What's New Is Old...

I own my share of autofocus Nikkors to use with the D780, primarily the 24-70mm f2.8 G (pre VR), 16-35mm f4 and 70-200mm f4 VR, but I think I have more fun with the load of manual focus Nikkors that 25 years ago when I was shooting a Nikon F3HP would have been a group I could have afforded only in my dreams. This set is my four favorite focal lengths, shot last night with a DF, 85mm f1.8 Nikkor-H that's been AI'd, and SB800 flash:

Two of these lenses in particular, on a whim I purchased NEW last year from B&H, the 35mm f1.4 Nikkor and 20mm f2.8 Nikkor.

Both were discontinued during 2020 so I knew they had to be late.

The last recorded serial number for a 35mm f1.4 Nikkor is 616539. Mine is 616498, so one of the last 42 made.

The last serial numbered 20mm f2.8 is 305810. Mine is 305348, so one of the last 462 made.

The 85mm f1.4 I bought in like-new cosmetic and beautiful optical condition, but it had obviously sat unused for years, maybe since new, as the focus was very stiff and uneven, and the focus was off. A trip to Midwest Camera Repair and the thing is just sexy, silky smooth to use and sharp as a tack.

The 135mm f2 is another slick user.

Combined with the back-side illuminated sensor of the D780, the image quality is just outstanding.

85mm f1.4..

35mm f1.4.

135mm f2..

This is the 20mm f2.8 on the DF..

The joy of affordable old lenses is substantial.

I agree, JDMvW. Especially when these oldies perform well with modern (digital) cameras.

The thing is, i find, that you can have too many and these oldies in particular are mostly left unused.

Too many lenses?

NAAAAAAH!

One CAN have too little closet space/not enough bags though…

JDM I carried several of those early in my newspaper days, managed to absolutely infuriate at least one editor but we didn’t like each other anyway. I’ve been able to reassemble that collection again and now it’s more a question of what body goes in the bag with them, a D-something or an F2. They were great then and for me they still are.

Rick H

Sigh.... I just sold off a set of #6 Zeiss zf.2 lenses. I didn't use them much, and the manual focus part has gotten less fun over time. For example, the new Nikon Z 105f2.8 is a sharper and lighter lens than the Zeiss 100 f2, and it is autofocus.

Cleaning out the closets, getting money for new toys.

Manual focus is fine with the DSLR's with the focus confirmation, and live view with the D780 is on another level of usability compared to any Nikon DSLR model before. Basically a DSLR with Z6 compatibility in one.

I considered a couple of options, a Z model with F adapter and loss of ability to record the aperture value with my manual focus Nikkors, or a D780 with full F mount compatibility and the ability to use live view with an eyelevel Hoodman HLVKIT for when live view makes sense, which is primarily when using flash and trying to manually focus indoors with darker, lower contrast subjects where the focus assist in the optical finder is not as accurate as having the active peaking in live view.

you can have too many

I don't understand. How is it possible to have too many?

(I have noted that all flat spaces are covered with cameras and lenses, however)

Shooting from my deck this afternoon and playing with the shallow depth of field available with these fast, manual primes on the D780, this one with the 180mm f2.8 ED Nikkor, at f2.8..

and the 85mm f1.4 Nikkor, at f1.4..

and f2..

JDM I carried several of those early in my newspaper days, managed to absolutely infuriate at least one editor but we didn’t like each other anyway. I’ve been able to reassemble that collection again and now it’s more a question of what body goes in the bag with them, a D-something or an F2. They were great then and for me they still are.

 

Rick H

Some of those editors are truly hateful.

don't understand. How is it possible to have too many?

(I have noted that all flat spaces are covered with cameras and lenses, however)

Think it's "too many" when they are so numerous that the good lenses are mixed in with the mediocre, the bad, the quirky, the unpredictable, the mildly defective -through-outright dysfunctional, that one begins to pick up the wrong lenses and reaping undesirable results such as unsharpness, terrible vignettes, blown out highlights, blocked up shadows... and other dreadful things that lenses can affect an image. :eek:

And when you stumble upon boxes in the attic filled with lenses (and other stuff) you had forgotten about. Some of which you might well have considered buying, not knowing you already had them tucked away.

And no, considering to get one or two does not signal that you really would want one. It's the other way around: forgetting that you have them signals that you really do not need them.

And i must admit to having rebought bits of equipment i well knew i already owned, yet couldn't remember where i put them. But though that is also an example of having too many, that perhaps is another story.

And i must admit to having rebought bits of equipment i well knew i already owned, yet couldn't remember where i put them.

Those little adaptors for 3/8 > 1/4 for tripod heads etc are my failing.

About a year ago I went through 'My Purchases' in Amazon and found I've bought 24 in the last couple of years.

I've given a few away, but 24?! :oops:

Not sure how I missed your reference to Midwest Camera Repair but I will likely send off my 28mm F2 and 105mm 2.5 to them. A quick question, how did you find out the last serial numbers on the 20mm and 35mm?

B&H still has 3x of the 20mm 2.8 AIS, 2x 55mm 2.8 AIS and now just one 50mm 1.4 AIS left....I ordered one thanks to you! I have a super clean F3HP it will live on.

Check out this site for serial numbers for Nikkors..

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

I'm sending my 135mm f2 Nikkor to Midwest this week. The aperture ring is a little stiff. Full service cost estimate they quoted me for that lens was $145.

I found a NIB 105 f/2.5 a few months ago. It's a dream on the Df. Have yet yo try it on the D850. Paid $130 CAD for it.

i have an AI 80-200/4.5, my only push-pull zoom, that I got from Goodwill auctions for $10.50.

But the one I use more is the Nikkor 24-120/3.5-5.6 AF-D for $75.

That isn't the newest 24-120, but works just fine for me.

Check out this site for serial numbers for Nikkors..

 

Nikon Lens Versions and Serial Nos

 

I'm sending my 135mm f2 Nikkor to Midwest this week. The aperture ring is a little stiff. Full service cost estimate they quoted me for that lens was $145.

I just contributed my new 50mm 1.4 AIS serial number to him, it is a bit higher than his last noted. I also told him my 28mm F2 AIS bought new in about 2005 is SIC coated. He states that SIC for that lens started at 6134XX and mine is 613367.

I had to send my F3HP off to Midwest this week as the shutter speeds lower than 1/125th are sluggish...hope it is not a bad board. I will send the 28mm 2.0 off a bit later but I did a great CLA to my 105mm 2.5 on my own and it is now flawless, it's a late model one that is within 1400 of the last SN he has recorded. This site along with youtube videos are super helpful with doing your own CLA although I am not brave enough to tackle the 28/2 with CRC, too many moving parts to muck up.

Now then...you have been a bad / good influence on me. I just ordered a new 20mm 2.8AIS from B&H, a lens I used for years in the beginning of my career, love how small it is. Another lens I used a ton was the 180mm 2.8 EDIF AIS, if I find a mint late SN of that one I will have completed my nostalgic Nikon kit.

I might sell my F100, 85mm 1.8G to offset this new fetish I seem to have...I have a ton of gear, the 85mm never gets used since I got the 105mm 1.4.