Third Party 28mm Lenses.

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waynecrider

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Specifically I need a 28mm F2.8 lens for my Nikon N80 body. Nikon's F2.8 offering offering from what I read is not that great so I'm thinking something third party. I've thought about getting a different AF body that could shoot one of the earlier 28mm's but I'd rather just a lens at this point. Anyone with 28mm experiences?
 

miha

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Nikon Ai-s Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 is among the very best in terms of distortion. It's sharp, too, with CRC.

Edit: I see you have a N80 so no metering with this Ai-s lens.
 
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Nikon Ai-s Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 is among the very best in terms of distortion. It's sharp, too, with CRC.

+1
 
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The newer 28mm F2.8 AF-D is a different optical design from the earlier AF and AF-N versions which were based/identical to the Series E 28mm. It isn't as good as the AIS version, but you'll need to be very critical to spot the differences.
 
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waynecrider

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Nikon Ai-s Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 is among the very best in terms of distortion. It's sharp, too, with CRC.

Edit: I see you have a N80 so no metering with this Ai-s lens.

No metering, but it will work on the body unlike the non-Ai's. I just need to use a handheld meter or go Sunny 16.
 

ArtO

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Have you tried the 28mm f2.8E? I really like the results. No metering on the N80 but prices are very good on this lens.

Does it have to be a 28mm prime or would a nice zoom covering that focal length do? (Several nice zooms in the for-sale forum right now).
 
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waynecrider

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Have you tried the 28mm f2.8E? I really like the results. No metering on the N80 but prices are very good on this lens.

Does it have to be a 28mm prime or would a nice zoom covering that focal length do? (Several nice zooms in the for-sale forum right now).

I've got a couple, 35-105 and a 70-210. Just nothing wide like a 28 and when you get into that territory it's too pricey for me, thus the third party route.
 

spongeboy

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Had 1980s AI-S vivitars once in 28 and 24mm. Very good lenses optically, but I didn't like that they focussed in the opposite direction than the Nikkors.
I like my 35 f2 and 24 f2.8. Excellent copies (although the 35 is a bit flare-prone with specular light) that will outlast me; The 28 f2.8 is also good, but I'm more of a very-wide-angle person and thus use my 17-35 perhaps more often these days.
 

Dr Croubie

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Not sure if it comes in Nikon mount (mine is an OM I use on my EOS 3), but if you see a lens called a Super Ozeck II 28/2.8 Macro, get one. There's a few samples on flickr if you serach for it. Maybe not the best corners at f/2.8, but gets very nice at f/5.6-8, and does 1:4 macro (or maybe it's 1:2, don't have it with me to check). Only $20-30 but performs like it's worth more (just don't expect the same as if you'd paid $300 though).
 

chip j

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28mm series one

My Vivitar 28mm f1.9 has no distortion, just like the Nikon 28mm 2.8 ai-s.
 

mopar_guy

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Usually Tokina lenses focus the same direction as Nikon.:wink:
 

miha

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I've got a couple, 35-105 and a 70-210. Just nothing wide like a 28 and when you get into that territory it's too pricey for me, thus the third party route.

Then I would recommend you to skip the 28mm focal length and get yourself a Nikkor AF-D 24mm f/2.8 for under 200 USD. Ot try harder and find a Sigma AF 24mm f/2.8 super wide II - a trully nice lens I once owned.
 
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Ian Grant

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The Tamron Adaptall II 28mm f2.5 is a good lens and can be found at a very reasonable price.

The Vivitar Seies 1 28mm F1.9 was an outstanding lens but unfortunately they are quite rare, they were made at a time whe Vivitar had a superb range of Series 1 lenses that equalled the best lenses availble from the major camera manufacturers.

Ian
 

blockend

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Sigma did a 28mm F1.8 APO in Nikon AF mount to fit your era of camera. It's quite big for a 28, especially with its custom lens hood but good value.
 

ic-racer

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At what price tho? I'm not shooting professionally so don't need to spend that type of money.

The 'kit lens' 28-80 zoom is actually pretty good. I'm a Zeiss lens snob when it comes to 35mm but I use that kit lens all the time as my only 28mm AF lens. The main reason I was looking at the 28/1.8 is that I don't need all the other focal lengths of the kit zoom.
 
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waynecrider

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Then I would recommend you to skip the 28mm focal length and get yourself a Nikkor AF-D 24mm f/2.8 for under 200 USD. Ot try harder and find a Sigma AF 24mm f/2.8 super wide II - a trully nice lens I once owned.

Had one and while it was nice it did push everything way to far back. I wound up not shooting it very often. Meanwhile I had a FD 28mm which was just the perfect FL for me but it went years ago.
 

Xmas

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The E lens is cheap cause every one picks a bride on looks mechanically they are better than modern poly carb but if you don't have 8fps motor they are as good as a real AI-S Nikkor.
 

ozphoto

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The Tamron Adaptall II 28mm f2.5 is a good lens and can be found at a very reasonable price.
Ian

I've had two of these (sold one and then realised I shouldn't have, so bought a second!) and they're great lenses. You just need to add the cost of the mount to the final price - but Nikon mounts seemed to be in copious supply, whilst FD (and the rare EF) were (not sure if they still are?) more difficult to find.
 

Ian Grant

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It's the EOS mounts that are the rarest, they did make them. I was sent an FD mount in error instead of a Pentax ESII/F mount last year. The FD is spare and available.

One local dealer near me sells Tamron mounts for £10 ($15.50) regardless of the fit. I now have a few Tamron lenses 17mm, 28mm, 135mm and a couple of zooms and it's useful that I can fit them on my Pentax screw mount cameras as well as my K mount. I have earlier T mount Tamrons as well as modern EOS fit, the SP lenses are all excellent performers.

Ian
 

ozphoto

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Most certainly those EF mounts are like hens teeth!! I managed to find one, in the UK, cost me $60 - but well worth it. And yes those SP lenses were special - owned a 90 f2.5, 180 f2.5 and 300 f2.8. Pin sharp and beautiful contrast, was a very sad day when I moved from FD to EF. :sad:
 
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