Just wondering..Any nikonians crazy over manual nikkors like me and still use them?

[brian]

Going OT for a while over here. I'm currently looking at some highly rated (so I hear) non-nikkor AIS lenses, for example the Voigtlander 40mm f2 ASPH SL for AIS, and the Topcor 58mm f1.4 AIS mount. Unfortunately information on these lenses are very hard to come by. They are all made by Cosina, so I'm sure they rollout of the same factory as the Zeiss lenses.

By the way, didn't get the 200mm f4 AIS last week. Didn't find a nice specimen. They're damn cheap though.

 

[TMC]

I am surprised that you didnt get one even tho that they are cheap. I picked up 105/4 micro lense cheap although most people will prob balk at the condition of the glass. Why pass up a good deal when the glass still can give you good image quality?

 

[brian]

I am surprised that you didnt get one even tho that they are cheap. I picked up 105/4 micro lense cheap although most people will prob balk at the condition of the glass. Why pass up a good deal when the glass still can give you good image quality?

1. Too many overlapping glasses at that range
2. its not a focal length I use a lot, I probably use <100mm 99% of the time.

 

[Celebring]

Sorry I didn't read through all 15 pages, but is there anyone in Singapore that can convert pre-AI lens to AI? I know there are some overseas, but the cost of shipping...

 

[XC Pictorial]

I'm in Tokyo this week and planning to get my hands on a used 200 f4 AIS (less than 6000yen?) since its dirt cheap. HOping to pair it with PN11 for a nice hiking macro lens. Will let you know about how the lens handles.

Just got the 200mm F4 today..

coupled with my PN11 originally made for 105f4 micro...

Haven really tried any macro shots but it reduces the min focusing distance from 2m to slightly more than 0.5m... rough estimate about 1:2 mag..

Coupled with another good closeup filter should give a good 1:1

Cheap 200f4 micro

surprisingly as well the lens actually a 9 bladed aperture (check out the bokeh) , most other AI/AIS only have 6-7blades, the only other one i remember seeing is the 50f1.2

 

[brian]

Let me know once you have enough play with the poor man's 200mm f4 Micro (200mm f4 + PN11 + closeupfilter) ! I'm interested to know about the focusing plane and bokeh, I know that some of the macro shots with improvised system (105mm with 50mm reversed mounted for etc) have a focusing plane that doesn't look flat, ok if you are interested in the centre of the image only.

And I assume that the 200 f4 AIS is a killer for infinity focused shots as well.

I bought my Voigtlander 40mm f2 SL ASPH last week, and I love it. 1cm shorter than a 50mm f1.8, and almost a cm longer than a 45mm f2.8P pancake. Cosina's aperture clicks and focusing ring feels much better than some AIS, and built like a Zeiss. Comes also with a 9 blade aperture, and out of focus areas have this nice round look to it.

 

[XC Pictorial]

Got the lens cheap cos the insides are not totally clean..

This morning had some time before leaving home i jus open the front element of the lens to clean underneath he first element off some dust and stains.. the rest got dust but too lazy to do anything.

Due to the low light condition, i haven tried out the macro combi, but i took some shots with the 200F4 alone, focus at far... Stopped down to f5.6 really give superb pin sharp image. Hope to do more test on friday, both the macro and the bokeh.

I dont have a 52mm closeup filter, anyone willing to lend? or maybe a 52mm to 52mm reverse ring to attach on the 50f1.2 to try out superb more than 1:1 macro? :bsmilie:

 

[brian]

I don't have a 52mm closeup, only got one of those 62mm ones (5T, 6T). Even if I have one I'm in Shanghai!

If the 200mm f4 works well with PN11 even without the closeup, I'm wondering what a 200mm f2 AIS Macro would be like. That would be a crazy combo! Saw a few in Tokyo, and I think one was going for about 90kYen (1200S$)... lucky reason prevailed that day, or else I'll have to upgrade my dry cabinet again.

 

[XC Pictorial]

I don't have a 52mm closeup, only got one of those 62mm ones (5T, 6T). Even if I have one I'm in Shanghai!

If the 200mm f4 works well with PN11 even without the closeup, I'm wondering what a 200mm f2 AIS Macro would be like. That would be a crazy combo! Saw a few in Tokyo, and I think one was going for about 90kYen (1200S$)... lucky reason prevailed that day, or else I'll have to upgrade my dry cabinet again.

actually why do need a large aperture lens for macro?

often i find the DOF already so thin.. esp when shooting insects..

 

[lsisaxon]

actually why do need a large aperture lens for macro?

often i find the DOF already so thin.. esp when shooting insects..

So that you can still choose to shoot human portraits with it? ;p

 

[zac08]

actually why do need a large aperture lens for macro?

often i find the DOF already so thin.. esp when shooting insects..

Easier to focus?? Coz at times, when shooting macros, we're often caught in low light areas.

 

[brian]

Easier to focus?? Coz at times, when shooting macros, we're often caught in low light areas.

I wouldn't say so... the viewfinder is definitely brighter, but you have very little tolerance for the infocused area. But I'd go with the artistic options that you have when you have very wide apertures for macro...

 

[XC Pictorial]

Easier to focus?? Coz at times, when shooting macros, we're often caught in low light areas.

Possibly.. but this is more like a nice feature to have.

I believe more in training my own eye for MF, in any case the viewfinder in D200 is alr a god sent compared to the lower end DSLRs.

When shooting macro of flowers, i sometimes still can use f2.8 to create painting effects..

However, for insects such as dragonfly, something like F2.8 will give probly only the hairs infocus and everything else out. Not exactly what i want most of the time.

This is probably why im already satisfied with the 105f4 micro, 55f3.5 micro and not try getting more.

 

[XC Pictorial]

So that you can still choose to shoot human portraits with it? ;p

ideally if price is not an issue...

but for the price of fast macro lens, you can get much faster non macro lens

 

[XC Pictorial]

Let me know once you have enough play with the poor man's 200mm f4 Micro (200mm f4 + PN11 + closeupfilter) ! I'm interested to know about the focusing plane and bokeh, I know that some of the macro shots with improvised system (105mm with 50mm reversed mounted for etc) have a focusing plane that doesn't look flat, ok if you are interested in the centre of the image only.

No reverse mount, no close up filter, just 200F4 and PN11...

Here is a preview shot, will put up more indepth analysis soon

 

[htthach]

i'm gonna go back to VN next week to pickup a 600mm f/4 AIS (i think got IF ED ... i'm blur abt nikon)
u guys know how to check an old MF lens?

 

[XC Pictorial]

i'm gonna go back to VN next week to pickup a 600mm f/4 AIS (i think got IF ED ... i'm blur abt nikon)
u guys know how to check an old MF lens?

How much?

 

[htthach]

2k plus and an air ticket

 

[XC Pictorial]

2k plus and an air ticket

If slightly more than 2K then worth it.. can help me buy one too?

 

[lsisaxon]

i'm gonna go back to VN next week to pickup a 600mm f/4 AIS (i think got IF ED ... i'm blur abt nikon)
u guys know how to check an old MF lens?

Look through it make sure the optics are ok. If possible borrow a MF body, a D200 or D2X to check to see if the aperture mechanism still functions properly. But anyway, $2k is a steal, once you bring it back I'm sure there will be many willing to help you check out the lens and maybe get it fixed if something is not right.