Buying new Nikon lenses

N

naveenmedia

Active member
Anyone know a place that has a decent selection of manual focus Nikon lenses (so that they can be used with an adapter)? I must be missing something here...

B&H seems to have very few manual focus. In fact, most places I see carry AF lenses or only have minimal MF selections. I'm thinking I have to be missing some obvious places. Could someone please fill me in where they get theirs?

Also, I'd like to get them new. I'm willing to pay some extra for quality, unused lenses.

And if says others are better (Zeiss, for example), please let me know.

Thanks!
Naveen
 
Hi Naveen:

A few bits of advice...

1. You don't need to purchase new lenses. Honestly, as a 25 year Nikon user, the newer D and DX series lenses (you would never use a DX lens with a 35mm adapter anyway) suck in build quality compared to the older AI/AI-S series manuals. The newer lenses produce good images but the manual focus mechanisms are bad, really rough and coarse compared to the dedicated manual Nikons. Makes sense, nobody shoots manual focus anymore so why dedicate budget from the design to making a good manual focus mechanism that nobody uses anymore?

Nikon does still make a few manual lenses new but once again, you can get a better deal just shopping around. I bought 3 of my 6 Nikons on EBay and got really lucky, all are flawless and in particular, my 85mm 1.8 looks like it is new out of the box, it was barely used. Think fast lenses. A nice beginner set would be a 24mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 or 1.4 if you can afford it and something like a 105mm 2.8 or 135 2.8 on the long end, unless you plan on shooting wildlife or surfers or something like that.

2. If you want used lenses from a dealer, rather than Ebay, www.keh.com and there are a few others as well but they are a good place to begin.

3. The Zeiss are perhaps 5-10% better and 3-5 times the cost of used Nikons. It's up to you if your budget can support that, they are good lenses but pricey. If you want to go all of the way, almost any PL mount cine lens will blow away those manual focus Nikon mount Zeiss but now you are possibly in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Best,

Dan
 
Thanks Dan! Things to mull over. Clearly, I need to do more research before buying anything.

I guess I'll wait until next year to make my lens purchases...I'm not even sure which adapter I'm getting yet!

Naveen
 
I rarely regret taking too long to decide which gear to buy, but I have often regretted buying things too quickly.

Happy Holidays!

Dan
 
If you don't yet have an adapter already, consider the Canon FD lenses. They are every where. And really inexpensive.
 
puredrifting said:
I rarely regret taking too long to decide which gear to buy, but I have often regretted buying things too quickly.
Click to expand...

This sums it up brilliantly, Dan.

I second the notion that KEH is the way to go, but it is also worth visiting your local camera shop - especially if you are in New York or LA. If 35mm adapters and still photography are fairly new new (or entirely new) to you, go with those used Nikon primes. You'll know if/when you need to move up to Zeiss, and the Nikons will hold their value if you buy used and you take care of them.
 
puredrifting said:
Hi Naveen:

A few bits of advice...


Nikon does still make a few manual lenses new but once again, you can get a better deal just shopping around. I bought 3 of my 6 Nikons on EBay and got really lucky, all are flawless and in particular, my 85mm 1.8 looks like it is new out of the box, it was barely used. Think fast lenses. A nice beginner set would be a 24mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 or 1.4

Dan
Click to expand...


I couldnt agree more. All my lenses I purchased from ebay without 1 problem. Jsut make sure you look for all the obvious problem free details like fungus , dust and scratches.

I did however buy my 35mm 1.4 from B and H. ran about 600. I couldnt for the life of me find one used in Los Angeles or even los vegas pawn shops hehe. the ones on Ebay kept getting nabbed...
 
Chad Bonanno said:
I couldnt agree more. All my lenses I purchased from ebay without 1 problem. Jsut make sure you look for all the obvious problem free details like fungus , dust and scratches.

I did however buy my 35mm 1.4 from B and H. ran about 600. I couldnt for the life of me find one used in Los Angeles or even los vegas pawn shops hehe. the ones on Ebay kept getting nabbed...
Click to expand...

damn I bought a 35mm 1.4 in ebay for 40 bucks, almost new condition, that was a good deal back then, I think the launch of the 35mm adapters skyrocketed ebay prices for nikons
 
Interesting Nikon factoid.

Last Bourne Identity movie use re -housed Nikkon 28- 70 and 80-200. I find these lenses in stills untouchable (even compared to ZF's). Only problem is their focus draw is narrow.
 
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