Top rated, must-have lens for Nikon FE2?

dave lackey

dave lackey

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No idea what it is about the Nikon compact F bodies like the FE2... but I cannot stop using them. I have the usual 50mm 1.8, series E; 100mm Series E; and the 28-105 D zoom lens. But what is your recommendation for the most wanted, gotta have lens for this camera?

They are certainly cheap enough these days so I would like to pretty much start saving for my next semi-permanently attached lens for that camera.

A nice bonus is also using it on the marvelous F2!
 
I have the 35mm SLR Nikon bug too Dave. Mine extends into he Nikkormats as well.

Best lens IMO: 28 f2.8 Ais

Also 55 f3.5 Ai
 
I know what you mean. I used to have the FM3A and still regret selling it. My compact F is now an FM2N. The manual focus Nikon trinity is typically as follows:

28mm - nothing beats the 28/2.8 AIS (make sure it's the AIS version not the AI).

50/1.8 - you've got that covered. I shoot with the CV 58/1.4 SLII (it has "character")

105/2.5 - A must have. The older Sonnar version is nice, but you need to have it AI'd for the FE2 (you can do it yourself or have John White at aiconversions.com do it for $25), or the AI/AIS version, which is what I have.
 
FrankS said:
...55 f3.5 Ai
Click to expand...

+1, i prefer the very last of the f/3.5s with full IC multicoating over the newer f/2.8s.

Most will list the 105 f/2.5 as a "must have". Personally, I prefer the later Planar-esque version (min focus 3.0ft) over the earlier Sonnar-esque version (min focus 3.5ft). I dislike the more "quirky" out of focus rendering of Sonnars, preferring the more neutral and ever OoF rendering of Planar derivitives. But, you pays your money and makes your choice.

Also, the OPs existing 100mm f/2.8 Series-E will deliver images that hard to detect from those of the newer 105 f/2.5s, if there are detectable differences at all. The only real advantage to getting a 105 would be the greater mechanical robustness of the old Nikkors over the Series-E. The Series-E, particularily the later ones with the chrome grip ring, are mechanically on a par with the newer AF lenses.
 
I think the 50f1.8 series E version 2 with chrome ring, is the sleeper lens that is just fabulous. Nice and compact as well. No need for the expensive 45 f2.8 pancake lens.
 
FrankS said:
I think the 50f1.8 series E version 2 with chrome ring, is the sleeper lens that is just fabulous. Nice and compact as well. No need for the expensive 45 f2.8 pancake lens.
Click to expand...

Frank, I totally agree! What prompted this thread was my review of files yesterday while scanning and I was struck by the quality of some images I pulled up from the FE2 file. After all this time I realized that those images are as good as they get. I think I need to shoot a lot more with the FE2 bodies! There is so much potential and they just disappear when using them. I don't even have to think about the camera, and it is such a joy.

I could live with this camera, or any compact F body, for the rest of my life.
 
dave lackey said:
No idea what it is about the Nikon compact F bodies like the FE2... but I cannot stop using them. I have the usual 50mm 1.8, series E; 100mm Series E; and the 28-105 D zoom lens. But what is your recommendation for the most wanted, gotta have lens for this camera?

They are certainly cheap enough these days so I would like to pretty much start saving for my next semi-permanently attached lens for that camera.

A nice bonus is also using it on the marvelous F2!
Click to expand...

Sorry David, but I don't understand how the model of body has anything to do with which AI or AIS lenses one chooses to mount on it.
My criterion for mounting a particular lens on a body is the type of photography I'm doing at the time, and the focal length or particular special characteristic of a particular lens (macro or Perspective Control, being examples) that it will provide me. Nothing more.
 
Dave--the 28/2.8 AIS is definitely a stellar performer on the FE2--as well as the F2. Can't go wrong with that lens. I see someone recommended the Noct--it IS a great lens, but I don't have a spare 4K lying around..:) :)
 
There are no wrong answers here, however my favorites are
24/2.8 --very compact and sharp
50/1.4 -- this is the lens that lives on my camera
105/2.5 -- there is no reason not to have this
55/3/5 micro -- this is my workhorse when I don't need speed.

If I could only have two lenses and one body, it would be my Nikon FG (a wonderful body that doesn't get the respect it deserves) with 24/2.8 and 50/1.4. In fact, that's the combo I most often am carrying.

The other lens I like and use a lot doesn't quite fit in this discussion: 20/2.8 AF-D
 
35mm f2
50mm f2 (supposed to be the sharpest of all the 50mm)
85mm f1.8
105mm f2.5

You can't go wrong with any of the Nikkor primes.
 
I have both the 20 f2.8 and the 20 f3.5. I'm looking forward to discovering the characteristics of each.

Does anyone have thoughts on this?
 
the 75-150 Series E lens is very under rated and an excellent lens. Very durable and the push /pull makes for quick shooting
 
FrankS said:
I think the 50f1.8 series E version 2 with chrome ring, is the sleeper lens that is just fabulous. Nice and compact as well. No need for the expensive 45 f2.8 pancake lens.
Click to expand...

Feeling more impaired than usual.....

When I think of chrome I think shiny but my quick googles have only shown black front rings.

But then I saw the chrome ring that sits between the focusing and aperture rings.

I was thinking it was a band around the front of the lens barrel.

Never Mind......

B2
 
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