kevin_peng1 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>We've recently heard members wax about the 105/2.5, 75-150/3.5 e, and others...which are your favorite manual focus lenses? I love MF Nikkors because they can often be had so cheaply! Hopefully with your responses I'll get some ideas about which lens I'll be buying next...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>This is probably an answer you expect, but I really like the 24mm/f2.8 PC-E.</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>Not that there aren't already hundreds of these threads here on PN. Plus the fact that after a while almost every Nikon lens in existence will be mentioned at least once. Anyway, I kept three: 20/4 AI, 28/2.8 AI-S, 105/2.5. Should have kept the 200/4. If you want to step outside the Nikkor system and can live with stop-down metering, get Leica-R glass and the F-mount from leitax.com. Unfortunately, the word cheap and Leica still don't go together even now that the R-system has been discontinued.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_carroll4 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>My favorite allrounder is a 35/2.0, with an 85/2.0 a close second. If I'm traveling light (a bit of a contradiction in terms when talking about Nikons) they're the two lenses I carry</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>You might enjoy reading <a href="http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/nikkor/index.htm">"The Thousand and One Nights"</a> series of anecdotes on the Nikon Japan site, anecdotes written in a very accessible, non-technical style by Nikon engineers about some of their favorite lenses. These tales include interesting background information about how these lenses were developed and their significance in the photography scene of those respective eras. Be sure to start at the beginning, which is counter-intuitively at the bottom of the page.</p> <p>I've owned or tried some of those lenses and usually find my own impressions are very similar to those of the Nikon engineers who wrote those articles.</p> <p>A few of my favorites that have performed well on both film and digital SLRs include the 50/2 AI, 85/2 AIS, 105/2.5 AI, 180/2.8 and 300/4.5 AI ED.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liljuddakalilknyttphotogra Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 <p>50mm f/1.2 AIS and I have to include my 105mm f/2.8 Lester A. Dine Kiron Macro which is stellar.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaglow Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>I would add the 45mm f/2.8 GN (which I was out shooting with all afternoon), and a 24mm f/2.</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>I'll second Lex's recommendation on the Nikon site. I had forgot about it, but it's really interesting.</p> <p>Heck, my favorite Nikkor is still the one that got me into Nikon in the first place: the PC-Nikkor 35mm f/2.8.<br> Use it all the time on two different camera systems.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_south Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>Nikkor 24mm f/2</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jose_angel Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>Hmmm, nobody mentions the 35/1.4? That`s probably my favourite.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Brennan Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>Fav. Nikon 500mm f/4 Ai-P</p> <p>Second Fav. Kiron 105mm f/2.8 micro / Nikon mount</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_p Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>85/f2.8 pc</p> <p>(nas has been pleasurably quelled)</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oskar_ojala Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>In this order: Nikkor 35/1.4 AI-S, 55/3.5 micro, 85/2.8 PC, Voigtländer 20/3.5, Nikkor 28/3.5 AI-S, Nikkor 50/1.2 AI-S.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark liddell Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>105mm f/2.5 ais - performance from wide open right up until diffraction is almost identical</p> <p>One I have not used but wish I could afford: Zeiss ZF 100mm macro - one of the best ever elns is 135 format, check out the review http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1141/cat/98</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>I like the AI Nikkor 28mm f3.5. It spends the most time on my Nikon FE.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_in_PA Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>The only one I have is the 55mm f3.5, but I used to love the 180 f2.8 and the 28mm f3.5 Mike mentions. Also the old 400mm f5.6 was seriously nice. I think I'd like an AF version of that!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_watson Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>The tiny, sharp 45/2.8 AI-P that's superb for street shooting, followed by the old 85/1.8 NAI that's a near-perfect portrait lens.</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_leotta Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>the first lens I had was tge 50mm 1.4 S. Manual focus, the original 50 1.4 was the only lens I had for a few years.<br> I did beautiful work with it and still have a soft spot for it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two23 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>If I had a 24mm PCE, it would be! However, my favorite manual focus lens that I actually have is my 28mm PC shift lens. I love to use it on rural architectural shots. It's also the only manual focus lens I have, LOL.<br> Kent in SD</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgelfand Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>105mm f/2.5 on my F100 35mm camera body.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lily_ann Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>One lens, one camera<br> AiS 35 f1.4, FM3a</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_502260 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>35/2.8 'K', 50/1.4 'K' 1st version, 55/3.5 Micro Nikkor PC, 105/2.5 P black, 135/2.8 QC, 200/4 QC.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penwaggener Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>I picked up a 135mm 2.8 E lens on the cheap, which had suffered many abuses and misfortunes, and I keep finding myself putting it in my camera bag. The 135 is tiny, plus the focus is quick and smooth, and, despite the many, many flaws in my particular copy (scratching, etching, haze, sticky aperture ring, you name it), I still find something special about the images it produces. I've got other telephoto options, but none have the impact the little 135 does for so little weight and space in the bag.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crowe Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>Nikon 200mm f2 AI and Nikon 400mm f2.8 AIS, both are very special. Pretty cool with the Nikon TC-16A too!</p> <p>I am very pleased with the 28/2 AIS, 50/1.4 AIS, and 135/2 AIS.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_olsen Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 <p>Zeiss 100 mm f2 Makro-Planar. Very sharp. $1600 and worth it.<br> Nikon 180mm f2.8. A classic from the film age that excels on digital sensors. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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