Nikon F2 - Favorite Lens?

[redisburning]

Well while You are at it 'redisburning'
I would Include the Leica Elmarit R macro 60 2.8... Stellar for Portraits 😉

well Helen I am trying to put myself in other people's shoes.

my own personal list would looks more like this:

1. Zeiss 50MP
2. Olympus 50mm f2.0 Auto-Macro w/ Leitax
2. Leica 60R w/ Leitax
4. Nikon 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor-P
3. Zeiss 50P

probably a bit of overlap for a lot of people 😀

 

[KoNickon]

I agree with the comments about the 50/2, but I recently was on vacation and the only Nikkor I used on my F2 was the 50/1.4, which is also a great lens. The 55/3.5 is first rate, as is the 24/2.8 and 28/2.8 (the AIS version). I also include in my standard kit the 180/2.8, though the 200/4 is a classic too.

 

[Gary E]

I just recently used mine with the 50/2 Ai and the 24/2.8 Ais. It was a joy to use, but then I found the mirror foam had rotted out. I've always wondered by the Leicaflex SL didn't have any foam at all while the F2 had it all around. Is it only for dust protection?

 

[rumbliegeos]

I like to take my F2A out with a 35mm 2 AIS, and a 50-135mm 3.5, which is a terrific zoom. I also like the 55mm 3.5 Micro AI. And Helen, I am enjoying using your LTM 50mm 2 on my IIIf - it is a great lens, and I am sure you will find another one...

 

[JonWNC]

I'm in the middle of a roll with my F2 using a Nikkor-S 55mm 1.2, and after that it's going to be a roll using the 5.8cm 1.4.
I really like the Micro-Nikkor P 55mm 3.5. It seems rather versatile and fun to use.
I also just picked up a Nikkor-O 35mm 2 which I have not tried yet.
(all of these lenses are non-AI)

 

[jimithing616]

Jamespics- I do have the 85/1.8 you speak of! I do not however have the 35/2 in non-ai. I do have the 35/2 is AI-s and AF-d and its by far my favorite lens, I just never figured I needed another one in non-ai as I have the amazing Nikkor N.C. 35mm 1.4 that I am in love with on the F2!

Furbs- Yea, I do have a 24/2.8 AIs indeed. Awesome lens. I love 24mm length, so much better than 28 IMHO as 28 just never felt quite right to get architecture shots while standing on the sidewalk in front of a building, 24mm you can stand on the edge of the sidewalk/road and look up and get the shot, 28mm puts me in traffic, may be just Minnesota sidewalks. Who knows. 😉

Redisburning - you must be into macro lenses! Me, not so much. I have the Nikkor 105 2.8 Micro AF-d and the 55 2.8 Ais for my rare macro needs! Also, not a huge fan of zeiss glass, For M mount it's ok, but Nikkor glass is half the price and IMHO, better. Don't get me wrong, they produce amazing photo's! Jus't not twice the price beautiful.

Ferider - I also have the 35/2.8 Ai, and I have never used it! It gets neglected for my 35/1.4 and 35/2's ... do you have any samples with it? I'd really like to see her shine!

KoNickon- I have to agree the 180/2.8 (AIs for me) is a beast of a lens, in build and IQ. I have 2 of them. I cannot believe they are so cheap! I mean, 350-400 for this lens is crazy cheap. People neglect the long lenses. Do you have any samples with yours?

JonWNC (and a few others) have mentioned the 58 1.4 - I own one, but due to the small little speck of fungus on the far outer edge of one element, and the god-awful review on Kenrockwells site, I shot half a roll with it and my FTN and never picked it up again. I was actually about to post it on the bay or here. Do any of you have any samples?? I think this thread needs some pics (this is a photography forum after all!)

Oh and stupid rookie question (Well, I'm 25, and a rookie!), I have the F2S with DP-2 head, can I use AI/AIs lenses? I read 10 different websites, that have 10 different answers, all vague. So if you can, what are the downsides? lack of features? stop down metering? etc..

thanks.

 

[KoNickon]

Oh and stupid rookie question (Well, I'm 25, and a rookie!), I have the F2S with DP-2 head, can I use AI/AIs lenses? I read 10 different websites, that have 10 different answers, all vague. So if you can, what are the downsides? lack of features? stop down metering? etc..

thanks.

Did you check the CameraQuest site? Mr. Gandy has an excellent discussion of the different F2 finders. The DP-2 is non-AI, but if the lens has the coupling shoe (which virtually all the AI/AIS Nikkors do), then it will work with the DP-2. You just have to do the "twist-twist" routine with the aperture ring when mounting the lens.

 

[James24]

Oh and stupid rookie question (Well, I'm 25, and a rookie!), I have the F2S with DP-2 head, can I use AI/AIs lenses? I read 10 different websites, that have 10 different answers, all vague. So if you can, what are the downsides? lack of features? stop down metering? etc..

thanks.

Yes you can also use AI or AIS lenses and, and as long as the lens has the meter coupling prong (aka rabbit ears) you will have full aperture metering just like pre AI lenses.

 

[Vics]

Several people have already beaten me to it with the 50mm F2!

I would also recommend the 35mm F2 "O" pre-Ai and the 85mm F1.8 pre-Ai - both have a distinctive look - always use a hood - rather prone to flare.

Plus one for all three of these. However, I still think RF has SLR beat when it comes to wides. My son found himself up in the upper corner of a family group recently, and his head seemed a bit mis-shapen. It was the aforementioned Nikkor-O 35/2. Neither my W-Nikkor 2.5/35 nor the Summaron 2.8/35 would have done that, IMHO.

 

[redisburning]

Redisburning - you must be into macro lenses! Me, not so much. I have the Nikkor 105 2.8 Micro AF-d and the 55 2.8 Ais for my rare macro needs! Also, not a huge fan of zeiss glass, For M mount it's ok, but Nikkor glass is half the price and IMHO, better. Don't get me wrong, they produce amazing photo's! Jus't not twice the price beautiful.

I do very much like short macros.

As far as Nikon v. Zeiss goes, everyone has their own preferences. A lot of people say Nikon is better than Olympus, or Nikon is better than Canon, or Nikon is better than Pentax. Which is funny, because I think Nikon is basically the worst major lens maker and even their best lenses tend to have issues (like the absolutely spectacular amount of flare on the 200/2 VR or the hilarious amount of focus breathing on the 70-200 VRII). Again, that's not to say they are bad, it's just I like other companies' efforts better. Zeiss, Olympus and Leica ARE my personal favorites, at least in the area of lenses that I am interested in: ~50mm and/or macros.

I shoot 100 iso film and the difference in performance at f2-2.8 from the MP or the Zuiko 50/2 macro over any other ~50mm lens Ive personally tried (other than another Zeiss 50) is worth as much money as I can spare. Lots of other people shoot faster film or digital where they just don't shoot around those apertures or they may simply prefer less contrast / fine detail reproduction. Some people think anything without Nikon/Canon on it for their Nikon/Canon camera is trash without ever actually looking into it. Some people just can't handle living without AF or carrying around a fixed lens the size of a 50MP or 21 distagon.

In the end my short list of Nikkors I like is just that: short.

85G, 55/3.5Micro, 58/1.4, 200/4 ED IF, 20/4... well my macro bias shows again I suppose.

but let's be clear, at 85mm NO ONE competes with Nikon.

 

[rbsinto]

I don't really understand the question, as I've never equated any particular body with any particular lens
My favorite Nikkor lens to use with any of my Nikon SLR film bodies (F, F2, FM, FA) is the one that will give me the point of view I want for the particular image I want to make.
For me that could be one of ten different Nikkor primes or zoom-Nikkors from focal lengths of 24 up to 300 mm.
The only exceptions to that rule are my preference for the F or F2 bodies for the 80~200 2.8 AIS or 300 2.8 AIS just because those lenses are so heavy that I prefer to mount them on the bodies with the strongest mounts.

 

[ferider]

Ferider - I also have the 35/2.8 Ai, and I have never used it! It gets neglected for my 35/1.4 and 35/2's ... do you have any samples with it? I'd really like to see her shine!

Mine is still quite new to me, but here is an example shot:

Roland.

 

[Timestep]

Nikon F2, plain prism. 50mm.F/1.2 AIS, (previously, 50mm. F/2 non ai.) Portra 160 or Ektar 100

Nikkormat Ftn. 55mm. F/2.8 AIS Micro-Nikkor, with Delta 100

 

[puderse]

Nikkor Wides

Nikkor Wides

My UD 20mm is always on with 2.8/28mm always ready.

 

[Dirk]

Ultimately, my favorite would be the Nikkor-H 50mm f/2.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

CV 40/2, small, super sharp, covers a nice field.

I agree... the CV 40/2 produces really superb images - sharp, saturated colors, great 'normal' focal length.

 

[TennesseJones]

Mine was the Nikon 105 2.5 ai. Love it.

 

[Godfrey]

The two lenses I use the most on my F are the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S and Nikkor-H 85mm f/1.8 (pre-AI).

The F is mostly a bit of nostalgia for me, as it was my first SLR way back in the day. I like shooting with it now and then, but most of what I shoot these days are the Leica M and Leicaflex in 35mm film.

G

 

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135306

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135306

I have the Nikon-F and F3.
Sadly i missed the F2, as my "F"'s were perfect.
The F3 added when the Photomic heads no longer metered.

The lenses of Nikon are really all great.First nearly all older lenses shared the 52mm filter size. They are all same color bias and contrast. Some are sharper, some less. Depends on usage.
My ready for anything, selection is..

28mm f3,5 Nikkor My widest.
35mm f2.8 Nikkor very sharp, contrary to reports..
35mmf2.0 Nikkor good, extra f-stop.
45mm f2.8 GN Nikkor.Tiny. very sharp, looks like a Tesssar
50mmf2 Nikkor.A standard of standards.
55mm f3.5Micro-Nikkor. Stand in awe.
105mm Nikkor f2,5. Soft first few apertures.A portrait lens!
135mm f3.5 Nikkor. Sharp, contrasty.
200mm f3.5 Takumar(Pentax) heavy all brass lens.specially modified for a Magnum photographer.
Now mine! Came with Magnum's magic dust for special images. filter 62mm.

A lens is chosen for what perspective and look you want.
I love the softness of the 105mm at Maximum aperture.
My 35mm f2.8 is sharp enough to cut!
The MF lenses so well balanced, see no point in Zeiss..or Leica R.
These optics have traveled the world, seen mayhem and great humanity.
In an age of plastics and camera of the month, some older things worth having.😀

 

[1joel1]

Nikon's hugely underrated 25-50 f4 zoom and the 200 f2 for portraits.

Joel