Old Nikon Glass

[pallo]

Not sure if fast would count as a “need” but it would be more complementary to what I have and still be useful for low light situations (as it’s strictly film)

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I wouldn’t say I use vintage nikkors on my FM2, even though the 24 2.8 AF-D and 105 micro AF-D aren’t exactly recent (my main lens is a voigtländer ultron 40 sl-iis), but am often tempted to get one or two Ai-s lenses because they would simply be a good match for the FM2.

Options I’m looking into are (because the Nikon complements a Leica M and is hence more used for longer lenses):
85 2.0 or 1.4
200 f/4.0

But also the 35 1.4 and 50 1.2 remain tempting because I remain most at easy with moderate focal lengths

start with a 50mm f/1.8, and you won't regret it; small, light, and very affordable but a stunning performer!

 

[pallo]

start with a 50mm f/1.8, and you won't regret it; small, light, and very affordable but a stunning performer!

would that be very different from the 50 1.8 AF (pre d-version)? I used this lens for 20+ years before replacing it with the voigtländer 40mm)

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I have a Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 that performs well. Certainly for the $6 USD it cost me. Majority of my glass is vintage Nikon manual focus.

 

[GregY]

I have a Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 that performs well. Certainly for the $6 USD it cost me. Majority of my glass is vintage Nikon manual focus.

Yes... I went through a few E series 75-150. A real gem of a lens and much smaller than the 80-200 of the era!

 

[DREW WILEY]

The 50/1.8 "semi-pancake" lens is quite sharp (but not wide open; there is distinctly a little focus shift). It's also a high-contrast modern lens with fairly miserable double-lined bokeh if used in that manner. A great compact bargain travel lens, but of a whole different category and feel from the vintage ones.

For fussy work on the copystand I use a 55/2.8 micro. But my "taking lens" kit has boiled down to just the single coated 50/2H and the classic 85/1.4 Ais. I permanently keep metal hoods on both.

 

[BrianShaw]

I permanently keep metal hoods on both.

That's a change I made about 10 years ago, from rubber folding hoods. One of the best investments in photographic accessories I ever made.

 

[grant.goodes]

That's a change I made about 10 years ago, from rubber folding hoods. One of the best investments in photographic accessories I ever made.

Agreed, metal hoods, especially the screw-in ones (HS- in Nikon parlance) are great and reside on my lenses during travel. Often a lens cap can be placed on the hood or failing that the appropriate sized plastic snap on food product cap will fit