$40.00 lens scary sharp !

<p>I have a Pentax Super-Takumar 200mm f/4 that I will never get rid of. It just has a look, a way of rendering, that I love.<br>

As Super-Multicoating came out about 1971, it can't be newer than about 40 years. It's as smooth and solid as when it was new.</p>

<p>I, too, use a few of the "old" lenses. Some of them do exhibit some chromatic aberration...but many of the "new" lenses do as well. I'm getting good results from the 105/2.5, 100/2.8 E, 45/2.8, 200/4, and the 28/2.0. My 20/2.8 AF shows some CA, as does the 35/2 AF. </p>

<p>Of the newer lenses my 35/1.8 shows some CA...and a lot of flare. The 16-85 and the 17-55 also present a touch of CA as well.</p>

<p>There's a lot of good old stuff out there. Usually you can find it cheap enough to experiment with.</p>

<p>I shot some portraits with an old 85mm 1.8 from the '70s. It was not as sharp as even my 18-70 but it had a wonderful look to it. I might use it again. </p>

I got a Vivitar 135/2.8 (auto telephoto) for 40 euro (+/- $50,-), manual focus but just as good as my Nikon AF 180/2.8D. But not every old lens is good, some are very disappointing (even in mint condition incl. Nikon's).

<p>I once got a really beat up Nikon FG with an E series 50 mm f/1.8 lens stuck on it. Well the body was pretty well trashed, but usable. The gem of the deal was the lens. This was the "cheap" standard Nikkor and it's turned out to be plenty sharp and very good. OK, it's not as flare resistant ans the AI 50 f/1.8, and not sexy like the f/1.4 and faster models. A lens hood takes care of the flare, and I challenge anyone to tell me that it produces inferior images.</p>

<p>Seems like the old 28mm 3.5 nikkor is one of the best manual focus wide angles out there. Sharp as hell. And far better than the current autofocus 28mm 2.8, which kind of blows. You know, Nikon glass was extremely highly regarded back in the day and it remains as good as almost anything out there. Yes, Leica and Zeiss lenses can be better. But at 50mm, Nikkors do very well against their German competitors. And at apertures like f8 and f5.6 almost any old Nikkor is as good as the Leica equivalent (of course, many Leica lenses are that sharp at almost any aperture but there is obviously going to be a difference between a $100 lens and a $1000 lens).</p>

<p>How about Konica Hexanon AR 40mm 1.8? My jaw dropped after I saw scans...<br>

<a href="http://www.pbase.com/stankiewicz/image/117387042">http://www.pbase.com/stankiewicz/image/117387042</a></p>

<p>Sometimes, I think sharpness is overrated as a desirable quality.</p>

<p>Sometimes, I like some softness, especially when the subject warrants it. As an example, see the first image on my website: http://www.kalahi.net -- at the risk of getting slammed, this image works for me...taken with an 85/1.4 AI wide open.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Back "in the film days" I had an old 135mm f/2.8Q nikkor lens and LOVED IT. A couple of months ago I picked up one in MINT condition to use on my D70. I paid around $50. FABULOUS. I use a Sekonic hand-held meter with it. <br>

There are lots of gems like this out there. Another one is the 200mm f/4 Nikon lens. And, of course, the good old 50mm 1.8.</p>

<p>My AI Nikkor prime lenses on D200 are almost always sharper than the AF DX zooms, especially if shooting from a tripod. I also have the 135 and it is amazing! I bought mine years ago. Also the 50/1.8 and my Tamron AI 90/2.8 produce great pictures. I've bought lenses off ebay for pretty decent price. I've seen those 50mm sell for as low as $30.</p>

<p>First off Steve, that`s a pretty good head shot portrait. The bloke has one of those lived in kind of faces, fisho, cow cocky, (that`s a farmer in OZ), someone who has spent their life outdoors. As for the lens, again pretty hard to beat at the price, his left eyebrow could be sharper,but how deep are your pockets. You were there and you got the shot,and as HCB once said Sharpness is a Bourgeois Concept,or words to that effect. By the way is that your old station wagon and is it a Ford ? More photos please, and yes I do have the same lens,older pre-AI, and yes it`s a ripper.</p>

<p>I use a manual Japanese made Kiron 105mm 1:2.8 (macro 1:1) Macro lens on my Nikon D50 all the time, for macro shots. I had bought it for under $100 for use on the F100 I used to have in the film days. I haven't splurged on a flash yet so I still use an SB-16 believe it or not, and two Vivitar 283s. I have a very limited budget right now. Everything is manual in this set up so I have to take a few shots to get a correct exposure. This is not good for moving bug macro shots, but it works great for still macros. I'm not wasting any film so it doesn’t matter. The Kiron (Japanese version) is considered one of the sharpest macro lenses ever made, and I have to agree. Too bad my eyesight is going so it is harder to focus nowadays. You have to do that rocking back and forth until your subject pops into focus which is NOT easy.</p>

<p>Thank you, Cory and Steve.</p>

<p>Here is one from my very old Nikkor 105 2.5. Its the first version of this lens.</p><div></div>

<p>I was lucky enough to find the Nikkor-Q 135 2.8 for $40.00 at a local camera swap meet last year. I got away from digital point and shoot when I found out the Nikon D40 would work with my pre-AI lens collection. The kit zoom (55-200VR) didn't let me shoot at my children's gymnastics meets, so with my budget, I kept a look out for these gems. This was taken a few weeks ago, and after looking through the 300 shots, I clicked on the button at the top of the screen that says "Store", and ordered the Sigma 70-200 2.8HSM II. </p><div></div>

<p>I did get very sharp (not scary sharp) images from my 135/3.5 but I found it hard to focus so i sold it. I got recently 105/2.5 and it is much easier to focus manualy.<br>

On a topic of "scary" sharp lenses: they are ok for the portrets of older men, when weathered skin shows experience. DO NOT EVER!!! EVER!!! point it at your wife or your mother in-law!!!</p>

<p>Guys - this thread has struck a cord with me.</p>

<p>I am a beginner and get lost and overwhelmed at the lenses and the prices. I just boughta D90.</p>

<p>So if I want a lens say 50mm / 35mm / 18mm what should I get - AIS ? AS ? Af ? I see lenses at cheaper prices, but I guess it's my ignorance that drives me to something newer (and costlier)... where it is shown as compatible to my camera.</p>

<p>For the 50 mm and 35mm I would get the AF lenses so they AF and meter with your camera. The 50 mm 1.8 is cheap new and the 35mm f2 can be found quite reasonable used. I don't know about the 18mm prime, Nikon made an 18mm f3.5 Ai/s super wide and also a 20mm F4 Ai/s and a 20mm f2.8 AF but I don't believe they will be all that cheap.</p>

<p>Oh so true Thomas, made me laugh. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,especially mothers inlaw.</p>

<p>Quote "Guys - this thread has struck a cord with me.<br>

I am a beginner and get lost and overwhelmed at the lenses and the prices. I just boughta D90.<br>

So if I want a lens say 50mm / 35mm / 18mm what should I get - AIS ? AS ? Af ? I see lenses at cheaper prices, but I guess it's my ignorance that drives me to something newer (and costlier)... where it is shown as compatible to my camera."<br>

Unfortunately to AIS lenses won't meter on a D90. They will meter on the D200, 300 and the Full frame Nikon DSLRs. You can still use them but you have to guess at exposure or use a hand held meter.</p>

<p>Thanks Wayne. See, that is what I meant !</p>

<p>I do not understand these limitations and hence do not risk looking beyond what I know for sure works, primarily looking at latest models.</p>

<p>How do I find out definitely that a lens would work with D90 ?</p>

<p>None of the Ai, Ais or any lenses before them will meter or AF on the D90. Your best bet for the 35mm and 50mm would be the regular AF versions as they will work. The 50mm I would buy new and proably pick up the 35mm AF used. You could also look at the new 35mm 1.8 af this is a DX only lens if I remember so it won't work on full frame properly but is also quite reasonably priced new.</p>

<p>When you look at old lenses you have to weigh up if it is worth the hassle to lose AF and metering. A 40$/€ 135mm 2.8 Ai is worth the hassle because you won't get any thing that fast, that long with metering and working AF for anywhere near that price. A used series E 75-150 f3.5 is another used manual focus bargin that gives you a fast fixed apeture zoom but again you loose metering and AF. A 50mm f1.8 Ais will likely sell used for around same price if not more than a used 50mm 1.8 AF, it is not worth the hassel to use it on a modern body when the AF version is available so cheaply.</p>

<p>Thanks Stuart. Looks like I am back to square one honing back on 35mm 1.8G and 50 mm 1.8 D (or at a later point 1.4D).</p>

<p>Now at least I know what I will not be getting on Ai / Ais ones. But I will keep an eye for 125mm 2.8 Ai</p>