gabriel_roca Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Greetings, I am in need of opinions. I'm after a good nikon portrait lens (manuel focus) of high quality - something in the 135mm range. There are so many different types; AI, Non-AI, etc. etc. and I'd love to know which types you've all had good results with. I'll be buying used (as I usually do) so keep that in mind. Any opinions would be most welcom. Cheers,. -Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabriel_roca Posted October 22, 2003 Author Share Posted October 22, 2003 Excuse me, I meant to type: (Manuel Focus). Sorry, that's just embarrassing! -Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_greenberg Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 You might consider posting this to the Nikon forum, where the Nikon faithful reside en masse. You need also to say what kind of camera you are using, as this will relate to what kind of lens mount is appropriate for your purposes. For example, you will only want or accept "non-AI" if you own an old Nikon that employs the old rabbit-ears metering prong. You can get non-AI lenses "AI'd," and for that reason they can be a very good buy, but if you don't want to bother with this you want to get AI or AIS lenses (the differences between the two are pretty inconsequential for the vast majority of users). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_dewberry Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 The 135 AIS is a fine lens, the 180 ED AIS is a superb lens, pick your focal lenght, get an AIS lens, and go to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_green1 Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 And of course don't forget the legendary 105mm Nikkors. Every 105mm lens Nikon has ever made has been superb. Also, if you really are just looking for a portrait lens, IMHO, 135mm is a bit on the long side in terms of the perspective. Most folks I know prefer to shoot portraits with a lens in the 85mm to 105mm range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_karr Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Ed: Drawing from over 40 years experience [some might call it prejudice] using Nikons I would recommend the following for your use: Either the 85 or the 105 will work well. If you don't need the extra functions added on the AIS lens [and it is unlikely you will unless you have the FA or one of its close relatives] , I would suggest only looking at AI lenses. It is my experience that Nikon seriously cheapened construction on the AIS lenses. The AI's will last forever. Just look for smooth focusing and ap. ring operation since these are old lenses. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_green1 Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 I agree, AI lenses are better built than AIS lenses, and in most cases the optics are the same. Unless you have an FA, F4, or FG-20, and use the program exposure mode, the AIS lenses offer no useful added features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klix Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 I think your first decision should be focal length -- do you really want 135mm?? Or 105mm?? or 85mm?? (these are the popular choices, tho, IMO you can certainly use any focal length from 35mm on up -- even up to 180 or 200mm!!!). Once you decide, then you can select from among the selection in that focal length. For the popular focal lengths (each lens here has its own disciple, who'll swear by it, so I won't go there): 85 - 1.4 or 1.8 or 2.0 105 - 1.8 or 2.5 135 - 2.0 or 2.8 or 3.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cham_saranasuriya Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 85/1.4, 105/2.5 or 135/2 depending on the focal length you prefer. I have the 85/1.4 but eventually will buy a 105/2.5 as well. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_greenberg Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Hey Edward, Don't be embarrassed about typing "manuel." If I had a nickel for every time I encountered the misspelling of "lens" as "lense" within Photo.net I could afford a whole slew of new "lenses". . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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