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How does my 24mm AI stand up to modern alternatives?


sl attanapola

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I currently use an old 24mm f2.8 AI lens on my F90s for wide angle

shots.I have recently acquired a minolta 24-85mm new shape lens for my

Dynax 5 which I do not think is as good although distortion and flare

is better!

I am wondering if there are any better alternatives available for

300GBP/600 USD and under for either body?It does not matter if they

are new or secondhand.Is it worth spending more?Are the wide angle

zooms of the last few years better than prime lens?

 

Any useful comments willl be much appreciated!

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"How does my 24mm AI stand up to modern alternatives?"

 

very, very well. The 28mm AIS is better, though.

 

"Are the wide angle zooms of the last few years better than prime lens?"

 

No.They're probably worse- particularly in the price range you mentioned. If you don't need autofocus the old, manual primes are the way to go.

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In the 24/2.8, it's about a wash. <a href="http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/

nikkor.shtml">Photodo.com</a>'s tests results give the MF version (AI or AIS) a final

score of 3.8, the AF (non-D) a 3.7 - not a significant difference. I have the same 24/2.8 AI

on my N90s (& the 28/2.8). The answer above regarding pro zooms seems to be

correct. The old primes surpass modern consumer & "prosumer" zooms (& even

some AF primes) in many ways, but the modern pro zooms (assuming they fit your

budget) are another story.

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It's probably one of the sharper lenses that you can buy for a decent price, especially when you're comparing to the consumer level (g series) stuff that. The g series lenses i'm talking about are the 28-80, 28-100, and the 70-300. Those are the worst lenses i've seen nikon put out in a long time. I have the AIS version of the 24, but i don't think that they're that different. I love the lens, it's almost always on my camera.
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For travel photography (and a lot of editorial assignments as well) my 20-35 2.8 Nikkor is the lens most often mounted on my camera. Beautiful!! A Nikon classic. I also have a 24 AIS and it is SO small and sharp that it always goes along as a backup or teemed with a 50 if I just want to carry a camera around and maybe take some shots.
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Litle correction.<br>

On www.photodo.com <br>

Nikkor MF - AI 24mm f2.8 hase rated average MTF 3.9 and <br>

Nikkor AF 24/2,8 Grade: 3.7 <br>

Nikkor AF 20-35/2,8 D IF Grade: 3.6 <br>

 

But on 'Swedish Lens Test' page <br>

http://www.nikonlinks.com/~nicke/photo/lenstest/foto.html <br>

you can find this: <br>

name type focal f-stop MTF <br>

Nikon AF 20 2.8 MTF 3.6 <br>

Nikon AF 24 2.8 MTF 3.8 <br>

Nikon AF 28 2.8 MTF 3.4 <br>

Nikon AF 35 2 MTF 4.0 <br>

Nikon AF D 20-35 2.8 MTF 3.8 <br>

and

Nikon Ais 24 2 MTF 3.8 <br>

Nikon Ais 24 2.8 MTF 4.0 <br>

Nikon Ais 28 2 MTF 4.0 <br>

Nikon Ais 28 2.8 MTF 4.3 <br>

Nikon Ais 35 2 MTF 3.5 <br>

Nikon Ais 35 2.8 MTF 3.3 <br>

<br>

And thet is more accurat by my point of view. <br>

<br>

I have 24mm AIS and Tokina AF193 19-35mm 3.5-4.5 <br>

<br>

Tokina AF 20-35 3.5-4.5 MTF 3.4 <br>

but I think that it is Cosina under the skin. <br>

Cosina AF 19-35 3.5-4.5 MTF 3.3 <br>

<br>

And I still carry thet MF 24mm in my bag. <br>

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I made a MISTAKE my Tolikna AF193 19-35mm 3.5-4.5 is opticaly <br> identical from(but starting from 19 not 20mm) to old Tokina AF 203 20-35. <br>

<br>

Thet means that photodo-s <br>

Grade: 3.3 35mm/AF Tokina AF 20-35/3,5-4,5 <br>

Grade: 2.5 35mm/AF Tokina AF AT-X 20-35/2,8 Pro <br>

can be APPLIED to Tolikna AF193. <br>

<br>

I realy enjoy in useng my Tokina. It hase exelent sharpnes and contrast, <br>

realy neutral color (nikon is slightly orange, canon and sigma are <br>

slightly yellow), but Nikkor mf24 is prime and yet better. <br>

<br>

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The 24/2.8 is the same design in AF or MF versions. You are just shooting a much sturdier

lens- the AF 24 is still in a cheap plastic barrel. As sharpness goes- the 24 prime is

excellent- with none of the moustache distortion found in the Nikkor 24-85 (non G

version) I'd stick with the AI- despite the little hood.

-Robert

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