Suggestions on what Nikon lens to take.

waynecrider · Nov 1, 2022

I’m heading to Arizona for Thanksgiving this year and have decided to take my
Nikon FT2 with a couple of lenses. One will be a 35mm lens with prong and the question is which of two 50mm lenses with meter prongs to take.
The first candidate is a F2 to F16 lens, serial starting with 328, the second is an F1.8 to F22, serial starting with 201.
I have not shot either lens in a very long time, if at all, and have forgotten which was the better, and I will not have time to test either lens what with work. Additionally I could add a Nikon 28-105mm AF lens but will have to deal with using a meter which would be ok. Thanks for any insights.

BrianShaw · Nov 1, 2022

Take the F2 lens, Concentrate more on interesting images and composition than which lens you have or use.

Paul Howell · Nov 1, 2022

The 28 to 105 had good range, but will be slower and you might to use a flash for indoor shots. Never had the F2, but all Nikon 50s are really good, not sure it will matter much.

Nitroplait · Nov 1, 2022

The 50mm f2 has a more pleasant look than the f1.8, at least to my eyes.

BradS · Nov 1, 2022

I like both of your 50mm Nikkor choices. Assuming they're both in good condition, it's really hard to go wrong with either.
Safe travels.

waynecrider · Nov 3, 2022

Thanks

gone · Nov 3, 2022

Plenty of sun in Az, so you can take the 28-105, which is a fine lens. Slow, but very good IQ, has a bit of pincushion at close distances, but you wouldn't see that unless you had some straight horizontal stuff at the edge of the frame.

I always liked the images from the 50mm F2 lenses, the 1.8 images were a little edgy, w/ busy bokeh.

EggFriedRice · Apr 24, 2023

Nikkor 105mm f1.8. Bulk but have a good image quality and impressive color tone.

Christiaan Phleger · Apr 25, 2023

That 105mm is a good choice, and I'll add that also consider a 180mm ED with a light tripod and Maybe the TC-200/1. Surprisingly good quality maybe with a bit of stopping down and that area its nice to be able to have the extra reach and compression.
I brought a 300mm 2.8 to White Sands NM and I found I was enjoying the perspective and even more so with the TC-301 but your own tolerance may vary ha. But do consider a longer bit of glass, the long distance vistas can be compelling with good long(er) glass, and for the Nikkormat there are many low cost high quality choices.

waynecrider · Aug 22, 2023

I ran across this post after 9 months and wanted to correct some obvious (mistaken) choices on my behalf.
First off, I should have taken the longest zoom I had on hand. At least 90% of my shots ( if not all) could have been done with a 28-105. My 210mm zoom would have been preferable.
Second, 50mm and 35mm lenses are fine for large indoors areas, street shots, or buildings.
Third, I thought that I could get close to the petroglyphs, but nooooo, aint gonna happen what with railings keeping one back. Plus you cannot go off the trails, and everything is not close, and the glyphs are hard to see. Well,, try try again. At least I came away tho with some good shots tho..

BrianShaw · Aug 22, 2023

Sometimes the first visit to somewhere with a camera is largely experimentation... live and learn, as they say. I've always done better photographically on subsequent visits.

Pertroglyphs, and the like, are so protected these days that it is much better to buy a book or look at online images. Very sad but necessary due to the past history with destructive morons.

jeffreyg · Aug 22, 2023

My suggestion based on having visited that area a couple of times is one wide and one tele. Two bodies if possible with the same film and each with one of the lenses. That way you don't have to change lenses or mistake a meter reading. A tripod of course. Concentrate on the beautiful scenery and the photography not the equipment.

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

HOME | SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

Tomwlkr · Aug 31, 2023

waynecrider said:
I ran across this post after 9 months and wanted to correct some obvious (mistaken) choices on my behalf.
First off, I should have taken the longest zoom I had on hand. At least 90% of my shots ( if not all) could have been done with a 28-105. My 210mm zoom would have been preferable.
Second, 50mm and 35mm lenses are fine for large indoors areas, street shots, or buildings.
Third, I thought that I could get close to the petroglyphs, but nooooo, aint gonna happen what with railings keeping one back. Plus you cannot go off the trails, and everything is not close, and the glyphs are hard to see. Well,, try try again. At least I came away tho with some good shots tho..

While in the Navy took a tour in France, took my 50 and a 135, really needed a 28 or 20, didn't matter, film was stolen before I got it developed

Sirius Glass · Aug 31, 2023

Tomwlkr said:
While in the Navy took a tour in France, took my 50 and a 135, really needed a 28 or 20, didn't matter, film was stolen before I got it developed

Welcome to ~~APUG~~ Photrio!!

Suggestions on what Nikon lens to take.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency