Nikon Film SLR (FM2N) with AI AIS lenses or AF Autofoucs?

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Reference to my choice of FM2N: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68407

The metal body, film SLR issue has been solved.

Like many of you, I am also forcing myself to study my budget (camera budget especially) carefully.

I was about to pull the trigger on a nice set of AI / AIS primes, when it occurred to me that I could get NEW AF lenses for about equal the price! The new ones are (obviously) plastic... and going to AI AIS was partially for the metal build.

But

budgetary concerns lead me to think practically, and that means autofocus because I can also use them (AF) on my AF Nikons and D70.

Has anyone else "struggled" with the classic AI AIS versus new AF debate?

(Lenses in question: 20/2.8, 24/2.8, 35/2 (in place of 35/1.4))
 
You'll be able to use any AF lens as long as they don't have the G designation (no apeture ring). Personally i think you'll pay a premium for features like VR and AFS that are useless on a FM2N. AF lenses also don't have the "feel" of a manual focus lens so you might very quickly get frustrated. At the focal lengths you state these are what i would get

NIKON 20mm 3.5 - The lens is tiny, cheap and very sharp. Only drawback is it's a little slow. Will also do IR very well with no hotspots with your D70 if you ever want to try your hand at that

NIKON 24mm 2.8 - Good lens. Buy it

Nikon 35mm O f/2 - The oldest one. GET ONE THAT HAS BEE AI CONVERTED. It won't mount on the FM2N otherwise. I got mine for $50. Fabulous bokeh and truly a sleeping gem


OR

If you can find one at a decent price a 20-35mm nikon. This will cover all 3 FL's but will be heavier and biger and will AF on your D70. DO NOT OVERPAY. Prices will be driven up now with the FF nikon craze.

Their are many off brand alternatives that come to mind but these are the best in nikon. If i had the money i would get the zeiss lenses to cover this range but those will easily be 10 times what you pay for the primes.
 
I bought a 35mm 'fantastic plastic' AFD for my Nikon D700 figuring it would be good as a manual focus lens for my FM3A. I can't say I'm that impressed with it sadly ... it feels really crappy build wise, the OOF areas aren't that appealing at f2 and it seems a little flat contrast wise to me. In hindsight it wasn't money well spent IMO!
 
Ai Ais Af

Ai Ais Af

yes I did and ... didn't really decide. The older AI and AIS lenses are more authentic with the the FM2n and it is a pleasure to use them on a manual nikon-body but the use with a D70 is very uncomfortable. On the other hand the Af-lenses will work with AF and manually and the little loss of comfort might acceptable. My proposal: buy a quite cheap AIS 2,0/50 and try it.
 
I use both: a set for manual shooting, and a set for AF shooting. I don't use the AF primes on my manual SLR's, but -apart from being great on my AF SLR's- their advantage is that sometimes they have been used on my digital body...

Cheers,

Juan
 
AIS lenses will work better for your camera, the focus ring is bigger and easier to find.

BTW, I have the 24/2.8 and it's an excellent optic.

Todd
 
Never been a "struggle" for me.
With the exception of one autofocus Sigma lens (which because of its "G" designation won't work on my manual focus F, F2, FA or FM bodies) having its own dedicated Nikon N65 auto focus body, all of my lenses are AI or AI-s mount manual focus Nikkors, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina or Vivitars.
 
I use an AF 50 1.8 D and an AF-S 17-35 2.8D on my FM2n and F3HP all the time. Neither lens is difficult to focus manually. The focusing ring on the AF 50 1.8 D doesn't feel as nice as an AI or AIS lens, but that difference in feel has no practical impact on its use for taking photographs.

Regarding the comment about the 50 2, I don't know if I agree about the recommendation to avoid it. My 50 2 AI is a very sharp, contrasty lens that I love to use. I've never found the out of focus areas to be objectionable.

Here is an example of the lens at f/2, I suppose that some may find the out of focus areas to be a little "busy"



Here is another example at f/2 that I think demonstrates the quality of the lens when used wide open

 
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The only AF lens I can think of that will cover that range at a reasonable price is the nikkor 18-35 3.5-4.5, which is decently sharp but I found it a bit difficult to focus with the confidence I'd like. The wavy distortion was the final straw, sold it.

I like the crunchy bokeh of the 50/2!
 
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Some AF lenses are more fun than others to use as manual focus optics. Among the worst are those crappy kit lenses (28-90, 35-85, etc.) with cheap plastic barrels, tiny focus rings and cheap plastic lens elements.
 
not_in_good_order said:
I use an AF 50 1.8 D and an AF-S 17-35 2.8D on my FM2n and F3HP all the time. Neither lens is difficult to focus manually. The focusing ring on the AF 50 1.8 D doesn't feel as nice as an AI or AIS lens, but that difference in feel has no practical impact on its use for taking photographs.

Regarding the comment about the 50 2, I don't know if I agree about the recommendation to avoid it. My 50 2 AI is a very sharp, contrasty lens that I love to use. I've never found the out of focus areas to be objectionable.
...
Click to expand...

I happened to have both of these lenses sitting on my desk at the moment, so I did some quick and dirty comparison shots and posted them here.
 
I'd stay away from any plastic AF Nikon lenses. Go with non AI, or AI, AIS and on went downhill pretty quickly.
 
sonofdanang said:
Ranchu - I understand your feeling about the 18-35. I've owned three and I've sold one, destroyed the second and still have the third. I don't reach for it only because I travel a lot in my work and I found that the 20-35 2.8, besides being faster (I often need the speed), was just far more durable. A few years ago, I did SEA for about six weeks with only a 18-35 lens on a straight FM body and it never missed a beat. However, I did always fell the need to protect it. The distortion never bothered me - it's a really fast and easy fix in post - if you need to, that is. The image below shot on Neopan is uncorrected.
Click to expand...

Fantastic picture! Thank you for the detailed post. I found it hard to correct, perhaps it was me. It seemed to have strange bulges on doorways, rather than simple barrel. At the end of the day, I'm not a 'wide' guy and the lens didn't really get much use. Thanks again!
 
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