NickTrop
Veteran
Any modern APS-C DSLR with a nice modern fast prime are fantastic photographic tools and a good value. The free market competition is a wonderful thing... (usually). In my case, it's the Nikon D5000 + 35/1.8 AF-S DX. What it lacks in character (compared to the classic film cameras) it makes up for in capability. Never thought I'd hear myself say it, but it is what it is...
PaulW128
Well-known
Nick;
I agree with you. So much so that I just recently sold my OM1's and D70 & D90 and bought a D7000. I have the 35 1.8, 50 1.8, 18-70 and 12-24. Haven't actually gone out and used it yet but so far, i'm impressed!!
Best
Paul
I agree with you. So much so that I just recently sold my OM1's and D70 & D90 and bought a D7000. I have the 35 1.8, 50 1.8, 18-70 and 12-24. Haven't actually gone out and used it yet but so far, i'm impressed!!
Best
Paul
semordnilap
Well-known
Yes please. I think the only reason they don't exist is so that canikon will sell more ff cameras.
20/2? 24/1.8? Where are they?
Frank Petronio
Well-known
Well the VC 20/3.5 in Nikon SLR mount is a nice lens worth considering, along with the 35DX and 50/1.8 G, but it would be nice to have a similar wide AFS lens.
If they only do one lens, 20 or 21 is nice for DX, in between 28 and 35 equivalents, and f/3.5 would be OK to keep the cost and size down.
If they only do one lens, 20 or 21 is nice for DX, in between 28 and 35 equivalents, and f/3.5 would be OK to keep the cost and size down.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
So ... from what I gather the D7000 is not too far behind the D700 with it's IQ and high ISO performance and the D5100 has the same sensor as the D7000?
shyoon
Well-known
Nikon already have relatively affordable 20/24/28mm f2.8D lenses for prime lovers, but of course none of them would work on the D5100. I would think an upgraded G version of at least one of these lenses are in the pipeline.
Canon and Nikon also make equivalent zoom lenses. Not cheap though.
PKR;1645734Look at the cool zoom Zeiss is making for the DX format. I'll try to find a link. edit Here's a link to the Zeiss zoom. It's currently only made for Sony Alpha. Maybe a Nikon mount will show said:
Canon and Nikon also make equivalent zoom lenses. Not cheap though.
semordnilap
Well-known
I think about the Nikkor 20/2.8 from time to time, and I would definitely pay the same price for a 20 or 21 f2, in DX.
Meanwhile I enjoy my 28/2 mf AI-s, though I just can't come to really like manual focus on a dslr. If the D7000 had some kind of in-viewfinder focus confirmation (like the sony a55), that would be the bees knees for sure.
Last edited:
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Well, yes and no on that. AFS lenses are no guarantee of fast or even accurate focusing even on Nikons using only AFS lenses. The focusing module may be more important. A slow/inaccurate AFS lens on the D60 may well perform much better on a newer model. Not all Nikons use the same AF module. I have to agree on the need for a reasonable fast and affordable DX wide angle prime.
Bob
NickTrop
Veteran
So, er... you went all out
The cameras shrunk, and the high ISO performance is great... especially color. I shoot mine aperture priority just like my old GSN. Digital at the APS-C level is now king of high ISO shooting. Improvements have been made to dynamic range. The cameras have become nice and compact. The coating on modern lenses is Nth generation technology is much better than the old glass, so they control flare way better. The ability to correct for certain distortion in-camera via processing rather than physical correction (for lack of a better term), and computer aided lens design has brought that sought-after "good performance wide open" to primes that cost 2-300 bucks in the case of the Nikon consumer-grade 35/1.8 and others. This was the justification for Leica prices. Now relatively cheap primes, in many important respects, meet or exceed the classic Leica glass - technically, anyway, but not in regard to their pleasing and idiosyncratic signature.Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Buying a complete selection of lenses for a DX camera is like searching for pirates treasure. It takes a lot of searching.
Sometimes you see a glimmer of hope though. The main assumption though is that if you have a DX body, I assume, like myself, you're also trying to keep costs down on the lens selection.
D7000 body (for the motor drive AF will give a few more options)
1 Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 (requires body AF motor - sorry d5100 can't AF but do you really need AF for a lens this wide?)
2. Nikkor 35mm AF-s f1.8G (This is my most used lens)
3. Fast fifty for fun portraits (take your pick....I use an old MF 50mm 1.8e series)
4. 55-200 VR (cheap and pretty good to have around unless you like indoor sports and then you have no choice but to use a BIG GUN.
Sometimes you see a glimmer of hope though. The main assumption though is that if you have a DX body, I assume, like myself, you're also trying to keep costs down on the lens selection.
D7000 body (for the motor drive AF will give a few more options)
1 Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 (requires body AF motor - sorry d5100 can't AF but do you really need AF for a lens this wide?)
2. Nikkor 35mm AF-s f1.8G (This is my most used lens)
3. Fast fifty for fun portraits (take your pick....I use an old MF 50mm 1.8e series)
4. 55-200 VR (cheap and pretty good to have around unless you like indoor sports and then you have no choice but to use a BIG GUN.
Last edited:
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Bottom left corner of the viewfinder. There are two opposing arrows which light up as youre focussing and a solid dot in the middle when it is in focus.
It works on my Ai manual focus lens just fine but I am unsure what the sony one looks like so cannot compare.
semordnilap
Well-known
Yeah. I use it, and hate that I have to look away from the image to get confirmation. To me it's a kludge. In the Sony the focus point actually lights up when the image is in focus. I know it's an EVF, but I think if the Nikon is already projecting the focus point into the frame it should be able to change the color or make it brighter or whatever. I know it's a little nit, but the Nikon implementation annoys the pants off of me, especially when there is an obviously better way which would make MF lenses immensely easier to use. Actually, I just picked up my d7000 right now, and an even simpler adjustment would be to make the color of the focus confirmation dot different from the arrows on either side.
Bu then again, I'm primarily an RF shooter, mostly because I like to make photographs through the glass RF mechanism. Any SLR is, for me, generally second choice.
gavinlg
Veteran
Don't you guys just pine for a full frame camera? Focal lengths that are true and not cropped... proper wides... cheap small prime lenses? The d700 and original 5d are now cheap to buy on the used market - the sony a900 too!
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
I guess using the audible focus confirmation beep is not good enough? personally I don't use beeps but my friend uses that cause he has pretty bad eyesight. says it works for him. Still it's not the ideal you suggest. If the focus point illumination simply went from red to another colour when in-focus that would work I think.
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
My Contax does the lit focus point and it's REALLY nice to have for manually focusing. I believe one of my Nikons did it at some point...trying to remember which.
In any case, it was be very nice to have the option to have the confirmation at the focus point if you want it. Even the D3s doesn't do it.
In any case, it was be very nice to have the option to have the confirmation at the focus point if you want it. Even the D3s doesn't do it.
Last edited:
gavinlg
Veteran
The only way to shoot a nikkor...
gavinlg
Veteran
For what it's worth, all the canons do this.
L. M. Tu
Established
Great, I just found out that this camera can mount non-AI lenses! This is one of the attractions of low-end Nikons like my D40. No metering or auto-focus (obviously) but this "feature" allows me to use old Nikkors like the 20mm F4. Now I just need a 16mm DX lens.
ampguy
Veteran
I still use the d40x
I still use the d40x
waiting to see what black fri prices will be for the d5100, not in a hurry...
in AFS, I have the 35/1.8 (exc.), 18-70 (good), and 55-200 vr (noisy, slow focusing, plastic flange), and a sigma 70-300 (ok), along with a lot of old heavy metal primes and zooms, when real glass and metal were used in the lens.
I haven't missed a WA AFS prime or zoom for my shooting, but have seen some interesting shots with the sigma 10-20, and tokina 11-16 zooms.
I usually carry the 16 kit prime with my nex because it's so lite, but rarely mount it.
With the D40, I've found that whenever I get the 35/1.8 prime on, it generally just stays on there, until I really need something longer.
I still use the d40x
waiting to see what black fri prices will be for the d5100, not in a hurry...
in AFS, I have the 35/1.8 (exc.), 18-70 (good), and 55-200 vr (noisy, slow focusing, plastic flange), and a sigma 70-300 (ok), along with a lot of old heavy metal primes and zooms, when real glass and metal were used in the lens.
I haven't missed a WA AFS prime or zoom for my shooting, but have seen some interesting shots with the sigma 10-20, and tokina 11-16 zooms.
I usually carry the 16 kit prime with my nex because it's so lite, but rarely mount it.
With the D40, I've found that whenever I get the 35/1.8 prime on, it generally just stays on there, until I really need something longer.
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
Tells you how often I shoot Canon
Good to know, that's certainly a nice feature if you enjoy focusing manually.
Good to know, that's certainly a nice feature if you enjoy focusing manually.