Favorite vintage Nikkor prime lens!

[etn]

Interesting thread. Thanks to all for sharing your views

I don't have many "vintage" Nikon lenses. My favorites are the 180 2.8 AF-D (can this be considered vintage?), as well as a few other AF-D's - 20, 50 1.4, 60 micro, 85, 105 micro.

I have to admit, my currently most used lens in the Nikon system is actually not a Nikon, but the Voigtlander 40mm Ultron SL-IIs (latest version, bought 1 year ago). It is small, of excellent build quality, is versatile (40mm is the best compromise when you cannot choose between 35 and 50mm ), has relatively close focus abilities, and makes beautiful pictures. It lives permanently on my F3 and makes an ideal 1-body 1-lens travel kit.
As a matter of fact, I like it so much that I am debating buying the Voigtlander 58mm 1.4; but that's a different story. And apart from costing money, it would defeat the "1-body 1-lens" idea.

But now, you all brought me to the idea of buying another Nikon lens or two. I would tend to the 35 1.4 AIS. The 24 AF-D has always interested me too. All the mentions of the 55 in this thread make me want to look into it as well. So, 3 new lenses in the near future? Thanks Photrio!

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

Yes, the original AF Nikkor I think can be considered vintage.
As to @etn choices, the 24mm AF is a lovely optic and can be often found for low prices. I recently picked up a Non-D 24mm in unused condition, it now makes a nice and light kit mounted on a N2020 or N2000.
And yes you definitely need a 35mm f/1.4. I am partial to the older N or N.C version but the Ai-s version is splendid as well.

 

[etn]

Yes, the original AF Nikkor I think can be considered vintage.
As to @etn choices, the 24mm AF is a lovely optic and can be often found for low prices. I recently picked up a Non-D 24mm in unused condition, it now makes a nice and light kit mounted on a N2020 or N2000.
And yes you definitely need a 35mm f/1.4. I am partial to the older N or N.C version but the Ai-s version is splendid as well.

Thank you. Will keep an eye open for good opportunities on those

 

[Nikon 2]

Interesting thread. Thanks to all for sharing your views

I don't have many "vintage" Nikon lenses. My favorites are the 180 2.8 AF-D (can this be considered vintage?), as well as a few other AF-D's - 20, 50 1.4, 60 micro, 85, 105 micro.

I have to admit, my currently most used lens in the Nikon system is actually not a Nikon, but the Voigtlander 40mm Ultron SL-IIs (latest version, bought 1 year ago). It is small, of excellent build quality, is versatile (40mm is the best compromise when you cannot choose between 35 and 50mm ), has relatively close focus abilities, and makes beautiful pictures. It lives permanently on my F3 and makes an ideal 1-body 1-lens travel kit.
As a matter of fact, I like it so much that I am debating buying the Voigtlander 58mm 1.4; but that's a different story. And apart from costing money, it would defeat the "1-body 1-lens" idea.

But now, you all brought me to the idea of buying another Nikon lens or two. I would tend to the 35 1.4 AIS. The 24 AF-D has always interested me too. All the mentions of the 55 in this thread make me want to look into it as well. So, 3 new lenses in the near future? Thanks Photrio!

View attachment 339535
View attachment 339534

Nice photo…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Yes, the original AF Nikkor I think can be considered vintage.
As to @etn choices, the 24mm AF is a lovely optic and can be often found for low prices. I recently picked up a Non-D 24mm in unused condition, it now makes a nice and light kit mounted on a N2020 or N2000.
And yes you definitely need a 35mm f/1.4. I am partial to the older N or N.C version but the Ai-s version is splendid as well.

I can recommend the Nikkor 35 f/2 O.C., beautiful vintage look…!

 

[etn]

Nice photo…!

Thank you

 

[rulnacco]

I don't have many "vintage" Nikon lenses. My favorites are the 180 2.8 AF-D (can this be considered vintage?), as well as a few other AF-D's - 20, 50 1.4, 60 micro, 85, 105 micro.

I'm with you that the 180/2.8 can be considered "vintage." It's nearly 40 years old, it has an aperture ring, and it's screw-driven, so close enough. Not only that, it has one of the best manual focus rings of any Nikon AF lens, so it's brilliant using it on manual focus cameras. I used to shoot high school sports for local papers on black-and-white film with it, using an F4 or an FE, and got loads of photos taken with it published. It counts!

 

[Arthurwg]

Yes, the 85mm F1.4. AF-D. I also love the 24mm F2.8 AF-D. In fact, these are my only two Nikon lenses at the moment.

 

[etn]

Speaking of the 24mm: is the 24mm AIS optically identical to the AF-D? (built quality aside.) Thanks!

 

[nikkormat]

Speaking of the 24mm: is the 24mm AIS optically identical to the AF-D? (built quality aside.) Thanks!

I believe it is. I have both, and really like them; the AI-S on my film cameras and AF-D on digital.

 

[bjorke]

"Favorite" is a hard idea to unwind when talking about "vintage." My immediate reaction was "one-oh-five two-five" because it's a lens that I associate with a specific long-lost romantic relationship.

It's still a good lens.

My even older 55 Micro gets used more these days

(about an hour ago)

 

[Nikon 2]

"Favorite" is a hard idea to unwind when talking about "vintage." My immediate reaction was "one-oh-five two-five" because it's a lens that I associate with a specific long-lost romantic relationship.

It's still a good lens.

My even older 55 Micro gets used more these days

View attachment 339733

(about an hour ago)

That’s what I’m talking about…!

 

[etn]

I believe it is. I have both, and really like them; the AI-S on my film cameras and AF-D on digital.

Thank you for your answer!

Side note: You know, I was trying to decide whether I wanted an AI-S or an AF-D, as I have an F3 as well as an F6 (and a digital Df). You provided a very valid answer to that question

Side note to the side note: if one day I disappear without a trace from Photrio, it means I'm broke

 

[etn]

My even older 55 Micro gets used more these days

View attachment 339733

(about an hour ago)

That's a terrific picture! Thanks for sharing!

 

[MattKing]

Side note to the side note: if one day I disappear without a trace from Photrio, it means I'm broke

Or buried under cameras and lenses

 

[dave olson]

My 50 f1.2 if I could have but one.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My 50 f1.2 if I could have but one.

There is no need to limit yourself. Go wild! List them all. [By the way: There is no extra charge.]

 

[chuckroast]

For me, it's a dead heat between the 20mm f/2.8 AIS and the 85mm f/1.4 AIS. I've shot them both on my various film bodies (Nikkormat, F, F2, F3) and digital (D750). Each in their own way is a spectacular creative tool.

It's worth noting that I started my photographic odessy with an Apollo F in the early 1980s. Since then, on the occasion that I was shooting 35mm, my preferred lenses were the 24mm f/2.8, the 35mm f/2.8, and the 105mm f/2.5. I still love these lenses, but once I saw the perspective management the 20mm gave me and the unbelievable sharpness of the 85mm, the others started accumulating dust.

 

[Nikon 2]

For me, it's a dead heat between the 20mm f/2.8 AIS and the 85mm f/1.4 AIS. I've shot them both on my various film bodies (Nikkormat, F, F2, F3) and digital (D750). Each in their own way is a spectacular creative tool.

It's worth noting that I started my photographic odessy with an Apollo F in the early 1980s. Since then, on the occasion that I was shooting 35mm, my preferred lenses were the 24mm f/2.8, the 35mm f/2.8, and the 105mm f/2.5. I still love these lenses, but once I saw the perspective management the 20mm gave me and the unbelievable sharpness of the 85mm, the others started accumulating dust.

It’s good about you being able to “focus” on a few lenses to use regularly…!