We love our manual focus Nikkor lenses!

[shouyi]

You can focus using the electronic rangefinder in your camera, but it takes some getting used to. Personally, I use manual lenses because my dad has them still in good condition, so I rather use them instead of spending more money on other glass.

Thanks. Even after getting used to, is it quick to obtain focus (let's not compare with AF) - speed as a relativity-thingy. As per it does not take ages to focus it.

I am hearten that lenses are built to 'last'. That reminds me to invest on better lenses and maintain them well.. .. for my kids when they grow up! :bsmilie:

 

[daredevil123]

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?

1. Solid built.
2. Last longer (No electronics, no micro motor to break).
3. Some of the optics are just simply wonderful.
4. And they don't make them like they used to.
5. Some of the manual lens have been in my family since the 70s. So it is a family tradition thing.

Sure new technology is good too, but now it is all about making maximum profit for the stockholders.

I use a split prism focusing screen in my cam. Loving it. But nothing beats the enormous viewfinder of the F2.

 

[cichlid]

5.8 CM f/1.4 pre AI. the first nikon F normal lens. not very sharp wide open, but the bokeh is first class!

all on D200 wide open

Nice shots, what's the market price for the 5.8cm f1.4 lens?

It's a SLR, not RF lens right?

 

[Ben Ang]

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?

cos they re solid! the build quality is amazing.. which is why i also convert minolta and konica(in the processes of) lenses to use on my nikons. cos they re more solid. i like good looking lenses, they make me want to shoot with them.

cheaper! i can get a 135 f2 for less than half the price of the AF-D version and get that mega shallow dof. same goes with all of them

Image quality. alot of lenses have been compromised to be smaller, cheaper, auto focus faster and alot of the time it reduces the image quality. some MF primes are pretty much as good as they get.

cos AF is boring... MF makes it more engaging and challenges me each time i take a shot. it gives me complete control so i can snap the picture whenever i want in stead of having to wait for the cam to focus.

character. this one's subjective. new lenses are sharp and just plain... they re designed to be as neutral as possible and have no 'special sauce' that makes them different. each of the lenses i choose have a different rendition sort of like their own character that i use to bring out something in the image. the 5.8cm 1.4 for example. terrible coma flare, but very very unique overall rendition.

5. The sound of precision click's when you turn the aperture ring. New nikon lens are mostly "G" type and no longer have aperture rings.

since then i have obtained a scallop barrel pre-ai nikkor-o 35mm f2, a 24mm f2 ais ( which i am still testing!).

how's the 24 f/2? any shots to share =) the aperture ring is a must for me! i use it even with AF lenses. its so much faster to just set it on the lens. was sooooo happy when i found out the 17-35 had the ring. thought i had to live without it

Thanks. Even after getting used to, is it quick to obtain focus (let's not compare with AF) - speed as a relativity-thingy. As per it does not take ages to focus it.:

try putting in a split focus screen. it really speeds things up. it ll take afew months to get used to it, but after that can liao. i can almost manage moving targets now...

I use a split prism focusing screen in my cam. Loving it. But nothing beats the enormous viewfinder of the F2.

+1! F2 finder is amazing...

Nice shots, what's the market price for the 5.8cm f1.4 lens?

It's a SLR, not RF lens right?

thanks! yes, its a F-mount SLR lens. the first normal lens for the system. i got it off ebay by accident together with one of the bodies.. but i think they go about 200-400USD on ebay.

i was just looking at a really nice 2.1cm f4... but no budget =\

 

[Kit]

2nd one is just fantastic! love them!!! did you use the tilt/shift for any of them?

lovely shots from the pc-e :thumbsup:

Thanks folks.

I shifted for the 2nd photo to get more sky. The horizon would be at the centre of the frame otherwise. No movement used for the other 2 photos.

 

[anuar ahmad]

Taken with my D2H, 85mm f1.4 AIS @1/25s, wide open, iso200, hand-held



love all my manual nikkor prime lenses...some of it has been with me since '84.

 

[DOFoto]

Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to Clubsnap. More of a lurker actuall,y reading posts and not really partaking in discussions. However I felt compelled to join in this one mainly because the idea of manual focus lenses interests me.

As we know, Nikon has released updates of their fast primes; the G versions of the 24, 35 and 85mms.

I've been looking online for direct comparisons between these lenses and their manual focus counterparts. I'm particularly interested in differences in coating used or glass. Does anyone know if there's a huge difference in terms of texture and tone of the photo when using AF vs manual focus lenses?

Would love to hear some opinions or links to studies done on this.

Thanks guys!

Azmir

 

[ZeroDivine]

Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to Clubsnap. More of a lurker actuall,y reading posts and not really partaking in discussions. However I felt compelled to join in this one mainly because the idea of manual focus lenses interests me.

As we know, Nikon has released updates of their fast primes; the G versions of the 24, 35 and 85mms.

I've been looking online for direct comparisons between these lenses and their manual focus counterparts. I'm particularly interested in differences in coating used or glass. Does anyone know if there's a huge difference in terms of texture and tone of the photo when using AF vs manual focus lenses?

Would love to hear some opinions or links to studies done on this.

Thanks guys!

Azmir

24mm has no 1.4 , so the comparison is only between 24 f/2 ais and 24 1.4 AF-S. This one from what I've seen online, no comparison. the af-s smokes it all the way in terms of 3d look and texture/rendering. I do own the af-s one btw, and it continues to amaze me even today.

The 35 1.4 ais vs G has been compared by bjornn roslett. The latest nano one has better 'pop' and micro contrast. and edges are much sharper too. But then it's about 2x the price. Bokeh is also alot smoother than the old ais one, which is kinda rough and edgy (though some like this)

If you can afford, those G nano primes are about as good as it gets and IMHO, challenges the Leica M primes/Cosina Zeiss in terms of optic quality for much lesser price. And that says alot, since the M leicas are widely regarded as some of the finest 35mm lenses.

 

[DOFoto]

ZeroDivine,

My apologies, you're right, the 24mm has no 1.4 manual focus. I was caught up in the 'fast primes' train of thought that I totally missed it. Sounds like the new G versions of the fast primes definitely pwn the manual focus ones, but as you said, at double the cost.

Any comparison between the 85mm 1.4s?

And many thanks for the concise review

Azmir

 

[daredevil123]

ZeroDivine,

My apologies, you're right, the 24mm has no 1.4 manual focus. I was caught up in the 'fast primes' train of thought that I totally missed it. Sounds like the new G versions of the fast primes definitely pwn the manual focus ones, but as you said, at double the cost.

Any comparison between the 85mm 1.4s?

And many thanks for the concise review

Azmir

More than double.

And if you have some older camera bodies, G lenses won't work.

 

[ngck12]

take a look at http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/85mm-f14-afs.htm for comparison of the 85s. Some people may not like the new one because of its nervous bokeh. If the new G primes doesnt outperform the older nikkors i think no one would be buying Nikon anymore. Most of the new 1.4 primes cost about 2k plus, if you're lucky you can get the 35/85 1.4 at 600 at BnS, thats 4x cheaper.

 

[DOFoto]

@ Daredevil123,

You're right, more than double actually. It's insane actually the price of these new G models (no offence to those who own them, kudos to you, honestly). And it is unfortunate that it won't work on the older bodies like an FE. If they only made the aperture adjustable externally.

@ngck12,

Thank you for the Ken Rockwell link. You mentioned BnS? Where is that? If it is a camera shop could you point me in the general direction e.g. Peninsula Plaza etc? I'm actually from Kuala Lumpur but come down to Singapore often for family gatherings. Would love to get my hands on a 35mm f1.4 ais for $600; here in KL they go for about $330 more which is equivalent to RM800.

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate this.

Azmir

 

[DOFoto]

My bad, just realised that BnS is BUY AND SELL as in the forum on CS.

Thanks again.

Azmir

 

[ZeroDivine]

My bad, just realised that BnS is BUY AND SELL as in the forum on CS.

Thanks again.

Azmir

600 dollars is a steal for 35mm 1.4 ais that condition bro.
go for it
used to own one , bought @ 500 iirc, but my condition like gone to war haha.. and had gone through fungus attack before. crazy, but still performs well haha

 

[giantcanopy]

Wow. How was this edited?

Stitched by taking individual frames shifted!

Beautiful photos :thumbsup:

tq wmayeo

 

[Akatsuki]

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?

Yes u can use your current focusing screen, alternatively, you can opt for manual focus focusing screen or those split prism to make your life easier... AI/AIS Lens will give you focus confirmation through the VF... though it takes a bit of time to get the hang of it...

I LOVE the mechanical build feel of manual lens and the image quality is astonishing! It is great to own a piece/s of such fine mechanical and optical engineering product.... things we don't get in modern plastic lens anymore... Get one and you will know what we mean

 

[Ben Ang]

i think that by adding a tab on the lens to indicate minimum aperture has been set, you ll be able to use the G lenses in S and P modes on models like the FA and FG... but its just speculation. i don't have any G lenses, but might be possible..

it is also possible to design a slider that you place on the aperture tab in the lens mount. i used scotch tape on my tokina 12-24 so i could shoot wide open with my FA. if you know the stops to put it at, you ll get a preset lens! if not, you can at least have 3 settings, wide open, and about 5.6 and fully closed.

 

[greengoblin]

Optics really no horse run for some of these mf lens.

You just gain a sense of satisfaction doing a hit at f1.2 when mf-ing

The vignetting is very nice for the 50mm f1.2

 

[snowc]

Just share a few photos taken with Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 Pre-AI. Its a very old lens but still in excellent condition (Like new). Perhaps it will outlast me

 

[azzurri]

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?

1. the feel and looks on a manual camera
2. price to performance ratio
3. built