Nikon - older or newer lenses?

rayonline_nz · Nov 21, 2017

I have slowly gathered 2 AF-S lenses for my electronic Nikon F100. Does feel nicer and the silent and quicker focussing. I still have 2x primes that are AF-D.

Are you guys still using many AF-D lenses? I know AF-S lenses won't work with my Fm2n at times I feel a bit dated. Zeiss does make them still with aperture rings but they are not small, not really your discrete Fm2n street lens is it.

Cheers.

Sirius Glass · Nov 21, 2017

For my Nikon F-100 I use a 28mm to 300mm Tameron AF zoom lens, a 28mm to 200mm Nikon AF zoom lens, and a 20mm to 35mm Nikon AF zoom lens.

Down Under · Nov 21, 2017

Ditto. For my ragtag collection of Nikkormats, F65s and Dwhatevers, I use several elderly (like their owner) AF lenses, including a 50mm 1.4 that gives wonderful mid tones and a dinosauric (have I just invented a new word?) 28-85mm 3.5-whatever (the data imprinted on the lens has worn off, so I'm unsure) that rightfully fits into exhibits in the Australian Museum but continues to produce incredibly sharp results. Several other early AFs lie within my camera cabinet at home, notably as new 35-105mm and 35-70mm zooms used occasionally by my partner for superb B&W film work.

Not being one who must own the bestest and newest of anything (says he, fondling twiddling his 1955 Rolex Oyster and patting the bonnet of our beloved family 1990 Audi), I am happy to continue using these venerable lenses for as long as they go on working or I go on being able to carry the camera-lens kit around with me on my travels.

All my other Nikon lenses are Ds, ranging from 20mm through 180mm. Also at home I have a large bag full of Nikon F era Nikkors from 24mm to 300mm including a wonderful early 80-200mm, all still producing good work now and then on the Nikkormats and the F65s (in manual mode) when nostalgia overcomes me and I decide to go out and shoot film for a day.

New can be good, but I long ago gave up any notion I had of being one of the little darlings of the retail camera shops.

ac12 · Nov 22, 2017

This is a strategy decision based on what gear you have and what you buy.
Example my D70 and D7200 can use both the AFS and screw drive AF lenses. This is one reason that I bought the D7200.
But the lighter D3400 that I am considering, does not have the body motor for the screw drive. So for the D3400 it is AFS or manual focus, the screw drive AF lenses won't AF. So the D3400 has affected my lens strategy.

I cannot use my pre-AI lenses from my Nikkormat FTn and Nikon F2 on my D7200, without conversion/modification of the lenses.

So despite the F mount being the same from the 1960s, it is the interface between the lens and camera that is changing.
So buying a new camera could force you to upgrade your lenses.

etn · Nov 22, 2017

I use only AFD lenses (I love that aperture ring) and do not feel dated one single bit. There are certainly « better » performing, more modern lenses out there, but I am convinced that we do not need them, particularly for film. The modern lenses come at the expense of cost, size, and incompatibility with older bodies such as my F90x.
My opinion here is, if you shoot professionally on a high-resolution digital and specialize in, say, fine art or product photography, newer lenses might be worth the expense. (but then, I’d argue that even medium format digital might be worth the expense) If not, don’t worry, those AFD lenses are surely good enough, some are truly excellent, and you can get them very cheap nowadays!
Note that some are not highly regarded by digital pixel peepers (e.g the 35 f/2 or the 20mm f/2.8) but I, for one, do not see any issue with them. Others (e.g. some zooms) could be more problematic, so do your research or stick with primes.
My 2 cents

RalphLambrecht · Nov 22, 2017

etn said:
I use only AFD lenses (I love that aperture ring) and do not feel dated one single bit. There are certainly « better » performing, more modern lenses out there, but I am convinced that we do not need them, particularly for film. The modern lenses come at the expense of cost, size, and incompatibility with older bodies such as my F90x.
My opinion here is, if you shoot professionally on a high-resolution digital and specialize in, say, fine art or product photography, newer lenses might be worth the expense. (but then, I’d argue that even medium format digital might be worth the expense) If not, don’t worry, those AFD lenses are surely good enough, some are truly excellent, and you can get them very cheap nowadays!
Note that some are not highly regarded by digital pixel peepers (e.g the 35 f/2 or the 20mm f/2.8) but I, for one, do not see any issue with them. Others (e.g. some zooms) could be more problematic, so do your research or stick with primes.
My 2 cents

I actually prefer the !960s and 70s Nikkor lenses over the brand-new versions of same or similar focal length. I fell that they are built better and have a certain image character, which attracted me to photography to begin with.

MartinCrabtree · Nov 22, 2017

I've grown rather fond of manual focus F mount glass. Even on my AF bodies. Still have AF lenses both AFS and screw drive. They have their time to shine as well.

etn · Nov 22, 2017

RalphLambrecht said:
I actually prefer the !960s and 70s Nikkor lenses over the brand-new versions of same or similar focal length. I fell that they are built better and have a certain image character, which attracted me to photography to begin with.

I cannot agree more. I was using the 50 1.4 AF-D, then I recently found a 50 1.2 AIS. I think it is miles ahead of the AF-D in many aspects. I has become my new standard lens on the F3. Just love that combo.

cooltouch · Nov 25, 2017

My Nikkor collection runs the gamut. I have old pre-AI lenses, pre-AIs that were AI'd by Nikon, one pre-AI that was professionally AI'd but not by Nikon, AI, AIs, and AF D lenses. I prefer AF D lenses over the other AF ones because it appears that Nikon figured its users would be using them in manual focusing mode, so they are designed with decent focus throws and wide enough focusing rings such that you can get a decent grip on them. I'm not a big fan of the AF G lenses because they've lost their aperture rings. Of all the Nikkors I own, which vary from 24mm to 200mm, my favorite is my AIs 55mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor. It is an incredibly sharp optic. Of all the Nikon lenses I have ever owned, it would have to be the AIs 180mm f/2.8 ED. Just a marvelous lens. I wish I wouldn't have sold mine.

If you're looking for a compact street lens, I'd consider one of the 35mm lenses Nikon has produced. I have a pre-AI 35mm f/2 that was AI'd by Nikon. It is a very compact lens -- smaller than the AI and AIs 35mm f/2.8s. The Nikon 28mm f/2.8 Series E is also a compact lens.

LeftCoastKid · Nov 25, 2017

My Nikkor collection includes 18 AIs lenses from 15mm F3.5 to a 600mm F4, as well as a couple of AF/S/D lenses (17-35 F2.8, 28-70 F2.8, 50 F1.4, 80-200 F2.8, and a 300 F4).I have no real preference, though. However, for the most part, I tend to find that I use the MF primes on my F2 and F3 bodies exclusively, and on my F5 and F6 only occasionally. Generally, my AF lenses seem to usually mated to the F5, F6, or my D800. Given that I own/use Nikons ranging from a 1979 F2AS to a 2012 D800, I have no use for any of Nikon's G-series.

benveniste · Nov 25, 2017

rayonline_nz said:
I have slowly gathered 2 AF-S lenses for my electronic Nikon F100. Does feel nicer and the silent and quicker focussing. I still have 2x primes that are AF-D.
Are you guys still using many AF-D lenses? I know AF-S lenses won't work with my Fm2n at times I feel a bit dated. Zeiss does make them still with aperture rings but they are not small, not really your discrete Fm2n street lens is it. Cheers.

A few AF-S lenses have aperture rings and will work with an FM2n. For example, I use a 17-35mm f/2.8 on my FA. I recently listed a couple of "screwdriver" lenses for sale, but I still use the following AF lenses with some regularity:

non-D AF-Nikkors -- 20mm f/2.8, 135mm f/2 DC, 300mm f/4
D AF-Nikkors -- 60mm f/2.8D, 180mm f/2.8D

If you are looking for a relatively small modern lens for the FM2n, I would suggest the 40mm Voigtlander.

rrusso · Nov 25, 2017

cooltouch said:
Of all the Nikon lenses I have ever owned, it would have to be the AIs 180mm f/2.8 ED.

I have the AF version, awesome lens.

benveniste said:
If you are looking for a relatively small modern lens for the FM2n, I would suggest the 40mm Voigtlander.

+1 This is my everyday walk-around lens. Silky smooth focus, all metal construction. This lens and the 58mm Nokton, along with the Nikon 105mm 2.5 are my favorite manual focus lenses.

Edit: And the Nikon 75-150 Series E - feels like junk in use, gives excellent image quality.

Montaggio · Nov 26, 2017

I prefer the aperture ring as well. Dials and rings are just more familiar - that’s what I grew up on and have a strong dislike for menu driven selections. I also use both non-AI and AIS lenses. In fact more often than not. Plus, for me, they are better for adapting to my xPro-1.

macfred · Nov 26, 2017

My current collection for my two F2 Photomics (DP-1 finder) :

Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 25-50mm f/4.0 Ai
Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 55mm f/1.2 non-Ai
Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Ai
Nikon Nikkor-P Auto 105mm f/2,5 non-Ai

I like them all ...

drmoss_ca · Nov 30, 2017

I've been very happy with my D series lenses - 20/2.8, 28/2.8, 28/1.4, 35/2, 85/1.4, Micro 105/2.8.

I do have 3 G lenses (35/1.4, 50/1.4, 28-300/3.5-5.6) but I don't know if they'll last as long as those solid D's.

blockend · Dec 2, 2017

I have Nikkors from pre-AI to AF-D, and find they work best with compatible cameras. I rarely use AF lenses on mechanical bodies and vice versa. The autofocus lenses are excellent optically, but offer little feedback when used manually, whereas manual Nikon lenses, especially scallop ring Pre-AI Nikkors, ooze build quality.

Nikon - older or newer lenses?

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