Good, but cheap lens for F90x

[tombaxter]

<p>Hi all - <br>

I'm new to this site and relatively new to film photography (having shot digital for the last 6 years or so) but have recently had the urge to shoot film.<br>

Amongst various Zenits, I got a nice F90x body recently and am looking for a good, general use lens that is pretty cheap - so third party seems to be the only option. And by cheap, I mean less that £100. Secondhand is great and I am a frequent ebayer so all suggestions welcome.<br>

Alternatively, I also have a 55-200mm Sigma Zoom lens with M42 fitting - would this work equally well with an adaptor on the F90x?<br>

Any advice greatly appreciated!<br>

Cheers,<br>

Tom</p>

[Ian Rance]

<p>My suggestion is some of the great primes.</p>

<p>If you like wide angle work, then the 28mm f3.5 Ai is a lovely lens (50 pounds).<br>

If you enjoy working with 50mm lenses, the 50mm f2 Ai is again a superb lens for little money (40 pounds).<br>

For portraits and slight telephoto work, the 100mm f2.8 E is one of the best (50 pounds).</p>

<p>For a good zoom (28-105) you need to spend around £130.</p>

<p>The primes are all manual focus, but for trading off the AF, you get first rate optical quality for little cash.<br>

Ian</p><div></div>

[Ian Rance]

<p>And the 50mm f2</p><div></div>

[Ian Rance]

<p>And the 100mm E</p><div></div>

[Michael R Freeman]

<blockquote>For a good zoom (28-105) you need to spend around £130.</blockquote><P>

A very good (and cheap) alternative to the 28~105 is the earlier AF Nikkor 28~85mm f/3.5-4.5. Easily found on eBay for under £100. Look for the second version with the wider rubber focusing ring (the first version has a thin hard plastic focusing ring). I used this lens for several years, and actually preferred it to the 28~105mm. More info here:<br> <a href="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/AFNikkor/AF2885mm/index1.htm">http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/AFNikkor/AF2885mm/index1.htm</a>

<br><br><blockquote>Alternatively, I also have a 55-200mm Sigma Zoom lens with M42 fitting - would this work equally well with an adaptor on the F90x?</blockquote><P>

M42 -> Nikon F adapters require an element in the adapter to retain infinity focus. That usually means compromised optical quality, particularly with a zoom. You also lose auto-diaphragm function. I think you would be much happier with a native F-mount lens that fits without adapters.

[tombaxter]

<p>Many thanks guys - I'll let you know what I end up going for!</p>

<p> </p>

[bernie moore]

Ian, Cheez, you couldn't wait for a better car to come by before making that 28mm shot?

[andrew_storey]

<p>I would strongly recommend the 28-70 F3.5-4.5 D, a lens I bought with my n90s in 1998 and still use. It's lightweight, relatively fast and is a good performer. Keh.com sells them used for about 100 dollars or so.</p>

[luca_stramare2]

<p>As far as primes are considered, the 50 mm AF 1.8 is the cheapest route. If you want to spend even less, a 50 mm 1.8 E series can be found used for 20-30 dollars.<br>

Considering zooms, all the three choices: 28-70 F3.5-4.5 D, 28-105 F3.5-4.5 D and 28-85 F3.5-4.5 are good value for the money and it is only a matter of finding a good one at a reasonable price. The latter has a problem of vignetting if you use a polarizer on the wide angle setting.</p>

[tombaxter]

<p>Hi again,<br>

I have seen an old 50mm F2 lens (cannot post ebay link) and can probably get it for a good price, but will it fit (I'm not familiar with the AI/Non AI thing)?<br>

Also found a 50mm 1.8 - looks good, but not sure if AF or E? AF is not a priority as I favour manual focussing...<br>

Both are (currently) cheap, and auction for F2 lens ends very soon. Any further thoughts?<br>

Amazed by the swift responses, cheers all!<br>

tom</p>

[Michael R Freeman]

"I have seen an old 50mm F2 lens (cannot post ebay link) and can probably get it for a good price, but will it fit... "

 

What is the item number (don't need a link)?

 

Serial numbers 3500001 - 38xxxxx are AI and will fit. Any others are non-AI and will need to be converted to be safely mounted on a F90x.

 

"Also found a 50mm 1.8 - looks good, but not sure if AF or E?"

 

Again, what is the item number?

[tombaxter]

<p>Hi ...<br>

f2 item number is 280304623252,<br>

and 50mm f1.8 is 180322682635, both through ebay do co dot uk<br>

Many thanks!</p>

[Michael R Freeman]

"f2 item number is 280304623252"

 

Non-AI, and has not been AI converted, so this one will NOT fit your F90x.

[Michael R Freeman]

"and 50mm f1.8 is 180322682635"

 

Manual focus AIS Nikkor, the last version before it was discontinued around 2001. Perfectly safe to use on your F90x, and will work in A and M exposure modes.

 

This is the "Nikkor 50mm f/1.8s Mark III" lens near the bottom on this page: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/50mmnikkor/index6.htm

[tombaxter]

<p>Thanks so much for your advice Michael.</p>

<p>I'll definitely try and get the AIS Nikkor when the auction closes tomorrow...</p>

 

[Ian Rance]

<p>Tom,</p>

<p>That looks a nice lens - that model is one of Nikon's best 50mm lenses. If you are unfortunate and loose that auction, the 50mm f1.8 series E is almost exactly the same lens, but can be had for a lower cost (due to more use of plastic in the construction).</p>

<p>I am rooting for you to win though!</p>

<p>Ian</p>

<p>PS. Bernhardt, I waited for the car as it shows a mix of socialist and capitalist in modern Kiev. Such cars are becoming uncommon now sadly.</p>

[frank.schifano]

<p>I'm a big fan of the 50 mm f/1.8 AF-D lens. I have many other Nikkors, all of them primes, ranging from the 20 mm. f/3.5 to the 300 f/4.5 ED IF, but this one is practically welded to my N90s. Fantastically sharp and fast, it is also very inexpensive. You almost can't go wrong with this lens.</p>

[allardk]

<p>Hi Tom,<br>

If you're into manual lenses for that F90 I've got a 28 mm E series lying around doing nothing. My FE died when it fell off a cliff, my 50 and 135 were stolen when someone broke into the house and took the camera bag. All I have left of my manual Nikon system is the 28E. I don't need it (have a canon DSLR now) so you can have it for 10 euros plus what it costs to ship it to wherever you are from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.</p>

[peter]

<p>There are lots of good (and now) inexpensive contemporary zoom lenses from this era. I have and enjoy the 28-85 f3.5-4.5 AF and 70-210 f4.5-5.6 AF. Both in the later versions (not the early AF lens version.) I also own the 35 - 105 f3.5 -4.5 AF D. The D version which was the laast of these lenses was redesigned, ironically not too long before NIkon stopped making this elns and is rated highly by the few who have exprienced it unlike the earlier versions of the lens which are said to be very mediocre. The 35-70 f3.3 - 4.5 AF is a sleeper. Very cheap as it was seen as a kit lens and nothing more it is really quite sharp and contrasty with little distortion or other sins. The best cheap lens you cna get is a 50mm f1.8 AF. This little beauty is Sharp Sharp Sharp although a little plasticy in build.<br>

All of these can be picked up forvirtually a song on eBay and all take great pictures. (My standards are reasonably high too, although you have to remember with all of these lenses that you need to shoot them at medium apertures to get the best out of them.) If you want to know more check out Ken Rockwells assessment of these lenses (he has reviewed most of them) and also the MIR Nikon site.</p>

<p>I especially like this era of lenses as they are the last of the "real" nikkors. Heavy as sin and built like tanks. They lack some of the refinements of the latest kit but are still wonderful pieces of equipment - if you rmemebr these are all consumer / prosumer grade lenses not pro lenses.</p>

[tombaxter]

<p>Ian, Frank, Michael: Many thanks - I'm sold on an 50mm f/1.8 lens, and going to bid hard for it this evening!</p>

<p>Peter: Thanks for the advice, and as you say, a 50mm lens will be a good general purpose purchase - and thanks for the advice on the other lenses.</p>

<p>Allard: I would be interested in your 28mm E lens as an extra bit of kit for some variation. 10 euros is a very fair price - I will find out postage costs and get back to you. Cheers.</p>

<p>Everybody: I'm blown away by the quick and very helpful responses you've all given - after this first forum post I'm officially a convert to photo.net! Sounds cheesy but it's true ...</p>

<p>tom</p>

[tombaxter]

<p>Hi all - </p>

<p>I won the 50mm f1.8 - look forward to shooting with it when it arrives. </p>

<p>Thanks for all your advice!</p>