AF lenses for less than 100 dollars

ongakublue · Jul 14, 2016

Hi everyone,

So I am still in possession of a Minolta x700 and a Nikon F801s. I got an adapter so I can use Minolta MD lenses on the Nikon also. Well... my question is... Can you recommend some old and cheap but good AF lenses for Nikon or MD lenses for the Minolta. Primes up to 35mm only and wide to mid-range zooms. Nothing over 100 dollars. I know it might be a challenge Let's see.. Thanks a lot

Malinku · Jul 14, 2016

All of the original series Minolta lenses are good. So just look for the big heavy zooms or 50mm 1.7, 28mm 2.8, 24 f2.8 can all be had for under $100

Paul Howell · Jul 14, 2016

I recommend a Max 700 body, less than $10.00 then the Minolta 70 to 200 F 4 under a $100, the 35 to 70 3.5 50mm 1.7 and 28 2.8 all AF. The Max 700 is likley one of the best buys in early AF, nice viewfinder, takes AAA or some AA batteries.

gone · Jul 14, 2016

The F801s is great camera! Fantastic viewfinder and meter, especially the spot feature. I used mine w/ manual focus Leica R lenses, and no complaints. Those won't be under $100 though. I would start w/ a non AI 50 2.0 lens (I know, it's not a 35, just back up a little). Your camera should be able to handle the metering in stop down mode, and that is one of the best 50's made. Much better than the 50 1.8, as the 2.0 has beautiful bokeh. I had an AI 50 2 lens and the IQ or bokeh was not the same as the non AI. Generally speaking, Nikon lenses do not have great bokeh.

For AF, I had one of the old cheap 35-80 lenses that took very nice shots, and the zoom range was handy. Not bitingly sharp, but plenty sharp enough. The AF 70 210 4 5.6 can be usually found at your price point too. I have lots of good photos from one of those. The 28 105 is also a very good lens, and while not as fast as a prime, is just as sharp. Great zoom range too. But it is about $25 above your price point unless you're patient on the auctions. You have to live w/ curvature on the short end, but as long as you keep horizontal lines away from the bottom or top at 28 you'll be OK. You should look at some of the Vivitar Series 1 zooms as well. Great value for the price, very sharp. Very big too though. The Nikon 28 105 is pretty tiny compared to one of the big Vivitars.

JW PHOTO · Jul 14, 2016

momus said:
The F801s is great camera! Fantastic viewfinder and meter, especially the spot feature. I used mine w/ manual focus Leica R lenses, and no complaints. Those won't be under $100 though. I would start w/ a non AI 50 2.0 lens (I know, it's not a 35, just back up a little). Your camera should be able to handle the metering in stop down mode, and that is one of the best 50's made. Much better than the 50 1.8, as the 2.0 has beautiful bokeh. I had an AI 50 2 lens and the IQ or bokeh was not the same as the non AI. Generally speaking, Nikon lenses do not have great bokeh.

For AF, I had one of the old cheap 35-80 lenses that took very nice shots, and the zoom range was handy. Not bitingly sharp, but plenty sharp enough. The AF 70 210 4 5.6 can be usually found at your price point too. I have lots of good photos from one of those. The 28 105 is also a very good lens, and while not as fast as a prime, is just as sharp. Great zoom range too. But it is about $25 above your price point unless you're patient on the auctions. You have to live w/ curvature on the short end, but as long as you keep horizontal lines away from the bottom or top at 28 you'll be OK. You should look at some of the Vivitar Series 1 zooms as well. Great value for the price, very sharp. Very big too though. The Nikon 28 105 is pretty tiny compared to one of the big Vivitars.

momus,
Did you change the mounting plate ring on your Leica R lenses so they would fit the Nikon F801s body or do they make an adapter that I don't know of?

ongakublue · Jul 15, 2016

momus said:
The F801s is great camera! Fantastic viewfinder and meter, especially the spot feature. I used mine w/ manual focus Leica R lenses, and no complaints. Those won't be under $100 though. I would start w/ a non AI 50 2.0 lens (I know, it's not a 35, just back up a little). Your camera should be able to handle the metering in stop down mode, and that is one of the best 50's made. Much better than the 50 1.8, as the 2.0 has beautiful bokeh. I had an AI 50 2 lens and the IQ or bokeh was not the same as the non AI. Generally speaking, Nikon lenses do not have great bokeh.

For AF, I had one of the old cheap 35-80 lenses that took very nice shots, and the zoom range was handy. Not bitingly sharp, but plenty sharp enough. The AF 70 210 4 5.6 can be usually found at your price point too. I have lots of good photos from one of those. The 28 105 is also a very good lens, and while not as fast as a prime, is just as sharp. Great zoom range too. But it is about $25 above your price point unless you're patient on the auctions. You have to live w/ curvature on the short end, but as long as you keep horizontal lines away from the bottom or top at 28 you'll be OK. You should look at some of the Vivitar Series 1 zooms as well. Great value for the price, very sharp. Very big too though. The Nikon 28 105 is pretty tiny compared to one of the big Vivitars.

Thanks for all this info I wonder, is there any AF Nikon prime lens under 100?

blockend · Jul 15, 2016

ongakublue said:
Hi everyone,

So I am still in possession of a Minolta x700 and a Nikon F801s. I got an adapter so I can use Minolta MD lenses on the Nikon also. Well... my question is... Can you recommend some old and cheap but good AF lenses for Nikon or MD lenses for the Minolta. Primes up to 35mm only and wide to mid-range zooms. Nothing over 100 dollars. I know it might be a challenge Let's see.. Thanks a lot

You should be able to find a used, pre-D suffix, 28mm or 35mm 2.8 AF Nikkor for a 100 or less. There are also Sigma and Tamron AF wides, the older NK fit Sigma 28mm 1.8 AF sells for around that price. The 28-80 kit D AF lens is also pretty good and very cheap, sometimes being sold complete with an F60 or similar for £20.

Not AF, but the Nikon 28mm 3.5 AIS is a nice lens, and cheap. It was the last iteration of a long lived lens, and had the excellent multi-coating that's still found on manual Nikons. It wasn't made for very long before Nikon abandoned the 3.5, but they're out there.

Down Under · Jul 15, 2016

Nikon made a 28-85 D in the '90s til about 2004, in at least two production runs with improvements as they went, which is a little 'sleeper' in the used Nikon lens market. Occasionally can be found for less than $100. Somewhat heavy, but sharp as anything if used at its sweet spots, 5.6-8. Most pros I knew 20 years ago had one in their kits. I had one, and used it till its 'wobble' became too great and I decided its sharpness had suffered, so I gave it to a friend who still uses it and likes it.

There is also a 35-105 D, I also have one, but I've not used it much, as I found the 28-85 more user friendly in all its focal lengths. One of these also turned up recently at a camera market in Melbourne, in 'as new' condition, for $100 negotiable.

Either one of these zooms and a 28 3.5 fixed prime, AIS or D, would suit your F801s and see you nicely thru most shooting situations. I recently saw a somewhat beaten up but usable 28 for sale for $59. I didn't buy it, as I already own two. Just to say the el cheapo lenses are out there, if you go looking for them.

Old(er) Nikkors are good to use and have a visual 'style' all their own. They are what make Nikon so great from the '60s on.

bdial · Jul 15, 2016

I don't think you can mount a pre-AI lens on an F801 unless the lens has been adapted. Other than that, you have many choices. As others have said, the AF zoom kit lenses are plentiful and certainly good though perhaps not "great".
Another perhaps sleeper is the 28-80 f3.3 AF G lens, FWIW, Ken Rockwell seems impressed by it.

Prest_400 · Jul 15, 2016

blockend said:
You should be able to find a used, pre-D suffix, 28mm or 35mm 2.8 AF Nikkor for a 100 or less. There are also Sigma and Tamron AF wides, the older NK fit Sigma 28mm 1.8 AF sells for around that price. The 28-80 kit D AF lens is also pretty good and very cheap, sometimes being sold complete with an F60 or similar for £20.

I'll have to get back in a few weeks as I have an F80 with the 28-80D on the way, got it for 50€ including postage. The consensus on this lens is that it is a plasticky built kit zoom but that it's quite good. Mr Rockwell has a handful of good words for many of these Nikon zooms (the f3.5-5.6; the f3.3G).
I spotted 50mm 1.8 AF (non D) for 50€ too, through some classifield listing. Sometimes it is cheaper to get the lenses bundled with some body.

That's what I have on my mind, perhaps not getting the 50 and use the zoom (camera will be for summer bright light project).

blockend · Jul 15, 2016

Prest_400 said:
That's what I have on my mind, perhaps not getting the 50 and use the zoom (camera will be for summer bright light project).

If you normally shoot at optimal apertures (around f8), the 28-80 is very useable. It's loads cheaper than equivalent primes of similar focal lengths, and not too far off the pace optically.

ron917 · Jul 15, 2016

bdial said:
I don't think you can mount a pre-AI lens on an F801 unless the lens has been adapted.

That's correct, non-AI lenses must not be mounted on a F801/N8008 body. The meter coupling lever will be damaged if one tries.

OP: The AF or AF-D 50mm f/1.8 is the only AF prime I know of that can be easily found for under $100. Wider AF lenses tend to cost more than $100, but you may get lucky.

AF lenses for less than 100 dollars

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