Most appreciated Nikon Lenses ?

After starting discussion threads with titles like <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006l05">Most

disliked Nikon lenses ???</a> and <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006pih">Most

disappointing Nikon accessories</a> I thought I'd start a more

positive thread as we are about to start a new year.<P>

 

What are your favorite lenses for your Nikon camera?<P>

 

You're welcome to list any brand.<P>

 

-----------------<P>

 

Interactive photo project:<P>

<a

href="http://leovilletownsquare.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=486880">Christmas

shopping w/your digital camera</a><P>

That's going to raise a few different responses =). Nikkor 105/2.5 AI. Best price/performance ratio.

Hi Diana,

 

I certainly agree with Yaron about the 105/2.5 AI/AI-s. (I've got two of 'em. The quintessential Nikkor for portraits.)

 

I'll add the 45mm f/2.8 AI-P to the list, and the 85mm f/1.4 AF-D. Both have bokeh to die for, and are wonderful in every other way.

 

Best wishes,

 

David

Actually, all the lenses that I currently have! My reason is that I've bought and sold so often, I can cherry pick and keep just the goodies. here's a quick rundown and the reasons why.<p>

1) 20mm f/3.5 AIS - super wide angle that is tiny and sharp.<p>

2) 24mm f/2.8 AI - nice "standard" wide angle for me. Sharp!<p>

3) 28mm f/3.5 PC - Expensive, but when you want to do architecture, nothing else will do. Sharp (I'm not going to keep repeating this, because I don't keep soft lenses).<p>

4) 35mm f/1.4 AIS - Fast, but small.<p>

5) 50mm f/1.4 AIS - ditto. Some barrel distortion on #4 & 5<p>

6) 50mm f/1.8 AI - as sharp as they come, and even smaller than #5. No distortion.<p>

7) 60mm f/2.8 AFD Micro - goes to 1:1.<p>

8) 105mm f/2.5 AIS - the classic portrait lens<p>

9) 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS - another classic portrait / medium tele lens.<p>

10) 70-180mm f/4.5 - 5.6 ED AFD micro - true macro zoom. The only zoom I've ever kept. Out of production?<p>Finally, not a lens, but the PN-11 extension tube with tripod mount. It makes using the 180 and 70-180 macro zoom much easier, by providing good support as well as improving the close focus distance on the 180mm lens.

12-24 F/4

 

17-35MM F/2.8 AFS

 

28mm f/3.5 PC Nikkor

 

85MM F/2.8 PC Micro Nikkor

 

105mm f/1.8 AIS Nikkor

 

80-200mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor

 

300mm f/2.8 AFS II

 

600mm f/4 AFS

Number one would be my 45mm f2.8 Nikkor, it has the best bokeh of any normal that I own (50f2, 50f1.4, 55f3.5). The only hassle is that it focuses in the wrong direction. I used this as an enlarging lens when I was too poor to afford a proper enlarging lens and it worked quite well between f8 and f16. I suspect it would be an excellent macro on a reverse mount. Stops to f32 comes in handy but it does lose a bit of sharpness when closed down that much. I haven't used the GN feature in years but I originally bought it for use with a manual flash and it worked very well.

 

Number two is the 85mm f1.8, for casual available light people shots it is the first lens that I reach for. Love the speed, sharpness, bokeh, and narrow depth of field.

 

Number three is the new 105mm f2.8 micro AF D. Mine is sharp at all distances and it is an excellent macro.

55/2.8 AIS, 24/2.8 AIS and AF 85/1.8D.

24-85 AFS.

1. The manual focus 200mm f4.0 micro lens--even with its old fashioned tripod mounting collar.

2. The 500mm f 4.0 P lens--its balance is remarkable and its lens quality is just great.

3. The PN-11 extension ring (tube) with tripod collar that can convert any Nikon lens to a lens with a tripod mount.

4. The 24mm AF f 2.8 D lens

5. The 35-70mm AF f 2.8 D zoom lens--very sharp.

 

You can tell that I am a "value" investor. I purchased al of the above used and saved myself a lot of money.

 

Joe smith

 

Joe Smith

1) Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 AF - extremely sharp wide angle

2) Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF - extremely sharp normal

3) Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED-AFD - extremely sharp "small" telephoto

 

these are indeed the best !

I cant find any fault with Robert Lais list. Ill

add a 28/2.0 AIS and 85/1.4 AIS. Robert you need a K-1 Ring for

your 20/3.5 AIS (if you like wide angle close-ups).<br>

<br>

As usual Ellis Vener confounds me with his preference for the 105/1.8

AIS. Now I wonder if my 105/1.8 was a dog or if the body I tested

my 105/1.8 on was out of focus. I used a 6x, DW-2 finder on the F2

I used for tests but...</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Oh, OK. The only problem you are likely to have is with

your ability to focus manually to get all the sharpness that

this lens can deliver at f/1.8. Many cameras are a little off

in their focus calibration, so run tests to see if your

images on film are really focussed where you thought you did.

I often found cameras were a little bit off, so if you really

wanted great sharp results at f/1.8 you had to tweak the

offset-headed screw against which the camera mirror rests to

bring everything into calibration. --<a

href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/105f18.htm"

target="_new"><u>http://www.kenrockwell.com</u></a></p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>Not a Nikkor lens but I love my 50/3.5 Fujinon-EP Enlarging

lens. Also for a great general purpose normal for day use, the 55/2.8

AIS Micro is very competitive with the 50/1.8 AI but focuses much

closer.<br>

<br>

Best,<br>

<br>

Dave.

If I lost every Nikkor I had (a couple of dozen!), I would get both a 35mm f/1.4 and a 105mm f/2.5 both AIS, and live with only these for some time. I can go (and have gone) anywhere in the world with only these two lenses and cover most everything that interests me. Eventually I would get the 24mm f/2.8 AIS and this would be it.

 

I have every focal length from 20mm to 300mm, and many examples and vintages of same focal lengths, but these three are my most used.

My 50/1.4AI and 85/1.8 NAI get used the most for available light portraits and candids. I'm warming up to a new(old) 35/2AI and 180/2.8 ED AIS, too.

28/2.0 AIS and 85/2.0 AIS. Perfect two-lens travel kit.

I just got the 28-70 AFS and it replaced my 35 AIS F2, 50 AF F1.8, and 85 AFD F1.8. Best decision I ever made equipment wise. Also made me stop lusting the 28mm F2. I realize the prime shooters are going to flame me big time but I would rather quickly zoom and get the shot properly framed than fumble to change lenses and miss the shot. Flame on prime shooters.

Idle chatter all around. Come on, take pictures ...

What�s more appreciated: Caravaggio or Rafael? Cheese cake or banana cream pie? Catholic or orthodox? Get the idea?

<p>

Ok, I don�t own a lot of Nikkors but all of them are HIGLY valuable for me as every single one fit MY needs. I am sure you can pick a few lenses that will be perfect for what YOU do. There�re very reputable sources, like Thom Hogan�s or Bjorn Rortslette�s sites that can introduce you to the world of Nikon lenses.

<em>"Idle chatter all around. Come on, take pictures

..." --Frank Uhlig<br>

</em><br>

Not so: a good craftsman does not use a monkey wrench for a

hammer. Even using a fine lens for a purpose that it is not well

suited to will make good results less likely.

<em>"I realize the prime shooters are going to flame me

big time but I would rather quickly zoom and get the shot

properly framed than fumble to change lenses and miss the shot."

--Hugh T<br>

</em><br>

If you have the time, use a prime. One does not replace the other.

There are so many different reasons for using different lenses

that generalizations dont work. I cant fault your

choice except that I like to have my primes and zoom too.<br>

<br>

Cheers!<br>

<br>

Dave.

75-150mm f 3.5 series E, bought at $80

Right now I appreciate the perspective that my 50mm gives because I'm shooting portraiture. I love my 24mm because it's so sharp and if I'm not sure about an assignment, it'll work in any situation.

<i>Idle chatter all around. Come on, take pictures ...</i>

 

Oh, Frank... it's dark, below 30 degrees and snowing outside ;-P

My personal fav's:

 

20/f2.8

24/f2

85/f1.8

180/f2.8

 

And the mother of all lenses:

 

Early Nikkor 50mm/f2 "tick" lens - have to appreciate a plain old 50mm lens that can bring in $500!

 

Chris

www.zoeicaimages.com

The Nikkor 80-200 2.8 AFD ED, Without question my all time best lens! fast, sharp

and used for under $500 didnt hurt!

105/2.5 AI, 50/1.8 AF, and - call me kooky if you will - my 70-210/4-5.6 AF takes some mighty fine photos as well. Thanks to Ken Rockwell on that particular purchase.