Nikon Fe2-what is the very best lens?

[daveleo]

The line of manual focus Nikkor lenses is good enough and inexpensive enough to dabble in wides and teles without feeling much pain in your pocketbook. I don't feel like it's a waste of money to keep them around even though I don't use them much. Still might pick up one of those fabled 105mm 2.5's someday.

My thinking also.
Impossible to pick a favorite (depends on what I am about to shoot) but from my bag I'd rank the top 3 in general as:

55mm/f2.8 Micro
105mm/f2.5
50mm/f1.8

I bought the 55 and the 105 used here from forum members for very nice prices !

 

[Dirk]

The 50mm f2 AI is the best lens.

Agree. And the 105/1.8. Wideangle favorite is a non-Nikkor: Leica Elmarit-R 28mm/2.8 E55. If you don't ilke the Leitax conversion thing and stop-down metering, substitute a Zeiss Distagon 25mm/f2.0 ZF.2.

 

[robert blu]

I like the 50mm 1,4 AIS on my Nikon FM2.
robert

 

[leicapixie]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134649

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134649

My experience is somewhat different from the majority.
The 105mm is a portrait lens, based on a modified Sonnar
formula. Mine is soft until well stopped down. Perfect for portraiture.
My 35mm f2.8AI Nikkor is a very sharp lens,
way ahead my Leica 35mm, Summaron and Summicron.
The 28mm 3.5 Nikkor a true work horse.
Unlike many RF users i found that the wider the lens,
the more one needs to see thru it!
The parralex error of the RF ruins it for me.
There are no bad 50~55mm lenses. Well a few aspherics.
I hate the out of focus look. Looks like shards of broken glass.
I am not in favor of the Zeiss lenses by Cosina.
Nikon and the Nikkor range are all color corrected to be similar..

 

[jwicaksana]

My 35mm f2.8AI Nikkor is a very sharp lens,
way ahead my Leica 35mm, Summaron and Summicron.

I have owned 35mm f/2 AI and ended up with the AF-D version. I found that the AI version is prone to flare. Upon reading your comment I am now very interested in the 2.8 AI! Is it very 3D in its rendering?
Interesting story much like how many love the 2.8 ZM more than the f/2.

 

[Stuart John]

No love for the 35mm f1.4 AIS. I'm looking forward to developing a roll of TriX I shot with the 35mm f1.4. Trying the lens on my NEX C3 it looks to be great once stopped down a stop.

 

[gustavoAvila]

I cannot add much to what has already been said with regard to specific lenses.

However, I will mention that sometimes its necessary to purchase multiple copies of the same (used) lens to obtain a good copy. Don't judge a lens by the copy in hand! If a lens has a good reputation, a nominal copy of that lens will perform in a satisfactory manner.

Finally, I concur with Raid that it is best to keep it simple. Buy one lens in your preferred focal length and stick with it for awhile before branching out.

 

[tjh]

This is my favorite lens on my Nikons (all of them). It will be fantastic on your FE-2:

Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 SL II

I have this lens in Pentax mount - one of my favorites!

Tom