The best 'evil' lenses are ....... ???

[Keith]

There's been a lot of discussion in 'evil' threads of late about Zuiko glass ... there seems to be a core of lenses in their range that are regarded as exceptional and relatively essential if you're going to take the OM path in SLR photography.

Occasionally I become torn between wanting a little more flexability from an SLR but really not willing to part with the charms of the OM range. I was reading a comprehensive write up on the Nikon F series ... in particular the FM3A and FM2N both of which seem to have definite mechanical advantages over the Olympus ... though in my opinion they are nowhere near as beautiful but I guess that's a personal thing and in reality unimportant to the end result. A mechanical shutter that runs to 1/4000 and the ability to do multiple exposures is tempting at times but I've realised I know absolutely nothing about Nikon lenses ... what's good, what's not, what compares to the best Zuiko has to offer optically, how do they compare price wise etc etc?

 

[not_in_good_order]

The lens reviews here are excellent:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

My favorite lenses that I use are:

24 2.8 ais
35 2 ais
50 2 ai
105 2.5 ais

I would like to add a 50 1.2 ai or a 35 1.4 ais at some point in the future.

 

[kxl]

I know nothing about Zuiko glass, so can't compare. You can check prices at keh.com (they're usually 15%-20% higher than the very good deals that you sometimes find here at rff).

In general, the most highly regarded AI/AIS lenses are (from 20mm up):

- 20mm/3.5 AI/AIS (flare free); coupled with a K1 extension ring, it will give you a nice WA macro. 20/2.8 and the tiny 20/4.0 AI (Galen Rowell's favorite)

- 24/2, 24/2.8 AI/AIS

- 28/2.8 AIS (do NOT get the AI; it's a dog)

- 35/1.4

- 50/1.4, 1.8

- 55/2.8 and 55/3.5

- 58/1.2 Noct (deserves special mention for being this fast)

- 85/1.4 AI/AIS

- 105/2.5 AI/AIS - the classic

- 180/2.8 AIS

I'm sure others can add more lenses, but you can't go wrong with the above.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you ever get a chance, give a Canon FD 50/1.4 a workout. It's my idea of what a 50 is supposed to be. I don't know oly & someday I'll give Nikon a try, but in the meantime, there's an insane amount of great FD glass out there 🙂

William

 

[tbarker13]

In Nikon, I absolutely love the 85/1.4, particularly for portraits.

 

[ferider]

Hasselblad 150 Sonnar 🙂

Sorry, back on subject: You can buy a Nikon only for the 105/2.5, any version.

Then there is fast glass (like 35/1.4) you cann't have in Zuiko.

And then, you can adapt Leica R lenses. Would love to try a 50 Summilux on my F.

 

[aizan]

i've been meaning to look into classic minolta and konica slr lenses. anybody into those?

 

[BillBingham2]

Keith,

There are lots of world class Nikkors and equally as many not-so-world class (read real DOGS, ones that do not hunt but have big poop!).

I'm an MF prime sort of guy so i do not know a lot about the zooms other than the old 80-200/4.5 which as the best zoom of it's time for many years.

I grew up on the 24/2.8 and 85/1.8 which I love both though the 24 does tend to make footballs out of head just buy having them in the frame. The old 85 has a great look and is faster than the 105, which for me is important. If you like the Zuiko 85/2, you'll love the Nikkor 85/1.8.

As mentioned before the only 28 to get is the AIs 2.8, anything else is OK at best. Though I have heard good things about the 28/2, the 2.8 AIs is world class.

The old 35/1.4 is a great lens, sharp with good contrast. I owned the 35/2 and like it but loved my fathers 1.4 as it stopped down further (very handy for close up stuff)

Lots of difference in the 50s and other than the old 55/3.5 macro, never had any.

The old 105/2.5 is the same formula as the RF lens and quite frankly rocks. It was too slow for my work in PJ years ago.

The 180/2.8 ED rocks and as mentioned is the gold standard.

I have my second 300/4.5 ED-IF and love it more than the 180. While it's slower, the addition reach and Internal Focus just has me smiling every time I use her.

This is the best place to see which lens it is you are buying by serial number:

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Oddly, Ken Rockwells reviews are pretty good, manual lens info abounds:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm#mf

I will have a good 180/2.8 ED and an almost new 105/2.5 AIs for sale this weekend (along with two CV SL II lens (the 20 and the 58)), keep an eye out or drop me a PM if you're interested.

The only lens I wish they made before the AF craze is a 180/2.8 ED-IF. IF is just snappy fun on the 300.

A lot depends on what you want to shoot and how. I'd recommend the 28/2.8 AIs, either an 85/1.8 or 105/2.5 and then either a 180/2.8 ED or a 300/4.5 ED-IF. I think you might like the 300 as a stretch sort of thing. Perhaps the 50/2.8 macro, though I've never owned one.

Lots of great stuff that I've never had, read about but never held enough wow factor for me and what I wanted to do. As always YMMV.

Beware, pretty soon you will want to try a Nikon S3-2000 and then .......

B2 (;->

 

[nikku]

Nikkor-O 35/2 non ai. I have a home AI'd version that was a Vietnam photogs. Looks beat, glass is great, and it's the only reason I've kept my Nikkormat. As much as I dog the Oly 35's, I love this lens.

 

[Nando]

I like the Takumars, the 50f1.4 and 85f1.8 in particular. There wasn't really a dog in the range. Don't know much about the Nikkors. Two of my friends both have the 105f2.5 AiS and its really the only lens that really impressed me. if I were to have a Nikon system, the 105 would be a must-have.

 

[croweater]

Like other people above, I can definitely recommend the 28mm f2.8 AI-S. And the 55mm f3.5 (micro) is a brilliant performer for the price. There's no shortage of good Nikkor MF lenses to choose from, it just depends on what your needs are.

 

[jonmanjiro]

There's a cheap Nikkor 105/2.5 in the classifieds right now *here* !!!

Without a doubt one of the all time classic Nikkors!

 

[Mablo]

90% of my Nikon time is spent with the 35/2.

 

[gavinlg]

Personally I'm not a big fan of Nikkor glass, everything I've used has either been characterless or harsh or just simply not as good as the competitions stuff. I'm not saying this is a definitive fact at all, just my personal experience (so nikon fans can relax).

To me, OM glass is significantly better (read: smaller, prettier, nicer to use, nicer output, more consistent between lenses). Of all the SLR lenses, I think the Canon EF L lenses are the best. I don't care about consumer zooms (canon ones aren't great compared to nikons), I care about primes and pro level zooms. In that respect, canon EF L primes are fantastic and the Olympus ZD range has the best pro zooms (14-35mm f2 is epic). Anyone that loves a good 35mm prime needs to own an EF 35mm 1.4L at some point - just near the perfect lens.

The other one I'd consider to be up there would be the zeiss zf/ze range - overall very very good but also expensive.

I'd also like to make an honorable mention to the canon FD primes, some of which were amazing, and highly underrated.

 

[Silva Lining]

Anyone that loves a good 35mm prime needs to own an EF 35mm 1.4L at some point - just near the perfect lens.

I'll second this ! 😀 The Canon EF 50/1.4 gets you a lot of bang for your buck too.

If we are including Hasselblads as EVIL SLRS then I'd have to put in a vote for the Makro Planar 120/4 - just beautiful for portraits.

 

[aizan]

the thing i don't like about canon L primes is they just make them too fast, big, heavy, and expensive. why can't they just make stuff like a 28/2, 35/2, 50/1.4, and 85/2 with even better image quality, smaller size, lower weight, and less cost, but with the same build and weather sealing?

 

[gavinlg]

the thing i don't like about canon L primes is they just make them too fast, big, heavy, and expensive. why can't they just make stuff like a 28/2, 35/2, 50/1.4, and 85/2 with even better image quality, smaller size, lower weight, and less cost, but with the same build and weather sealing?

Pentax do this with their limiteds.
I don't really find the size of the L primes a big problem - I have an e-p1 for when I want a small cam. The optical quality of them more than makes up for their size.

In saying that, there is the 20mm f2.8, 28mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 that are all reasonably sized, excellent optically, with USM and good build so it's not like users are strapped for options.

 

[Silva Lining]

the thing i don't like about canon L primes is they just make them too fast, big, heavy, and expensive. why can't they just make stuff like a 28/2, 35/2, 50/1.4, and 85/2 with even better image quality, smaller size, lower weight, and less cost, but with the same build and weather sealing?

Good point - but I guess whatever the lens there is some kind of trade-off - weight vs quality ? I guess other manufacturers have got around it somehow - For me the 35/1.4L manages superb quality in a highly portable package!

 

[mfogiel]

I use a couple of FM3A's with the Zeiss ZF lenses. It is not hard to say, that the reference lens of this line is the Makro Planar 100/2. I am not aware of a comparison between this lens and the Leica R APO Macro 90, but my bet is that this one is better.
You need a very sharp film to test its resolution, however an exceptional bokeh is also its strong point:

Then, there is the Makro Planar 50/2 - rather big, and sligtly less sharp, but also a lens which is outstanding at any distance and aperture, great bokeh too:

Also the 35/2 Distagon is great, although I use it rarely since I have started shooting with the rangefinders - Mike Johnston regards it as the finest 35mm lens ever made:

 

[italy74]

Hi everyone

I'm among the other discovering old mf primes for shooting. Of course, Marek with his portraits and Tim as well are for sure the real benchmark for everyone (given the fact that both them can use available light at their own advantage much better than me).

Let me add a few sample of an old 105 F/2.5 AI as well (taken with D700) about my niece Sofia (usually focused on her closer eye)

Wide open (only 2 first shots)

But also the 200 F/4 can play quite well (given the bad scanning) - FM3A / BW400CN => 1600 iso

Not to forget the 40 F/2 Ultron - F6 / ILFORD SFX 200