We love our manual focus Nikkor lenses! Part 2
- Thread starter cichlid
- Start date
diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
I personally think that the hype that the high MP cameras like D800 or D600 can only be served by super expensive lens is not justified. I have the 55mm f/2.8 AiS Micro-Nikkor and it is one sharp lens, I am confident it will not let my D800 down. Problem is that I also have the AFD 60, AFS 60, AFD 105, AFS 105 and AFD 200. Haven't gone around shooting with the 55mm micro yet.
But I have shot with Ai 50mm f/2, Ai 80-200mm f/4.5, K 24mm f/2.8, Ai 28mm f/2 and many many more manual focus lenses and all of them have provided excellent images. Still have many more that I have not taken out for a spin.
Why would you need 1/3 stop aperture adjustments anyway? If you feel it is for exposure accuracy let the shutter speed take care of that. Just feel the aperture ring, the smoothness of the clicks when it is rotated, and how silky smooth and wonderful is the feeling of manually focusing a true MF lens.
bullterrier
Member
Found that my D600 AF focusing is somewhat off after change of shutter mechanism and I will be bringing it in for checking. Was still able to capture this with my 50mm f1.2 AIS.
Hi, you can refer to my photo on the caterpillar. #35. ：P. Although I am using 105mm, both the lens are of same caliber.
When you are using old manual lens, you cannot use the camera to control the aperture. You are and you have to control the aperture manually. In fact, you no need to care able 1/3 stops, 2/3 stops, etc, etc. As long you adjust the aperture until the desire brightness (the aperture may not be at the "click" stop), you can just release the shutter.
I am not sure about 55mm manual macro. For 105mm, when I am doing macro shot, the aperture will be closed down, therefore, you will need to do compensation (for the above shot, I give around +2 stop) to get the correct brightness.
I remembered reading somewhere saying that 80% or even 90% of macro capable lens are good lens. Therefore, you just need to get 1 and start shooting.
Hope this clear your doubts.
I like pre-AI lenses in part due to how smooth the focusing is. In terms of image quality, I don't seem to see much difference. But the caveat is that I'm pretty clueless about lens qualities. But here are a couple of shots taken using non-AI lenses on a film body.
Nikon 24mm f2.8 Non-AI. No sharpening done just changed added the Sepia tinge.
Nikon 50mm f1.4 S Non-AI. Straight from the scanner and no sharpening or anything.
Oops :embrass: Sorry, don't have a full frame DSLR. I've tried them on m43 but I guess that would be different as the crop factor is 2. I think got to wait for Ben to come in. IIRC, he has shot digital using AI'd lenses
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I have, but only a couple of them. many of the AIs lenses were available in AI and pre AI versions. in many cases, the optical formula was identical with the exception of lems coating. the earliest pre AI lenses had only single coatings, later ones with a C behind (eg, Nikkor-S C.) were multi coated. all later versions with rubber grips on the focus rings were also multi coated (btw, if it has a rubber ring but is pre AI, its called a 'K' type). for most lenses, the K, AI and Pre AI lenses have the same optical performance. so you could technically pay less for a K type lens and have the aperture ring modded and save some $.
some of the pre AI lenses i've tried and found to be good are the 24/2.8, 28/2, 35/2, 35/2.8(early version), 5cm/2, 50/2, 50/1.4, 5.8cm/1.4(only good on DX). the 10.5cm is also very good. the pre AI 85mm f/1.8 is the best slow manual focus 85 and easily out performs the newer 85/2. the nikkor O.C. 35/2 is also better than the newer 35/2 AIs.
as a general rule of thumb, stay away from the zooms and you ll be fine =)
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diediealsomustdive
Senior Member
For pre AI you need to watch out if it had been AiD so it can mount on D800 etc. Only D40, 60, 3xxx, 5xxx can mount pre Ai without mod.
I have a few pre Ai as well, only 2 converted to Ai by Nikon. The K 24mm f/2.8 is very good on D800. I have yet to shoot with my black nose pre Ai 28mm f/3.5 on my D800, but it was very good on DX (D300). The non converted ones are 5cm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 10.5cm f/2.5, 105mm f/2.5, all older type pre Ai lenses that I've only shot on DX and with D60 and D5000. Generally weaker rendition on color, lower contrast.
The Ai one that I'm happy with include 28mm f/2, 50mm f/2. The 80-200mm f/4.5 is sharp and sharper than the AiS f/4 version. Have not used the 28mm f/2.8 yet, rep is that it is not good on FX digital, but I'm not saying that. Shot the late version 43-86mm f/3.5 on D300 and am relatively happy with that as well.
AiS lenses lenses I've used include E75-150mm f/3.5 (very good), 80-200mm f/4 (quite good, not as good as the f/4.5 or the E75-150), 105mm f/2.5 (very good), 55mm f/2.8 micro-Nikkor Going to test my first Nikkor (during film days) 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 soon.
Who want to know & learn more about the Nikkor lens history & specifications,visit this :devil: Nikon Lens Specifications
bullterrier
Member
50mm f1.2, shot fully open 1/125
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