Seeking lenses advice for a Nikon F

Kowloon · Aug 9, 2022

Hi everyone,

Being a total newbie into the field, I would like to get some help regarding which lenses should I buy for my Nikon F in order to have a nice "beginner pack". I have seen hours of videos, read a few nice dedicated websites as well, but things are still a bit foggy.

At this very moment I have only one lens which is a NIPPON KOGAKU NIKKOR-H 1:2 f=50mm, I shoot mostly, if not only, outside (quite sunny all year if it matters), portraits and landscapes and often daily life scenes outside which can be tricky to be close to in order to have a proper shot (was aiming for a better zoom? but as per my poor knowledge on what to buy, I gave up).

Last but not least, I like when the pictures are as sharp as possible.

All advice are welcome!

Cheers

B.B

Nitroplait · Aug 9, 2022

Do you want lenses that are contemporary with the camera? (you should probably avoid zooms then. Zooms of that era wasn't particularly good)

Do you have a metering prism on the camera. (if so you should avoid AF(D) lenses which although they can mount, don't have the "rabbit ears" needed to communicate with the meter).

If you don't feel you can get close enough, then both the old 85mm and 105mm Nikkors are great. Version is not important, but get one in good functional condition.

I would personally suggest just using what you have until you feel you can define a specific need.
Shopping to fulfill unknown requirements is mostly waste of money.

AnselMortensen · Aug 9, 2022

I would suggest a 105mm f/2.5.
Great focal length, and very sharp.
Takes the same 52mm filters as your 50mm f/2.

GregY · Aug 9, 2022

In general, i'd suggest adding an 85 or the 105 at the long end, and a 35,28,24 at the wide end, depending on your preferences. You can pretty much do anything with that set-up as lots of photojournalists have proven.

Bronson Dugnutt · Aug 9, 2022

Sticking with prime lenses, the 105mm f2.5 Nikkors are quite highly regarded and have been responsible for some famous photos. If I wanted something even longer I would opt for one of the 180mm f2.8 nikkor but a 200mm f4 (or f2) might suit you, depending on budget.

On the wider end the 28mm f2.8 AI-S is generally lauded as having extremely good resolving power.

Paul Howell · Aug 9, 2022

When I bought my F, used, in 1971 it came with a 50mm 1.4, 104 2.5 and 28mm, don't recall if it was a 3.5 or 3.8 later added the 200 F4. I shot with this basic kit having the lens upgraded the AI with the F2 and F3P. It covers landscape for travel, environmental portraits, the 200 was pretty good for out doors sports and other events. In my way of thinking the 28, 50, and 105 will cover 90% of what you are likely to shoot. Early zoom were not very sharp, heavy, hard to hand hold. In the late 70s Vivitar came out with their top of line zooms, the Series 1. The 70 to 210 with I think was either a 3.5 or 4 was as good or better than the the manufacture's lens of the time. Other than being heavy they remain a good buy. I bought a Kiron 80 to 210 AI which had the prongs for the F, it was a pretty good lens but did have the build quality of my Nikon or Vivitar lens.

madNbad · Aug 9, 2022

Having owned a lot of Nikkor lenses, the 28 2.8 Ai-S is one of the sharpest lenses Nikon ever made, the 85 1.8 non-Ai for portraits. Have fun looking and welcome to the forum.

Paul Howell · Aug 9, 2022

I did trade up from my non AI 28mm to the 28 mm AIS when I traded in my F2 to a F3P, it is much better than my old 28 3.5, I would rate as sharp as my Pentax M42 35mm with the thorium element.

GregY · Aug 9, 2022

Kodachromeguy said:
Which version of the Pentax 35mm has the thorium element? Are you thinking of the 55 f/1.8 Super-Takumar (not the 55 SMC Takumar, that version did not have any thorium salts).

Radioactive lenses

There are a significant number of lenses produced from the 1940s through the 1970s that are measurably radioactive. Main source of radioactivity is the use of thorium oxide (up to 30% by weight) as a component of the glass used in the lens elements. Thorium oxide has a crystalline structural...

camerapedia.fandom.com

mshchem · Aug 9, 2022

Buy a 85mm 1.4 AF-D, you will be ready for everything to come and have amazing optics. My humble opinion, I have one of these lenses and it works with everything from a Nikon F to a D6.

Paul Howell · Aug 9, 2022

Kodachromeguy said:
Which version of the Pentax 35mm has the thorium element? Are you thinking of the 55 f/1.8 Super-Takumar (not the 55 SMC Takumar, that version did not have any thorium salts).

Your right I have 50mm 1.4 with the thorium, the 35mm is still really sharp. I don't think Nikon made any lens with thorium.

GregY · Aug 9, 2022

Paul Howell said:
Your right I have 50mm 1.4 with the thorium, the 35mm is still really sharp. I don't think Nikon made any lens with thorium.

"

Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 (early variant with thorium glass elements)

reddesert · Aug 9, 2022

Nitroplait said:
Do you want lenses that are contemporary with the camera? (you should probably avoid zooms then. Zooms of that era wasn't particularly good)

Do you have a metering prism on the camera. (if so you should avoid AF(D) lenses which although they can mount, don't have the "rabbit ears" needed to communicate with the meter).

If you don't feel you can get close enough, then both the old 85mm and 105mm Nikkors are great. Version is not important, but get one in good functional condition.

I would personally suggest just using what you have until you feel you can define a specific need.
Shopping to fulfill unknown requirements is mostly waste of money.

This is a bunch of good advice, particularly, if your camera's meter works, you should get lenses with the prong or rabbit-ears that couple to the meter. Most Nikon manual focus lenses will have these ears. AF lenses will not. And the last point about not over-buying is good.

For portraits and "getting closer": a short telephoto like the Nikon 105/2.5.

For street views, interiors, and landscapes: a wide angle lens may be helpful, any of the Nikon 24, 28, 35mm lenses.

I would avoid any temptation to spend on expensive super-fast lenses when just starting out.

Bronson Dugnutt · Aug 9, 2022

GregY said:
"

Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 (early variant with thorium glass elements)

Red hot -- I've got a copy and it happens to be my only non-AI lens as to minimize the chances of leaving it attached to a digital body. The 35mm F2 AF-D sees much more use, even as a manual lens, but the f1.4 is an excellent choice for wasting film in a Nikkormat or for portraiture when adapted to smaller formats.

gone · Aug 9, 2022

If you want sharp, and long enough to put distance between you and your subject, the 105 f2.5 is affordable. Razor sharp too. People recommend it for portraits, but the ones I've owned were too sharp for that even wide open. By f4 they're really, really sharp.

If you want a zoom, the 80-200 f4 is bargain priced and sharp. You would have to go to a much bigger and more expensive lens like the 80 200 f2.8 for anything sharper. After checking KEH, I see they're not as expensive as in the past. There's one in Bgn condition for $241. That's a steal for a pro lens, but they are big, and bulky to carry.

ags2mikon · Aug 9, 2022

It kind of depends on if you want it to be period correct, or not. My first Nikon F slr "kit" was a 55mm micro, 105mm 2.5 P and a 2.8cm H. Shortly there after I bought another F and a 50mm 2.0 H 13.5 cm 3.5 Q and a 20cm 4.0 Q. I still have some of them. All of it was better than I was. And probably still is. There are no magic bullets in photography. One only has to look at the prints Ansel Adams made with lenses, film and cameras that we look at as being out dated to realize that most important piece of gear to have is talent.

flavio81 · Aug 9, 2022

Kowloon said:
Hi everyone,

Being a total newbie into the field, I would like to get some help regarding which lenses should I buy for my Nikon F in order to have a nice "beginner pack". I have seen hours of videos, read a few nice dedicated websites as well, but things are still a bit foggy.

At this very moment I have only one lens which is a NIPPON KOGAKU NIKKOR-H 1:2 f=50mm, I shoot mostly, if not only, outside (quite sunny all year if it matters), portraits and landscapes and often daily life scenes outside which can be tricky to be close to in order to have a proper shot (was aiming for a better zoom? but as per my poor knowledge on what to buy, I gave up).

Last but not least, I like when the pictures are as sharp as possible.

All advice are welcome!

Cheers

B.B

All these lenses are not expensive and a good value

28mm f3.5, AI-S version, or H-C version

35mm f2.8, AI or AI-S

50mm... keep yours if it's optcally mint

85/1.8 Nikkor-H any version for a tele, OR
105/2.5 any version

135mm f3.5 AI or AI-S version only (Q version lower on contrast)

200/4 AI or AI-S, 2nd best would be the Q-C version.

All these lenses are great value, very sharp and contrasty. The 85, 135 and 200 lenses, also, have great rendering, so they're ideal.

BradS · Aug 9, 2022

Kowloon said:
.... I have only one lens which is a NIPPON KOGAKU NIKKOR-H 1:2 f=50mm....

The lens you have is a fabulous lens!

for portraits I absolutely love the Nikon 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor-P (and any of the later manual focus 105mm f/2.5 Nikkors)
Here is an example....

...and here are two versions of the Nikon 105mm f/2.5 lens in my collection...
the 105mm f/2.5 AIS Nikkor version is on the left and the 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor-P.C is on the right.

Acere · Aug 9, 2022

Very good and similar advice. I have most of the lenses here but I very much like the 135mm f/2.8 and the 55mm f/3.5 Macro w/ M2 extension tube for flowers and insects. At least the basic set of 28mm or 35mm, a 50mm standard and nice portrait lens like 85mm or 105mm. The 105 is incredibly even wide open.

BradS · Aug 9, 2022

flavio81 said:
....
200/4 AI or AI-S, 2nd best would be the Q-C version.

There is quite a big difference between the 200mm f/4 Q.C and the 200mm f/4 AI.
They're different designs. They handle differently and, perhaps more importantly, they render quite differently...they're both fantastic for handheld, outdoor portraits and are both inexpensive...best to get one of each!

200mm f/4 AIS Nikkor on left and 200mm f/4 Nikkor-Q on the right

Kowloon · Aug 10, 2022

Wow, I did not expect so many awesome pieces of advice! Thanks a bunch everyone.

I'll try to sum up everything:

Nitroplait said:
Do you want lenses that are contemporary with the camera? (you should probably avoid zooms then. Zooms of that era wasn't particularly good)

Do you have a metering prism on the camera. (if so you should avoid AF(D) lenses which although they can mount, don't have the "rabbit ears" needed to communicate with the meter).

I'd prefer a lens which matches the era of my camera indeed. I do not have a metering prism tho, here is a picture of my camera, SN 6517525

AnselMortensen said:
Takes the same 52mm filters as your 50mm f/2.

I don't have any filter. Should I?

Bronson Dugnutt said:
On the wider end the 28mm f2.8 AI-S is generally lauded as having extremely good resolving power.

Does it fit on F mount? Even if not period correct I might consider it if that sharp.

flavio81 said:
All these lenses are not expensive and a good value

28mm f3.5, AI-S version, or H-C version
105/2.5 any version

After having read everything, I think that I am gonna go for these as a start since it seems covering a bit everything.

Such as the below:

28mm AI-S
28mm
105mm

flavio81 · Aug 10, 2022

BradS said:
There is quite a big difference between the 200mm f/4 Q.C and the 200mm f/4 AI.
They're different designs. They handle differently and, perhaps more importantly, they render quite differently...they're both fantastic for handheld, outdoor portraits and are both inexpensive...best to get one of each!

200mm f/4 AIS Nikkor on left and 200mm f/4 Nikkor-Q on the right

I fully agree with you, however the OP wants "sharpness" as main criteria and i think the AI version is a bit sharper at least wide open.

I sold my AI 200/4 as soon as i got a Q-C 200/4 so personally I do like the Q-C version...

__Brian · Aug 10, 2022

It would help to know your budget for picking up lenses. A 35/1.4 will cost double of a Nikkor-O 35/2.

So- lenses that are relatively affordable and correct for a Nikon F:

Nikkor-NC 24/2.8; Nikkor-PC 105/2.5 or version with Rubber-Inset_Focus-Ring (RIFR).

The compact version of the 200mm F4 is sharper and focuses closer than the Nikkor-QC 200/4. The first version Nikkor-Q 20cm F4 was soon replaced with an improved version.

flavio81 · Aug 10, 2022

Kowloon said:
After having read everything, I think that I am gonna go for these as a start since it seems covering a bit everything.

Such as the below:

28mm AI-S
28mm
105mm

Thank you!

Yes, all of them fit your Nikon F.

The most "correct" aesthetically, are the ones that have a letter, like "Nikkor-H", "Nikkor-O", "Nikkor-Q" etc. Those are also known as "non-AI" lenses and sometimes "pre-AI" lenses. They came from 1959 to 1977 aprox. The AI lenses came later, 1977 and later.

GregY · Aug 10, 2022

You might do well checking out the classified.... there's an F2 with 4 lenses for a very very modest price...you could resell the camera. ....

Seeking lenses advice for a Nikon F

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