What would your manual focus lesn be for a Nikon F3?

stradibarrius · Mar 10, 2009

What would you use as your main MF lens for an F3?

nemo999 · Mar 10, 2009

50 mm f2 AI (with a 50 mm f1.4 AIS close behind)!

Curt · Mar 10, 2009

I only have a cheap zoom and an excellent 55mm MicroNikkor. I'd like a Nikon zoom 35-105? 28-80? I'm not up to the lenses for the F3. I have an F3 but limited on lenses. One lens? Maybe an 80mm?

Sanjay Sen · Mar 11, 2009

My most-used manual focus lens on the F3 is a 50/1.4 Nikkor.

23mjm · Mar 11, 2009

24mmf/2.8
50mmf/1.8
75-150f/3.5
&
Some sort of Macro/Micro lens

The first 3 are the 3 I use and my Macro/Micro broke and never got it fixed or replaced--never really missed it either.

epatsellis · Mar 11, 2009

depends, what are we shooting? I have a shelf full of Nikkors, but I usually take only a handful out at a time, for general use, a 35 f2 -O, a 55 1.2 S-C and a 135 f2 AIS

One_DaveT · Mar 11, 2009

If I were to limit it to one, I'd choose a 24/2.8. This is the most used on my F2.

I enjoy playing with wide angle perspectives. Though secondary considerations might be that the wider DOF of WA lenses is more forgiving and suited for MF. Ofcourse this last statement is very much photographer subject relevent. I tend to shoot alot of non-stationary kids, where this is very applicable.

r-brian · Mar 11, 2009

As a 'walk around lens' I ended up with a Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 35-85mm f2.8. It's big and heavy but man is it sharp.
For fix lenses, I have the 24mm f2.8 Nikkor Ai, 35mm f2 Nikkor Ai, 50mm F1.4 Nikkor non-Ai ( which I'm thinking of getting Ai'ed), and a Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 Macro.

budrichard · Mar 11, 2009

I find that Nikon SLR's excell in the short(WA) and long(Tele) range because one can obviously see what you are shooting. The 24mm f2.8 can't be beat for the WA and I have 135, 300 ED-IF, 400 ED-IF and 500mm f8 for the the Tele. So it really depends on what you are shooting. In the mid range of 35 to 75mm, I use Leica M cameras.-Dick

stradibarrius · Mar 11, 2009

I have heard great things about the Vivatar Kiron 28-85 and 28-105. I have a Nikon 28-105 macro that is an outstanding lens. It is an AF lens but is easy to use as a MF...the aperture ring is much easier to work than the ring on my Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF.

Uncle Bill · Mar 11, 2009

My three lenses for my F3 are 28 f2.8 Ai, 50f1.4 Ais, and a 105 f2.5 Ais.

Erik Petersson · Mar 11, 2009

23mjm said:
24mmf/2.8
50mmf/1.8
75-150f/3.5
&
Some sort of Macro/Micro lens

The first 3 are the 3 I use and my Macro/Micro broke and never got it fixed or replaced--never really missed it either.

I have about ten lenses, but almost only use the above - my 50mm is 1.4 though.

stradibarrius · Mar 11, 2009

Of the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lenses which one is the best for a manual focus camera?

WarEaglemtn · Mar 11, 2009

Depends on the situation. 24 f/2.8, 50 f/1.4, 105 f/1.8 or 300 f/2.8.

All work well and answer the need I bought them for.

pnance · Mar 11, 2009

I gotta agree with using a 50/1.4 as my favorite, I usually carry a 28 and 105 (or 135) with me also.

dynachrome · Mar 11, 2009

Best 50/1.8 for Nikon F3

My favorite 50/1.8 is the earliest AI Nikkor. It combines good optical performance with good build quality. The E model is not multicoated and it not impressive mechanically. It is sharp and will work well if you are not in any tricky lighting situations. The last two 50/1.8 AIS lenses are based on the E but have multicoating. The first one is very plasticky and the second one has a metal ring in the center. I have the first AI lens and the second AIS model. I also have the 50/2 AI model which was made for one year after the 50/1.8 AI came out. I prefer the 50/2 AI. The only downside to the 50/2is that it has six aperture blades raher than the 7 that the 50/1.8 has. This might cause slightly less attractive out of focus rendition.

kozesluk · Mar 11, 2009

for F3 I use ais 2/35 at most, but I'm now saving money for 1.4/35
ais 2/28 is also really nice (today I've shot with this lens on D3x and I'm absolutely impressed - it's far better than the new&shiny AF 1.4/50 G god bless the old 1960' design of 2/28)

one thing you can be (nearly) always sure about Nikkon - the more you pay, the better lens you get (except 1.2/50 and this kind of stuff)

2F/2F · Mar 11, 2009

I have a 1967 F, and my main lens is the matching 35mm f/2.0. It would probably be the 50mm f/1.4 that I also have, except for that fact that Canon FD is my main 35mm system. I use the 35mm lens the most on the F because it is a FL I no longer have for FD. If I had the F3 instead, and had a choice of a lens for it that would really set it apart from my FD equipment, it would probably be the 105mm f/1.8. It is a lens unique to Nikon. I guess you could argue that I would be better off getting the FD 100mm f/2.0, though. It is only 5mm shorter, only 1/3 stop slower, and costs far less, so...maybe I would pick the 200mm f/2.0 instead. Tough choice...

BobNewYork · Mar 11, 2009

It doesn't get a lot of press but the old 80-200 f4.5 is a very sharp lens. I continue to use it a lot, (even on the digi). Nice piece of glass.

Bob H

GeorgeDexter · Mar 11, 2009

Obviously it depends on your shooting style, but my "normal" lens is the 35mm f2.0 AI. I find it gives me the right balance of wide angle and fast aperture. I'd love to get that focal length/aperture combo for my M3 also, but it's beyond my meagre reach.

marsbars · Mar 12, 2009

I will have to mirror most people's choices. I use 3 for my F3 and they have all served me well. My 24mm 2.8, a 50mm 1.8 and a 135mm 2.8 E. All are sharp and suit all of my needs. But the 50 is probably my workhorse. It spends the most time mounted. I have yet to get a chance to really give my 24 a good test. And as for the 135, I have had nothing but great shots with it. Wouldn't mind having a 105 or an 85 in the bag. But it all works for me.

HerrBremerhaven · Mar 12, 2009

While it is possible to use just one lens, I think owning several gives many more options. If you are low on budget, don't look into the fastest lenses. When you want to isolate details, then a short telephoto can work better than a wide angle. Want to shoot low light, then you need an f1.4, and there are only a few choices.

On the basis of what I think is the single most versatile Nikkor lens that is still affordable, I suggest the 35mm f2.8 Shift lens. It is not easy to use, since it is a pre-set lens rather than aperture indexing. It's quite good used unshifted, and works well wide open. You can also find an entire range of interesting photos to take when you shift the lens. The only downside is that after using it a while, you might wish all your lenses included shift, and that can only lead you to large format.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

perkeleellinen · Mar 13, 2009

I backpacked / inter-railed around mainland Europe with an F3hp, fine rugged camera that gave me no problems at all. I took only one lens and that was the 16mm fisheye - looking back a slightly crazy choice I think, but I had a lot of fun with that lens (and still do) and it was a real challenge at times to use it in a way that wasn't clichéd.

stradibarrius · Mar 13, 2009

I have a 28mm and a 28-105mm that I love. It is great on my F100 but doesn't balance right on my F3HP.
I have ordered a used 50mmf/1.8. The 35mm does sound interesting and so does the 45mm which is scarce.

Pumal · Mar 13, 2009

I have like 30 lenses, but many times I go out with a 35-70 1:3.5 AIS

What would your manual focus lesn be for a Nikon F3?

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