Buying new Ai-S lenses in 2015

[scott_murphy5]

<p>All of my lenses, from 6mm f/2.8 fisheye to 600mm f/4 ED IF are AI and AIS and they are all workhorses. I have no use for autofocus to be honest and work 95% of the time in manual, both film and digital. The older AIS Nikkors are built to a level of mechanical perfection that none of the ones today can match. Some of mine date to the early 1980's and they focus as butterly smoothly and operate as well as they did when they were brand new. How many of the latest autofocus lenses will still be in use 30+ years from now?</p>

[scott_murphy5]

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<p ><a name="00dPJp"></a><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=945968">Ian Rance</a> <a href="/member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10plus.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jul 25, 2015; 04:30 p.m.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the thoughts. You know what I think I find I get better focused photos with these Ai-S lenses than when I use my AF versions. Perhaps that is just because they make me think more - or maybe just my AF technique needs work.</p>

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<p>When I ordered my D700 several years back I also ordered a microprism/ground glass screen from focusingscreens.com. Since all of my MF, it was the logical choice. I love my AI/AIS lenses and will never part with them. Most of them I could use to smash the new ones into little pieces and not even scratch the paint.</p>

 

[jeff h.]

<p>I recently (2014) purchased a new Nikkor 50/1.2 from B&H. I have always wanted to try this lens, and when I got a new Df body, it was the first "new" lens I purchased. This lens will allow you to turn night shots into daylight pictures. It has the biggest chunk of glass (in the front element) I think I've ever seen! The build quality is superlative, and the focus feel is phenomenal.</p>

[andylynn]

I like AIS lenses but I don't think I'd buy them new. I have a few I use that I got off eBay for practically nothing - a 24/2.8, a

35/2.0, a 55/2.8 macro and a 105/2.5. They all stand up to use on high res FX sensors, but manual focus and DSLRs

don't go together so well and really the best thing about the whole experience is the fun of snagging a cool lens for under

$100 by careful use of eBay. (Which I say with the recognition that not everybody would think that's fun.)

[scott_murphy5]

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<p ><a name="00dQBs"></a><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=4802905">Andy L</a> <a href="/member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10plus.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Aug 03, 2015; 02:21 p.m.</p>

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<p>I like AIS lenses but I don't think I'd buy them new............ but manual focus and DSLRs don't go together so well ................</p>

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<p>This is only really true Andy if you are using the <em>standard</em> focusing screen found in DSLR's. Let's face, it, they were never really designed to provide critical manual focusing, most especially in low light. My solution was to get a microprism/ground glass focusing screen for my D700. It makes manual focusing a snap, especially in low light, and although I do not personally own any AF lenses, I have mounted a few on the D700 and they autofocus just fine with the microprism screen. I guess you could say they provide the best of both worlds.</p>

 

[everstar]

<p>MF lenses are awesome! They represent a tremendous value when buying used. Checkout NikkorGlass.com where you can read and submit reviews, see samples and research MF lemses!<br>

I use them almost every day now despite having some really nice AF glass as well.<br>

Mark</p><div></div>

[Albins images]

<p>I've been using the old and tiny 20/3.5 a lot on th D800 recently. That works well.<br />The corners might not be exceptional .. but who looks at corners?<br>

Would I buy it new.. probably not. Then I'd rather have the Zeiss lenses.<br />Would I recommend second hand AIS lenses (105/2.8, 400/3.5, 55/3.5, 50/2.0 etc.) ?<br />Definitely!</p>