Decent Zoom Lens : Nikon FM2n/F3/FE-2

ken472 · Feb 15, 2009

I must be lucky because I have a 43-86 zoom that I've used for years with really great results. My personal favorite zoom is the 50-135 f3.5. It was only made for a couple years and it came in AIS version only. I keep it on one of my Nikons all the time.

denmark.yuzon · Feb 15, 2009

thanks for all your help guys.. il try to look for those lens mentioned above... hopefully i will get a good lens..

Chaplain Jeff · Feb 16, 2009

Hello,

I would get two lenses to cover that range. I use the 1st generation Nikkor AF 35-70, f/2.8 and the Kiron 70-210mm, f/4 lenses with my manual Nikons. Other than that - and most of the time - I shoot primes on my manual bodies.

When I want a really good wide angle shot, I use my Nikkor 24mm AI lens.

denmark.yuzon · Feb 16, 2009

so still.. primes are the best way to go.. Kiron? did kiron made good glasses back then? all i know is sigma, tokina, tamron and vivitar.. i was offered a while ago with a chinon 85mm f/2.8... i dont know if its any good.. i didnt buy it..

Excalibur2 · Feb 16, 2009

denmark.yuzon said:
so still.. primes are the best way to go.. Kiron? did kiron made good glasses back then? all i know is sigma, tokina, tamron and vivitar.. i was offered a while ago with a chinon 85mm f/2.8... i dont know if its any good.. i didnt buy it..

Kiron made their own lenses and made them for others like vivitar initially e.g. series 1, the Nikon series E 70-150mm was made by Kiron...they set a high standard and at least one of their lenses was up amongst the best in the world at the time.
Kiron made a few "not so good" zooms........the Kiron Kid floats around on forums and he is really the expert or you can go to the Kiron-Klub:-

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kiron-Klub/

denmark.yuzon · Feb 17, 2009

how about series E lenses? are they any good? again, i was offered a 100mm f/2.8 E... anyone who have this lens? care to share what you think?

fschifano · Feb 17, 2009

E Series primes are pretty good from what I've seen. Certainly better many of the non-pro quality zoom lenes.

denmark.yuzon · Feb 17, 2009

oh.. ok.. thanks...

nyoung · Feb 17, 2009

The 100/2.8 E isn't magic like the 105 but its way better than good enough.

denmark.yuzon · Feb 17, 2009

how about a x2 converter? i currently have a 50mm f/1.8 E.. thats all i got.. would it be cheaper if i use a x2 converter instead and get a prime later when i have the extra money?.. at least i could have a 100mm with a f/1.8 aperture.. is that advisable? would it affect the IQ? would there be any disadvantages regarding the IQ?

nyoung · Feb 17, 2009

The 2x converter to get to 100mm would make your setup f2.8, not 1.8. All 2x converters I know of lower your lens speed by two stops.

That said, the only converters worth using are the genuine Nikons which sell in the used market for about the same prices as the short teles we are talking about.

The TC200 is the one you would be looking for. I own one and use it - mostly with my 180/2.8.

They work well enough but I think depth of field gets shallower faster with the converter and there is some loss of sharpness at the edges of the image.

That's not necessarily a deal breaker for making photos of real subjects and not test charts.

MattKing · Feb 18, 2009

nyoung said:
The 2x converter to get to 100mm would make your setup f2.8, not 1.8. All 2x converters I know of lower your lens speed by two stops.

Actually, it would end up as a 100mm f/3.6 (not f/2.8).

The advantages of tele-convertors are:

1) cost;
2) size and weight; and
3) in some cases, close focusing capability.

The disadvantages are:

1) less resolution and contrast;
2) loss of speed; and
3) in some cases, less convenient.

I (infrequently) use two different tele-convertors with my 35mm equipment. One I use with an 85mm f/2 lens to give me a small, 170mm f/4 when I need one. The other is a neat Vivitar tele-convertor that has a very flexible close focus capability. Essentially, the Vivitar unit is an adjustable extension tube, and as such is really handy.

Matt

Vanishing Point Ent. · Apr 24, 2009

Tamron 35 - 105 mm f 2.8 ASL.

rthomas said:
I have a lot to say about these lenses, but I'll keep it short. Tamron made 35-105 and 28-105 f/2.8 fixed aperture lenses which were quite pricey when new, probably they are good optics.

Tamron's 35 - 105 mm f 2.8 ASL & 28 - 105 mm f 2.8 are phenomenal lenses. Well worth the price, when new. I own the 35 - 105. First in Manual focus, then in EF Auto Focus. Most of my images were shot with this lens.
The 28 - 105, is sharper on paper, but it is big & heavy, compared to the earlier 35 - 105.
Both use molded, not Ground Aspheric front elements. A breakthrough at the time.

Now at a more reasonable price on eBay.

nicefor88 · May 9, 2009

Hi,
The mass produced 35-70 f3,3-4,5 gave good results when I used the MF version in the 80s. The AF took the same optical formula.
The 18-35 f4 is good but it does not cover your favourite range.
The 28-80 f3,5-4,5 should be the closest to what you're considering.
I would be cautious with wide range zooms, you know, the 24-120 or 70-300 kind. Looks like too good to be true, at the expense of speed of course. It's so dark when you look into the viefinder...
Hope this helps.

Chaplain Jeff · May 9, 2009

Hello,

My favorite zoom on a manual Nikon is the Kiron 70-210mm, f/4 zoom. Really sharp where it needs to be, but not so "surgically" sharp as Nikon primes have a tendancy to be.

I mainly shoot primes at wider angles: Vivitar Series One 90mm, f/2.5; Nikkor 55mm, f/1.2 and Nikkor 24mm, f/2.8.

Decent Zoom Lens : Nikon FM2n/F3/FE-2

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