Are You missing a Trick?

paulr

Nikon and other manufactures are always bringing new lenses out to satisfy the demand of todays photographers, the latest technology offers us reasons why we must have them, even though they cost thousands of £/$.
However Nikon have made some incredible lenses over the years, these lenses are often offered on Ebay at a fraction of the original cost and enable good photographers opportunities lenswise, which can match the results, new lenses can offer.
Downside is that a lot of finest lenses Nikon mades were manual focus AIS type lenses, which seems to be a problem for the modern generation of photographers.
I recently purchased a 30 year old Nikon 800mm Prime lens and found the pleasure and quality this lens can produce unbelievable. Ok it will be hard to capture fast moving objects, but not impossible. When I consider that the capital outlay was less than 7.5% of todays modern equivalent, I can live with that.

Maybe you could find yourself a Lens without breaking the bank and enjoy the pleasure these old lenses can give.

Samko

I got myself a old Nikkor 135mm 2.8 Ais for 60$. I have no problems getting subjects in focus, its just amazing. The thing I like the most is when I try to focus and I can see the DOF move nice and slow. I have no problem getting BIF sharp on F:4 , 4-5 frames but its digital so it for free.

I plan to get more MF lenses, the next lens is going to be a Nikkor 50mm 1.2.

Nikoniser

This was true a few years ago, but the modern super zooms like the 200-500 and the Sigma 150-600 have made the older lenses telephotos look very dated.

And I have had a good number of Nikon Manual telephoto lenses, 400 F3.5, 400 f5.6, 500 f4P.

The big problem of the older lenses is CA wide open, even in the center of the frame, stop them down to f8 and they perform very well indeed...but when you can get a modern handholdable Nikon with AF VR for just over 1000bucks with great optics wide open why bother ?

Pistnbroke

+++ Nikoniser

NSXTypeR

Optics is derived from physics, and it doesn't change much, last time I checked.

If you can deal with manual focus and no modern coatings, you can probably pick up some great glass.

I personally never grew up with manual focus, so I can't deal with that.

Ironheart

@NSXTypeR Yes, the physics of optics are well understood, but breakthroughs in material science happen all the time. Fluorite lens elements are an example of this. The practical application of phase fresnel or diffractive optics took a breakthrough in optical physics to be able to harness this in a consumer lens. The older lens designs are subject to CA and other astigmatism which ultimately limit their resolution. The use of computers to calculate and model better lens design can not be underestimated, and is why modern designs are able to limit aberrations. Finally, the use of composite materials that have little to no thermal expansion coefficient enable these designs to deliver the best possible image across a range of physical conditions that was unthinkable with glass and metal designs.

Welcome to the 21st century! That being said, I just picked up a 85mm f/1.8 Ai-S that I love This is added to my 50mm f/1.4 Ai-S, and a 50mm Nikon E series all from the 70's

For the price, and for fun and enjoyment these can't be beat, but they won't perform as well optically as their modern counterparts.

dissent

I'm not against this in principle (could really be fun!), but if I buy another lens right now I think my head and my wallet will both explode.

NSXTypeR

Honestly, if I had the disposable income, I'd pick up manual focus lenses too. Optical performance aside, they're so pretty and beautifully made, especially when they come with the metal hoods. The precise, smooth action of the manual focus ring is really nice too. Plus, I have my dad's FM2 to pair up with that glass, so there's actually a good reason to get some.

My wallet wouldn't explode, but it'd be awfully empty.

framer

I bought a 200 f4 Ais in super beater condition on fleabay for around $5.00. It had about 10% of paint left but the optics were clear and not even a coating scratch. I've tested it against my older 70-200 f.2,8 vr 1 @200 and it preformed much better than the newer lens.

I've also come to believe that a well used lens is a great lens.

I also have and use:

15mm f/3.5 Ais, this lens great, I don't care what KR said about it. Interior car and airplane photo are fabulous using this lens.

16mm f/3.5 AI'd, this IMHO is the best FF fisheye and fun lens.

28mm f/2.8 Ais full time in my case. My #1 pano lens.

50mm f/1.4 Ais sits on shelve.

105mm f/2.5 Ais sits on shelve. I just can't let myself to get rid of this lens. Under the right condition I might still use it or have it buried along with my F4 when I die.

framer

WestEndFoto

One of my tenants died a month or so ago and there does not seem to be any relatives claiming his possessions. If nobody steps forward, it is mine. The loot includes a dozen Nikon Fs with various Ai, Ais and D lenses attached, some F3s with lenses attached, an 85 1.8G, a 400 2.8 Ais, an 800 8.0 Ais, two Gitzco tripods with RRS heads. The D800 manual does not have a camera and the 300 2.8 VR1 case has no lens, so I think he sold those to pay for his prescrptions. Also a couple of view cameras and Hasselblad film camera.

There is some fun stuff in this collection.

heartyfisher

Maybe if there are stuff you dont want you can give it as a prize on the forum as a memorium for the poor guy. He was a Nikon user after all, I am sure if we knew him we probably would have got on well.

autofocus

I found a Nikon AFS Nikkor ED 500mm f/4D for $3000. The lens looks like it's in excellent condition. Very few marks and the glass is clean. Question, is this a deal or should I pass. Includes the HK-34 Carbon Fibre Hood and CT-502 Hard Case.

WestEndFoto

heartyfisher said:

Maybe if there are stuff you dont want you can give it as a prize on the forum as a memorium for the poor guy. He was a Nikon user after all, I am sure if we knew him we probably would have got on well.

Actually, he has more Canon than Nikon.........that is going to a Canonista friend of mine.

Nikoniser

autofocus said:

I found a Nikon AFS Nikkor ED 500mm f/4D for $3000. The lens looks like it's in excellent condition. Very few marks and the glass is clean. Question, is this a deal or should I pass. Includes the HK-34 Carbon Fibre Hood and CT-502 Hard Case.

I have the 600F4 AFS non VR - it is an *exceptional* lens. No CA wide open in the center so no blue/red edges on birds against bright skies, amazingly quick autofocus and tracking ( much faster than any of the modern zooms ) and possibly my sharpest lens, even on D7100 and D810 with very high pixel density.

The later exotic primes :

Are lighter
A hair fraction faster to focus
Have VR
Focus closer.
Slightly sharper at f4

All of which are important features for pro wildlife users, however the older lens is perfectly capable of getting amazing shots and is still a better option than the 200-500 if you can handle the weight.

Put it on a Carbon Gitzo 3 series tripod and give it a Carbon Nest NT530 Gimball

Nikoniser

Here is a 100% crop of a Squirrel taken with a D7100 and 600f AFS

spraynpray

Yep. That's sharp! 1/400th too - nice.

paulr

Nikoniser What distance was the lens to subject please.

Nikoniser

7/8 Meters ? This is (nearly) the full shot https://flic.kr/p/EgqAqG

Msmoto

While I am not going to purchase any manual focus lenses soon, I have four from the 1960's....yes, 1960's, and they are tack sharp.

NIKKOR-O Auto 1:2 f=35mm
NIKKOR-N Auto 1:2.8 f=24mm
NIKKOR-P Auto 1:4.5 f=300mm
NIKKOR-H Auto 1:1.8 f=85mm

Here is a large file of the 85mm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/8706075576/sizes/o/

WestEndFoto

Mine are only a couple of years old, currently in production and have been in production since the early 80s. They are the 20 2.8, 24 2.8, 28 2.8 and 50 1.2, all AIS. I also have a brand new 24 3.5 PC and 40 Voigtlander 2.0.

spraynpray

Yeah, how are you getting on with the 24 PC?

WestEndFoto

I have not had much of a chance to test it yet. Maybe if I had a baby building.

paulr

I had the Nikon 24 PC, but found it unfriendly to use ,so sold it and got the Schneider 90 PC lens a lot easier to use, i know some people love the Nikon version , but sadly it did not work for me.

WestEndFoto

I have tested it enough to see that it is unfriendly, but I anticipated that when I ordered it.

Paperman

Oh, it must be my poor poor uncle living on the West End that passed away. Such a Nikon fan & collector he was. I'd better come and collect whatever is left

WestEndFoto

Give me the address and it is yours. But even if you have a list of all the addresses, you only have a one in nineteen hundred chance of getting the right one.