Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Peter Frahm on January 08, 2008, 02:20:11 pm
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I have a bunch of old Nikon/Nikkor lenses from my original kit from way back when.
-nikkor 3.5 55m Micro
-nikkor hc 3.5 28mm
-nikkor Q 3.5 135mm
-nikkor 4.5 300mm.
-nikkor C 4.5 80-200m zoom
Three are AI converted (ai'd)..
Wondering, with Nikon's compatability record, if it's worth using these lenses on the newer Nikon digitals such as the d200. Are the optics going to be a mess as far as general aberrations, sharpness etc.
I don't own a Nikon digital so I'm asking.
Thanks,
Peter
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Non-AI lenses are not compatible with the D-200. You should be able to go to the nikon web site, search for the e-version of the D200 owner's manual, download it, and find all the compatibility answers. As far as sharpness goes, you shouldn't have any trouble with the AI converted lenses. I have been a Nikon user for a long time and have a lot of older stuff laying around. I am carfully buying new lenses as needed and have been very pleased. I don't buy any DX lenses since I don't want to be limited to the smaller sensor.
Best regards,
David
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We use an assortment of Ai and Ai-converted manual focus lenses all the time on our D2X bodies, as we did before on our various Fujis. Good glass is still good glass, as long as it talks to the body. We may use newer AF more often, but I don't think any of them "beat" the old lenses in IQ. Lots more convenient certainly, but not better when you compare images.
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For informed comment on the optical quality of your lens's, have a look here and scroll to the bottom of the page:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html (http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html)
You will also find one of the most comprehensive D3 reviews here as well:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/D3/D3_rev00.html (http://www.naturfotograf.com/D3/D3_rev00.html)
Regards,
Richard
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Thanks guys and Rich..excellent links.
I've been wrestling with sentiment on these things. Haven't used these lenses that much in recent years but they are some old workhorses from the beginning and I hate to sell them.
Intense review of the d3, really great.
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Not exactly the answer to your question, but related, nonetheless.
Working from ancient Kodachromes which I have scanned, I now have a renewed respect for my old 4/200 Nikkor (non-AId) which I considered sort of so-so with film at the time I owned it; feel very pleased with the penultimate 500 mirror reflex Nikkor that I underused when I had it; am convinced my original 2/50 was every bit as good as my latest 1.8/50 and that my 3.5/135 Nikkor was better than my new 2.8/135 Nikkor. The new 2.8/24 Nikkor seems better than the old one I had.
All those lenses were and are non autofocus. The only reason I changed them was because I made the male menopausal error of thinking that leaving 35mm for 6x7 would increase my stock earnings. Naturally, I picked a moment when digital capture was sweeping the board, rendering the change pointless. Eventually, I reverted to film Nikon but with a greatly reduced armoury of lenses. Buying into digital with the D200 was relatively painless because it works perfectly well with the few manual lenses I have today.
Thinking about my renewed enthusiasm for the old lenses via the old Kodachromes, I believe that this has to be due to the twin facts of scanning and digital printing. It is simply a more rewarding process which brings out the best of a lens as much as it does the worst.
Rob C
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I love my old Nikkors...on my CANON Dslr!!!!
My favorites are the 85, 135, 180, 200, 300...
the Canon 35 and 50 are as good as the old Nikkors, and the 24-85mm Canon is as good as the original 24/2.8 Nikkor
I get exposure control in the Canon but not auto-aperture, but that's not an issue as the Nikkors are sharp wide open and still easy to focus stopped down a click where sharpness is incredible...puts zooms to shame...
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9388/cannikkrp8.jpg (http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9388/cannikkrp8.jpg)
FF with 300/4.5
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9437/her4sq53jtt4.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9437/her4sq53jtt4.jpg)
100% crop 180/2.8
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7756/img7166wbyk3.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7756/img7166wbyk3.jpg)
100% crop 300/4.5
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/230/adrcjfiltnh6.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/230/adrcjfiltnh6.jpg)
100% crop 135/2.8
http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b...ccfilterih1.jpg (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=benjarr2u13ccfilterih1.jpg)
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I have a bunch of old Nikon/Nikkor lenses from my original kit from way back when.
-nikkor 3.5 55m Micro
I have this lens and it works very well on my D200.
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In our kit, the macros get the biggest workout, too- 55,105, and 200. The 105 fills the lion's share of our needs, but the others are also notably sharp.