Beemermark
Veteran
Do you mean the 105/2.5 Macro? I bought one decades ago and got rid of the famous 105/2.8. fabulous lens. now used with a D700. BTW AF in macro work is useless.
Underrated Nikon lenses? 105 1.8?
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Beemermark
Veteran
I was on a long motorcycle trip and forgot my 50/1.4 (this was years ago). Found a 50mm E in a pawn shop cheap and took a lot of fantastic pictures with it. A very good lens that is almost as small as the famous pancake nikkor.
cary
Well-known
Two lenses that come to mind are the 28mm f3.5 and the 135mm f3.5. Very inexpensive and good lenses.
ferider
Veteran
I mean the micro nikkor 105/2.8 AIs (don't use af).
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/105mm-f28.htm
One more I haven used a lot yet but first results are great: the 6 element 35/2.8.
S
squareshooter
Guest
The 50mm f2 Nikkor I used on my M2R Leica was a winner.
Contarama
Well-known
When I first got into Nikon stuff I, in my total naivety, thought that I must have the 105/1.8 and the so called "cream machine" 85/1.4. Then Brian Sweeney told me that the 85/1.8 and the 105/2.5 were good enough. I listened to him.
Another vote for the 28/3.5 especially the non Ai version if your rig can mount it. Cheapest best lens I have ever bought. Paid peanuts for my copy.
The other real cheap banger is the 135/2.8.
Series E masterpiece is the 75-150. Look at aftermarket versions. These lenses were made by others for Nikon and they also released their versions of it and some are said to be better. Really an amazing lens and again a bargain these past few years.
Another vote for the 28/3.5 especially the non Ai version if your rig can mount it. Cheapest best lens I have ever bought. Paid peanuts for my copy.
The other real cheap banger is the 135/2.8.
Series E masterpiece is the 75-150. Look at aftermarket versions. These lenses were made by others for Nikon and they also released their versions of it and some are said to be better. Really an amazing lens and again a bargain these past few years.
If there is an aftermarket version of the Series E 75-150/3.5 I've never heard of it... 😕
The series E lenses were made by Nikon but were designed to a lower price point (i.e plastic was used for some parts etc.) than the Nikkors of that time. The Nikkor brand was reserved for the top of the line lenses. But that was then. Times have changed and plastics etc. are now used extensively in Nikkor lenses.
Back on topic... I've always considered the Ai-S 105/1.8 to be a better (sharper) lens than the Ai-S 105/2.5, but its a lot heavier and the Ai-S 105/2.5 is more than good enough.
peterm1
Veteran
The 28mm f3.5 pre Ai is said to be especially good with digital cameras like the Nikon D200 if you have it converted. I have one but have not gotten around to testing it it - it was a spur of the moment purchase. I must do so using an adapter and my NEX camera.
The 35mm f2 pre AI is a fine lens. Most tests say its only average. Maybe its the rendering but I like using my Ai converted one as it performs sweetly.
A few other sleepers. The 55mm f2.8 AF micro. This lens was only around for a short time then Nikon superseded it with the 60mm f2.8 micro. It is said to be much sharper for non micro / distance shots than the later lens. (It is good if a bit low contrast).
The 105mm f4 AIS micro. I love this lens. As f4 is not so popular as the f2.8 version it can often be had fairly cheaply. Boy it is sharp.
The 35-70mm f3.5 AI/AIS is superb too. Its kind of the precursor to the 35-70mm f2.8 AF lens that is so well regarded and about as sharp. Incidentally I have tested the latter lens against the latest 24 - 70mm f2.8 and its hard to pick the difference sharpness wise. Its very good indeed too - just as sharp as people say it is.
The 100-300 mm f5.6. This strange zoom is a bit of a handful (It's big) and is slow. But it's recognised as being a very, very good lens although not so well known these days. It can be had cheaply and is worth buying.
The 28-85mm f3.5-45 AF is a sleeper for those who are happy to shoot zooms. It can be picked up for a hundred bucks or so and is an very good sharp lens although prone to flare. As its rated as a non-pro lens it tends to be overlooked. But this was my first DSLR lens (a carry over from my film days with an F801s) and it performed very well indeed in most situations.
There are many others of this sort. Nikon had so many terrific lenses and many of them are over looked these days.
paxnobiscum
Member
The Zoom-Nikkor 25-50 f/4 AIS is a fine, but almost forgotten, lens too. Very sharp with delicious color rendering. Makes a nice pair with the 50-135mm, that has already been mentioned on the thread.
GarageBoy
Well-known
How's the 200 F4, pre ED lens?
$40 lenses, but do they perform?
$40 lenses, but do they perform?
JRG
Well-known
I should have been more careful up above. This is the 50/1.8 lens that I had in mind. Definitely better than you'd expect from the price.
raid
Dad Photographer
The late photographer and mountain climber Galen Rowell used and praised the 75-150, resulting in higher prices then.
Contarama
Well-known
Quote
Were you aware that it was made by Kiron (Kino Precision Industries) for Nikon? There is a Kiron model, which is a 70-150 f/4, and a Vivitar model, which is a 70-150 f/3.8 All three, are nearly identical, and made by Kiron. However, the Kiron and Vivitar model's do not exhibit the loose zoom-creep as in the Nikon models. We in the Kiron Klub, have tested them thoroughly, and they are pretty much identical in performance. I just thought I'd pass this information along.
Source
http://www.bythom.com/75150lens.htm
The 75-150 Series E is a banger for sure...unbelievable performance for a $100
A guy calling himself Kiron Kid posts his findings on the internet and we should take it as gospel? 🙂
I actually remember him posting his findings (as quoted by Thom) at Nikonians quite some ago, and opinions regarding it even then were far from unanimous.
One thing we know for sure is that the Series E 75-150mm f3.5 was designed by Mr. Yutaka Iizuka's design team at Nikon (source link). Did Nikon outsource the manufacturing of the lens to Kino Precision Industries? Well, possibly. Did Nikon license its design so others could copy it? That I doubt...
The lens is certainly amazing bang for the buck though. If the zoom range had a little more coverage on the wide end I would have kept mine.
GarageBoy
Well-known
80-200 F4s - didn't realize how cheap they were for being a PJ staple of the 1980s
rulnacco
Well-known
You're talking about the standard (non-macro) 200/F4 telephoto lenses? I've got an AIS version I picked up for around a hundred bucks. It is very sharp indeed, even wide open. A stellar performer, especially at current prices.
Not only that, you can do crazy things with it if you get a 50/1.8 and a macro coupling ring (or, if you're cheap, a roll of black gaffer tape). Reverse the 50 on the front of the 200, and you get 4X magnification. Loads of fun!
