch minimum focus or the late version if I could deal with a 24 minimum focus. Third choice the e version smaller, lighter same glass but more of a plasticy feel.
 
it'sawhat? said:
If it me I'd go for an ai-s 1.8 early if I wanted the 18 inch minimum focus or the late version if I could deal with a 24 minimum focus. Third choice the e version smaller, lighter same glass but more of a plasticy feel.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. the 50 mm AiS 1.8 (early version) is the cream of the crop for sharpness and lightweight sturdy built. Need a faster lens? Nikkor 50 mm AiS 1.4 fills the bill.
 
I have the 1.4, 1.8, 2, and the 55 f3.5 macro. The 2 is supposedly the sharpest of the normal 50's. I haven't seen that big of difference between my longnose ais 1.8 though. The 3.5 macro is ai'd and super sharp. Great lens. You really can't go wrong with the manual focus 50's.
 
The best 50mm lens for Nikon is the Zeiss Makro Planar 50/2 ZF, but it is a bit big. It's probably only f 2.4 in reality, but you won't miss your Summilux ASPH otherwise.
 
kshapero said:
Totally agree. the 50 mm AiS 1.8 (early version) is the cream of the crop for sharpness and lightweight sturdy built. Need a faster lens? Nikkor 50 mm AiS 1.4 fills the bill.
Click to expand...

+1

If you really get into glass personalities there are many to choose from but the 50/1.8 is a great place to start and for many, stay.

B2 (;->
 
Thanks for the responses.

I've been told that the later 1.8D is the best (and I can find for 80€ in MINT condition), but prefer the build quality of the older ones and some less contrasty for black and white, lenses.

So for now, 1.8 AIS is the best choice? What about F2 H.C.? Seems to be it shares the optical design of the S version?

Actually I don't think I'll need the 1.4.
 
I know pretty well the Makro Planar, mfogiel, thanks, used to have one the little time I used DSLR, but it's too bulky and slow, and pricy, My idea is not spend more than 700€ for the FM2 and a 2-3 lenses.

If I want the lux quality, just take the MP and the lux :)

By the way, for what I remember, I've never seen such a sharpness with other lenses (in 35mm).
 
Had the 50/1.4 pre-AI when I had my first F, also a 55/3.5 Micro pre-AI.
Used a late series 50/1.8E with FM/FM2/FE2/F3/F2 for twenty years.
Have a 55/3.5 Micro AI'ed and a 50/1.2 AI-S now, using with F and F6.

They've all been good. The 50/1.2 and 55/3.5 Micro are outstanding.

I don't think you can go far wrong with any of the Nikon 50mm lenses. None of them are going to be the same as a Summicron or Summilux 50, but eh?

G
 
In that case, you can take any Nikon lens, and as long as you stop it down a bit it will be fine. If you have any Leica R glass, you could also consider "Leitaxing" it, particularly for shooting wide open. I find the old Summicron R pretty nice for portraiture, and it does not cost much if you look around patiently. It excels in the close range.
Summicron R v1 wide open:
20134820 by marek fogiel, on Flickr
 
The cool thing about 50mm Nikkors is they are cheap. You can own them all and see for yourself. I've owned ust about every one except for the 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor.

Currently I regularly use the 50mm f/1.2 and the 55mm f/3.5. Both are amazing lenses. I have a 55mm f/2 as well and it's probably better than the f/1.2 version but doesn't have the speed I want sometimes. Regardless, it is available to me to shoot. It is just about my favorite lens to take out with my F2 or F3 on a hike. Relatively light and excellent image quality.

Phil Forrest
 
I agree with all who have posted in praise of the 55mm 3.5 macro/"micro". The 55mm micro-Nikkors often get overlooked because of their narrow aperture, but if low light use is not so important, could be a good choice. Stunningly sharp at all apertures, smooth undamped focus and little to no flare.

So many Nikkors to choose from! I owned a 50 1.4 AI for awhile and found it a good lens, but I've often heard that the 1.8 version is just as sharp, etc. If you like "character", then single-coated "Nikkor-S" type lenses are fun. I recently picked up a mint 50mm 1.4 Nikkor-S to go with my 35mm 2.8-S and 43-86 3.5- all 3 have a nice glow wide-open and get hazy when shot into the sun. If hazy-glowy is not your thing, AI/AI-s lenses are the way to go.

Of course, if you mostly shoot at f/5.6-11, then all multicoated 50's will look basically the same ;)
 
mfogiel said:
In that case, you can take any Nikon lens, and as long as you stop it down a bit it will be fine. If you have any Leica R glass, you could also consider "Leitaxing" it, particularly for shooting wide open. I find the old Summicron R pretty nice for portraiture, and it does not cost much if you look around patiently. It excels in the close range.
Summicron R v1 wide open:
20134820 by marek fogiel, on Flickr
Click to expand...

What an incredibly interesting photograph! I could just keep staring at it, finding new things every time; the look on the subject's face, how the hair is so just-right-sharply in focus; the just right-out-of-focus background and foreground; the uncompromising/accusing/questioning/whatever stare.

Thanks.
 
I like, sorry, love the Nikkor-H 50/2, and I suppose you can find one that is AI'd for not all that much money. At one time I had three of them.

I've been curious about the 55/3.5, since I don't do much available darkness stuff. Many 55/2.8 seems to suffer from stiff grease. Getting something like this serviced won't cost you a ton.
 
thank You all!

What do You think about the AF-D? seems to be small and great performer.

Maybe get two that one and the H for classic rendering?

And concerning 24... AF-D against AIs-AI?

mfogiel, picture is awesome, the cron is a gem!
 
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