What lenses for Nikon F4 - just street and landscapes

Minox · Nov 21, 2022

I am starting with a Nikon F4, never used the camera before. It came with two lenses, a telephoto and a AF 35-70/1:2.8. Both excellent, but I really want a prime lens for your usual street and landscape photography, nothing fancy, for when I travel and take photographs.

I have heard that the Nikkor AF 50mm/1.8 is something that will fit the bill. Anyone to help a fellow in need, please? Thank you !

Paul Howell · Nov 21, 2022

Either the 1.8 or the 1.4, both are tack sharp, good contrast, the 1.4 provides a bit more speed.

Arthurwg · Nov 21, 2022

Nikkor 24mm F2.8 AF-D

Moose22 · Nov 21, 2022

AF50 1.4 is my standard prime lens. I love the 1.8 too, they're super cheap, light, and good. I have two, and if I'm not shooting wide open they're not really different than the 1.4 version.

For street on the F4 I got a 35mm though. AF-D 35mm f/2. I like wider than normal for that and the F4 needs the aperture ring so I couldn't use my 28mm lens.

I am really enjoying the 35. Same sort of lens as the AF50 -- plasticky, but light, good enough optics, fast enough for street work, and the AF performance on the F4 is great. They're a little more expensive than the 50 and rarer, but really good for walkin' around prime lenses.

I suggest you pay some attention to how you're using the zoom lens. If you're shooting it more wide angle than think about a wider lens. If not, get an AF50. They're cheap and awesome.

Huss · Nov 21, 2022

I use the 50 1.4D (with film, every little bit of extra speed helps) and it is excellent. It also feels better built than the 50 1.8D. W/ the F4 I specifically use lenses that have aperture rings.
I also use the 35 f2D - but watch out for oily aperture blades! This lens is notorious for that.

Nikon F4 w 35 f2D

Nikon F4 w 50 1.4D

Sirius Glass · Nov 21, 2022

Consider the f/2.8 PC lens so you can aim the camera up without having the buildings and trees lean backwards.

Minox · Nov 21, 2022

All of the lenses mentioned here are autofocus ? My eyesight is not what it used to be, so I have to rely more and more to AF.

All your replies are extremely helpful, and I do thank you all !!

Sirius Glass · Nov 21, 2022

Minox said:
All of the lenses mentioned here are autofocus ? My eyesight is not what it used to be, so I have to rely more and more to AF.

All your replies are extremely helpful, and I do thank you all !!

f/2.8 PC lens not AF
Nikon 20mm to 35mm AF
Nikon 28mm to 200mm AF
Tamron 28mm to 300mm AF

bdial · Nov 21, 2022

The 85 1.8 AF D is very nice. Really sharp, but nicely sized. If you like to go a bit wide, the 35 2.0 AF is very nice also, maybe slightly less sharp, but still compact and light.

Huss · Nov 21, 2022

Minox said:
All of the lenses mentioned here are autofocus ? My eyesight is not what it used to be, so I have to rely more and more to AF.

All your replies are extremely helpful, and I do thank you all !!

Yes, the ones I mentioned are AF, and have aperture rings which the F4 needs unless you only want to shoot in P or S.

Moose22 · Nov 21, 2022

Minox said:
All of the lenses mentioned here are autofocus ? My eyesight is not what it used to be, so I have to rely more and more to AF.

All your replies are extremely helpful, and I do thank you all !!

AF = Autofocus in the Nikon world. So the lenses marked AF or AF-D are all fantastic autofocus for the F4. The AF-D just adds distance coupling information for matrix metering.

I agree with bdial that the 85mm 1.8 AF-D is a nice lens. I have one and use it extensively. I just don't think it's a "street and landscape" lens. But for what it is I highly recommend it.

Street and landscape I think of as wider view. I prefer 20 or 24mm for landscape and 28 or 35 for street, personally.

Oh, I didn't mention it above, but the 24mm f/2.8 AF-D is also a really nice lens. Cheap and good for landscape work. If you want wider, I can recommend. It's the same build as the AF50, focuses fast, and light and compact.

Oh, and ignore Sirius. He missed the "street" and "prime" aspects of the post. His list are all zooms, except the PC which is an oddball architecture lens.

Sirius Glass · Nov 21, 2022

Moose22 said:
AF = Autofocus in the Nikon world. So the lenses marked AF or AF-D are all fantastic autofocus for the F4. The AF-D just adds distance coupling information for matrix metering.

I agree with bdial that the 85mm 1.8 AF-D is a nice lens. I have one and use it extensively. I just don't think it's a "street and landscape" lens. But for what it is I highly recommend it.

Street and landscape I think of as wider view. I prefer 20 or 24mm for landscape and 28 or 35 for street, personally.

Oh, I didn't mention it above, but the 24mm f/2.8 AF-D is also a really nice lens. Cheap and good for landscape work. If you want wider, I can recommend. It's the same build as the AF50, focuses fast, and light and compact.

Oh, and ignore Sirius. He missed the "street" and "prime" aspects of the post. His list are all zooms, except the PC which is an oddball architecture lens.

A zoom lens does not restrict the use of street, portrait, architecture or landscape use. The modern zoom lenses are good enough that very few people could look at a photograph and declare definitively that it was taken by a prime or zoom lens. So Moose22 now wears the ignore hat.

jwd722 · Nov 21, 2022

The 50 1.4/1.8 will serve you well and is almost a must have for any 35mm camera.

Consider, as a future/additional purchase the 18-35 f3.5/4.5 for tight quarters and landscape or street. $150 will buy one and make sure it has the hood.

Huss · Nov 21, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
A zoom lens does not restrict the use of street, portrait, architecture or landscape use. The modern zoom lenses are good enough that very few people could look at a photograph and declare definitively that it was taken by a prime or zoom lens. So Moose22 now wears the ignore hat.

I am sure Moose will be devastated by the ignore.
The OP specifically mentioned prime lenses. This is not a question of prime vs zoom. He already has a zoom lens. He was asking about prime lenses.

Mike Lopez · Nov 21, 2022

Just be glad this thread has made it to 15 posts now without being hijacked by Hasselblad silliness. (Although I do chuckle when one thinks they can point a shift lens upward and keep buildings looking true.)

Autonerd · Nov 21, 2022

Minox said:
I am starting with a Nikon F4, never used the camera before. It came with two lenses, a telephoto and a AF 35-70/1:2.8. Both excellent, but I really want a prime lens for your usual street and landscape photography, nothing fancy, for when I travel and take photographs.

I am not familiar with what Nikon offers in the AF line; I can say for street that you should consider a 28mm (or a 24), and maybe a 35mm (though your zoom will do fine for that). They don't necessarily need to be super-fast.

With a 28, AF is all fine, but you can also pre-focus using the gauge on the lens. At f/8, everything from about 6-7 feet to infinity will be in focus; at f/16 that drops to about 2.5 feet.

For landscape, assuming your tele is a 70-200 or thereabouts, what you have should be fine.

Aaron

Moose22 · Nov 22, 2022

Huss said:
I am sure Moose will be devastated by the ignore.
The OP specifically mentioned prime lenses. This is not a question of prime vs zoom. He already has a zoom lens. He was asking about prime lenses.

I thought that was the case. I'm trying not to muddy the waters!

That 35-70 is a nice lens for what it is but I also tend to go for a fast prime when traveling or walking around. Last time I traveled (with an F6) I brought a 28, no zooms. So I get the reasoning.

If we start talking about zooms and non-auto focus lenses we can just be here all day rattling off our favorite F mount lenses, because... dayum! There's a lot of good lenses for the nikon.

Anyway, with the criteria stated I still say AF-D. The AF-50 is the best bang for the buck in Nikons glass, and my camera is wearing the 35mm f/2 right now. Love them.

Minox · Nov 22, 2022

The amount of friendly and knowledgeable replies is astounding. This is indeed a great community !

I have found this here, on E*ay - link

Is this something that would work as intended?

Paul Howell · Nov 22, 2022

I use MF on my F4, the focus confirmation works really well.

Craig · Nov 22, 2022

Minox said:
Is this something that would work as intended?

Yes, that will work just fine. Any of the AF Nikkors of that series will work with your F4. I'd avoid the G series lenses, those are the ones without an aperature ring. They are intended for later (manily digital) cameras where the aperature is set in the body.

Huss · Nov 22, 2022

Minox said:
The amount of friendly and knowledgeable replies is astounding. This is indeed a great community !

I have found this here, on E*ay - link

Is this something that would work as intended?

I have that lens. It is perfect on the F4.

Minox · Nov 22, 2022

Right, this one it is then. Thank you ever so much for your kind help, all of you guys. Really, much appreciated !!

Regards,

JT

Moose22 · Nov 22, 2022

You'll enjoy it.

You still might consider wider lenses later, but you'll ALWAYS have a use for that 50. I have that one to use on my F4, too.

ic-racer · Nov 22, 2022

usual street and landscape photography, nothing fancy, for when I travel and take photographs

I'd recommend any or all of these compact AF-D lenses. Much smaller and lighter than the newer faster lenses lacking the aperture ring (seen in background).

gone · Nov 22, 2022

The 35-70 2.8 is as good as any of the Nikkor primes in terms of sharpness, and more versatile than a standard 50. But if you want a prime 50, there's a lot of them for small bucks. I never cared for the edgy bokeh of the 50 1.8 lenses, but the older 50 2 had better IQ and decent bokeh.

Smooth, buttery bokeh is not a Nikon thing, apparently. I ended up using Leica R lenses on mine w/ an adapter, that totally solved everything, and then some. The only Nikkor lens I had for it that had nice bokeh was a 70 200 2.8 "bazooka". Outstanding lens, but that lens on the F4 are why my left shoulder is still not right some 30+ years later. Very heavy, and very big.

What lenses for Nikon F4 - just street and landscapes

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