Nikon AF-S Glass: Film vs. Digital Images?

[Tom33]

Lately, I am shooting film in an F6 and digital with a D800, mostly using Nikkor AF-D lenses. With the current Nikon lens rebate offer, I was considering an 85mm 1.8 AF-S purchase. This has caused me to wonder if anyone can comment on film photography image qualities using the AF-S lenses vs. the AF-D lenses? I am pretty sure the 85/1.8 AF-S coatings are optimized for digital, but does it also do well with film? I don't own an AF-S lens at all now, so is anyone else using them with film? Any photos shared showing how the AF-S glass renders with film would be appreciated!

Cheers!

Tom

 

[Godfrey]

Lately, I am shooting film in an F6 and digital with a D800, mostly using Nikkor AF-D lenses. With the current Nikon lens rebate offer, I was considering an 85mm 1.8 AF-S purchase. This has caused me to wonder if anyone can comment on film photography image qualities using the AF-S lenses vs. the AF-D lenses? I am pretty sure the 85/1.8 AF-S coatings are optimized for digital, but does it also do well with film? I don't own an AF-S lens at all now, so is anyone else using them with film? Any photos shared showing how the AF-S glass renders with film would be appreciated!

In my experience, any lenses that do well on digital do the same on film. It's the other direction where some lenses are not a good optical match to the imaging sensor ... it's a more demanding relationship than that of lens to film.

G

 

[mr.yates]

There were many AF-S lenses around before there was a digital Nikon body. The latest lenses may have coatings more tailored to a sensor, but I'd bet they'd be better on film than using an AF-D on sensor.

 

[skahde]

I'm using FE2/FM2 side by side with a D800E. To me the D800E is something like a film camera loaded with high resolution slide film but digital output. Put a good lens on it and it will able to deliver good photographs take a better lens and your pictures will be technically better everything else beeing equal. With my film cameras it ist just the same.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but I am interested in a D800 and my computer is an older Dell, running Windows XP. Are the files from the D800 too large for my PC?

 

[Phantomas]

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but I am interested in a D800 and my computer is an older Dell, running Windows XP. Are the files from the D800 too large for my PC?

Yes. You'll need a fairly fast PC to work with D800 NEF files.

 

[Range-rover]

You can make smaller files with it as well as I been told, until you
can get a faster computer.

range

 

[Phantomas]

You can make smaller files with it as well as I been told, until you
can get a faster computer.

range

Correct, but JPEGs only. In RAW you have to shoot full 36MP, no other option.
The NEF files are between 30-50MB (don't remember for sure) and especially when converted to TIFF (for silver efex or whatever) they get to 200mb and my MacBook Pro is ready to catch fire. Just got the new iMac with 8mb and it has no such issues luckily.

On the lens topic - I agree, the new G version NIKKORs are much better optically, no question (and better construction than D). The only benefit of D is the aperture ring for occasional old-school F use.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Yep that's what I was afraid of..... no way my poor old Dell could deal with 200MB files. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I don't think it's the coatings so much as the telecentric design of lenses these days. Coatings on the rear elements/group will indeed help diminish reflection off of the sensor but Kodak then Leica found out about the "Italian Flag" effect of lenses that don't project light onto the sensor close to perpendicular.
All of the manufacturers have since extended their lenses just a bit more so light will hit the sensors as perpendicular as possible. Even Leica's wide offerings are all retrofocus these days since they needed to address the color fringing that firmware couldn't handle.

As for AFs v. AFd, I have a 20-35 f/2.8 AFd Nikkor, one of the best lenses they ever made for film, and I use it on a D2x. the images that it makes are very sharp in the center but it takes a bit of stopping down to get that sharpness across the frame, which it never quite lived up to the results on a film body. The light path is just a bit too acute and the sensor in the D2x shows all the faults of that optic. It shows coma I've never seen before on a film body with this lens and at closer ranges, it just has a bit of veiling flare, even stopped down that doesn't show up on film.

On the other hand, I have a few old manual focus Nikkors that just beat the pants off every AFd Nikkor I own. The 200mm F/4 Ai and the 50mm f/2 Ai both are fantastic optics that can push the D2x to the limits of what its sensor can offer while my AFd lenses just can't quite get to that level. That's just my personal experience as of late.

Phil Forrest

 

[sepiareverb]

Just remembered this site which goes into great detail about lots of lenses on both film & sensor.

 

[redisburning]

Yep that's what I was afraid of..... no way my poor old Dell could deal with 200MB files. Thanks for the responses!

you can handle them but not via modern GUIs.

they can still be batch edited into jpgs with basics from the raw files if you dont mind losing the image by image adjustment or the ability to browse the raws.

I understand a lot of guys are used to the LR -> PS or similar workflow but once upon a time you had to do these sorts of things via command line. you still can, but it has disadvantages. still, it's a lot easier on the overhead.

honestly though if you can spend 3k on a camera (whether it's for work or pleasure) then you can spend the 800 you need in parts to get a computer that can handle that. Even with a decent monitor you are into the realm of one lens that's actually good enough to be worth using on a D800.

the D800 is VERY impressive. if you want one and can swing it I highly suggest you just go ahead with it. it requires a LOT of changes in workflow IMO and that includes lens choice, tripod use, bringing tons of 16+ gb cards with you everywhere you go, and processing routines.

 

[Tom33]

I'm glad to see the responses. My 85/1.8 AF-D does well on the D800, the 50/1.8 AF-D not so much. My 50/1.4 AIS is not worth the trouble of Live View manual focus, while my 85/1.4 AIS does well on a tripod with Live View when shooting portraits. I have a CV 58/1.4 F-mount that is impressive on the D800 also. All these lenses do very, very well on the F6, I look forward to shooting chromes this spring. Live View MF is a bit cumbersome hand held, though.

I did order an 85/1.8 AF-S G lens from Adorama, so now I am waiting for the backorder to be filled. It will get a turn on the F6 with some E100G, so we will see how it does. I am getting impatient to try it on the D800 now, though!

The D800 NEF files are about 40mb each, my guess is a Win98 machine is gonna choke on them.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[roboflick]

I'm glad to see the responses. My 85/1.8 AF-D does well on the D800, the 50/1.8 AF-D not so much. My 50/1.4 AIS is not worth the trouble of Live View manual focus, while my 85/1.4 AIS does well on a tripod with Live View when shooting portraits. I have a CV 58/1.4 F-mount that is impressive on the D800 also. All these lenses do very, very well on the F6, I look forward to shooting chromes this spring. Live View MF is a bit cumbersome hand held, though.

I did order an 85/1.8 AF-S G lens from Adorama, so now I am waiting for the backorder to be filled. It will get a turn on the F6 with some E100G, so we will see how it does. I am getting impatient to try it on the D800 now, though!

The D800 NEF files are about 40mb each, my guess is a Win98 machine is gonna choke on them.

Cheers,

Tom

Thanks Tom
This thread prompted me to order a 85 1.8 g from my local Nikon dealer, Murray Photo in Appleton. I should get it in a week. I will try on my d800e and f5 and let you all know the results. What film do you plan to use it with? My go to will be tmax 100, to take advantage of the incredible resolution of this lens.

at 396 for the lens with the rebate it's a no brainer on the d800e,
Nik

 

[huddy]

FWIW, I think you will enjoy an 85/1.8G a lot on film. I mostly shoot Portra in 35mm, and the negatives/prints/scans off it using that lens and the 28/1.8G are just lovely, all the way out to the extreme corners. AIS glass on film is great. The newest AF-S lenses have just a little bit of extra oomph.

All 3 of the 1.8G lenses are just so good for the price that it's almost ridiculous not owning them if you like those FL's, whether on film or digital.

 

[Tom33]

Thanks Tom
This thread prompted me to order a 85 1.8 g from my local Nikon dealer, Murray Photo in Appleton. I should get it in a week. I will try on my d800e and f5 and let you all know the results. What film do you plan to use it with? My go to will be tmax 100, to take advantage of the incredible resolution of this lens.

at 396 for the lens with the rebate it's a no brainer on the d800e,
Nik

I will try the 85 AF-S with Ektachrome E100G for sure, I love that stuff and have a medium-large stash in the freezer. I love the look of Ektachrome. Also I want to try some Acros and some of my Plus-X 125 stash will get a turn. Ektar ought to be very sharp, I just don't like how skin looks too much with it...

Here is why I love the look of Ektachrome, although this with a Minolta lens on the 9:

Cheers!

 

[roboflick]

I will try the 85 AF-S with Ektachrome E100G for sure, I love that stuff and have a medium-large stash in the freezer. I love the look of Ektachrome. Also I want to try some Acros and some of my Plus-X 125 stash will get a turn. Ektar ought to be very sharp, I just don't like how skin looks too much with it...

Here is why I love the look of Ektachrome, although this with a Minolta lens on the 9:

Cheers!

I love ektachrome as well. Too bad it was discontinued. Provia comes close but no cigar. I have about 40 rolls in the freezer as well 🙂 Nice shot,

Nik

 

[kxl]

All I know is when I mounted my 70-200/2.8 AFS VR G on my F100, the VR went through the batteries in only a few rolls.