A lot depends on what Nikon camera bodies you will be using. Will you be using pre Ai lens, manual focus Ai and Ais lenses or auto focus. For instance, I have a good knowledge of pre Ai and Ai, Ais lenses, but not much about the later auto focus lenses .
It is hard to go wrong with the 105 f:2.5 and the 35 f:2 and you already know about the 50. There many threads on all these lenses...check them out.
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Considering your camera bodies, you should consider only Ai or Ais lenses.
Hey Robert,
I'm actually just interested in the 35mm focal length. I use an FE2 and Fm2n, so no autofocus capabilities. The 35mm 2.0 AF-D is a nice lens from what I've read, and I could just use in manually, but it runs about $300 or so, compared to the E series at about $50!
I know some folks look down on the series E lenses, but I have the 50mm and it's wonderful. They are practically as light and small as rangefinder lenses!
Mark
You may have to pay more...the E series at about $50!
Hi RicardoI would discourage you from buying any AI'd converted lens if you ever want to use an EM/FG/FG-20 series, a FA or a F4. They don't like "half baked" AI lens.
The conversion only respects 3 elements of the AI specification. The 4th element is left behind: the max aperture post on the mount. The reason is very simple:
At the time Nikon introduced the AI mount, there wasn't a body that could take advantage of the full AI spec, so no one paid attention to the little tab or block at the bottom of the lens. Only with the EM in 79 was the Max Aperture Post used for the first time. On the EM it is to set the Auto Aperture with appropriate flashes. On a F4, it is used to allow Matrix metering.
The 35mm lens I use is the Series E: compact, light, reasonably fast at F2.5 and quite good when stopped down a couple of stops.
Lots of folks love to hate this guy, but I find his reviews decent enough:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm
I just looked on Fleebay and saw a nice looking 35 mm f:2 Ais manual focus with a buy it now for $220. You should be able to get a manual focus 35f:2 for $80-$150 depending on the vintage. They are all pretty good optically just depends on the condition of the lens. Remember the newest is over 20 y/o.
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HiNoel,
You are right in one thing: the FG is an exception. It has the max aperture post reader on the mount, but it doesn't seem to be necessary.
The max aperture post was used on the EM (and the FG-20) for the auto flash functions, but on the FG it doesn't seem to work. The manual for the SB-19 refers that only the EM and the FG-20 can be used in Auto Aperture setting which uses the max post in combination with the AI tab to send info about the aperture in use to the flash.
As the FG has TTL flash metering, Nikon seems to have removed the EM flash system from the FG! Still, if you look at the mount on a FG, the max post lever is there at 5 o'clock position. And it isn't either necessary for the Program mode as the FG/FA use a close-loop system where they meter after the lens closes to the taking aperture, eliminating this way any errors due to sticky aperture blades or otherwise not the exact aperture setting. Program (and Shutter priority on the FA) mode is possible even with AI'd lens.
All AI modified lenses that I ever saw don't change the mount, only the aperture ring. So, the max aperture post isn't added and that's why the manual for the FA and the F4 refer that Matrix metering isn't possible with AI'd lenses as those cameras require it for the Matrix meter.
The Series E 35mm F2.5 isn't that rare. Ebay UK has 5 at the moment on sale, albeit at high prices. It is rare in the 2nd version with the chrome ring. My version is the 1st one all black and it is in mint condition.
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