Nikon 135/2 AI or Nikon af 135/2 dc

[BelaMolnar]

<p>Expert help please. I like to buy a fast 135mm f/2 lens, (202.5mm on DX) but the AF 135mm f/2 DC is to expensive for me and I considering to buy a older, more solid build AI lens, the 135mm f/2, trough eBay, from Japan. U$568.00 It is a wise decision, or a stupid one?</p>

<p>Thank you for your help.</p>

[SCL]

<p>I used the 135/2.0 on a D100 for a year. Nice lens.</p>

[andylynn]

<p>I don't like the sound of buying something internationally on Ebay that's used and costs over $500. What about the 135/2.8 AI for $200 from Keh? BTW have you verified that your DX camera can use metering on an AI lens?</p>

[SCL]

<p>It's a digital camera, you can check exposure on the histogram with a test shot...you really don't need metering if you understand basic exposure theory and can read the histogram on your camera.</p>

[BelaMolnar]

<p>Stephen, I watching long time, local adds, and cant find this lens.<br /> Andrew, You right, I don't feel comfortable to order such a big item, from foreign placer, specially from Asia, far East countries. O.k., they may be an honest dealers, but how do I know. And a big money, plus the import tax, really not cheep at all. To bad, Nikon just ignoring this part of the business, regardless, so many people like to buy, new, from store, with warranty, lenses like 105/1.8 AI, 135/2 AI, Noct 58/1.2 AI. It is ridiculous, Nikon don't manufacturing the AF 28/1.4, when many photographer like to buy it, and in the private market, those lenses fetch 4-5-6000 dollars. I hate to see lenses optically good, but flimsy plastic bodied. The Nikon D300 and D700 is working perfectly with those lenses, I know, because I have a couple of it. The only thing is not there, and who care, the EXIF data, and they are manual lenses, some of them. I don't care of those either. EXIF, . . I hardly look of those anyway. Those expensive and good quality lenses, like 14-24, 24-70, 85/1.4 etc. the 14-24, I mostly using at 14mm, the only logical zoom lens is a 17-35/2.8 24-70/2.8, and 70, 80-200/2.8. Even the 80-200 is used mostly , in my case around the 200mm range, So is the 24-70 at the 24mm range most of the time. Then, those lenses are a big fat pigs. Of cause I speaking in my position as a landscape photographer. I would rather cary a small, but good 14,(don't has to be a 2.8 it would be good enough a 3.5 or even a f4) 18, 20 prime and 24-70 zoom. Or! 14/4Ed,(14 don't has to be AF at all. Like the 16 fish don't has to be AF too.) AF-S 17-35/2.8ED, AF-S 35-80/2.8ED. And also, from 80 I really like to have a prime 200/2.8 and a 400/4 I know, I know! Wishful thinking.</p>

[acarodp]

<p>Just a quick comment: I own a 135 DC I love, and find puzzling your comment about buying a "more solidly built AI lens". If there is a lens more solidly built than the 135 DC, I have yet to see it :-). But of course it is expensive. I got mine used, and this was the only way I was able to afford it, but not many of them show up on the used market, they are intrinsecally rare, and people tend to keep them. L.</p>

[BelaMolnar]

<p>Hi Luca. I didn't said the 105/2 DC is not a solid build, top notch lens. Just, to expensive, and in the used market still to expensive to me. Or very risky to buy something on eBay, no chance to inspect the item before you actually buying it. Locally, hard to find item. I wish, I have the money to buy from a local store, new, with warranty. And the other thing, I'm not a portrait photographer really, for landscape I don't know how useful this lens. But I need sometime in low light situation a fast lens, when I don't have a chance for using tripod.</p>