What are the 3 must have Nikon Lenses?

i heard somewhere that the lens should be completely manual. Does this mean an auto focus lens would be a problem? The ones I'm seeing on b&h are auto
 
Sjanan said:
i heard somewhere that the lens should be completely manual. Does this mean an auto focus lens would be a problem? The ones I'm seeing on b&h are auto
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- Most auto focus lenses can also be used manually, so they're typically fine.
- Older used fully manual lenses tend to sell for less, so if you find one in great shape, you can save some cash
- Make sure to avoid newer more digitally oriented lenses, many now no longer have manually operable iris's, and that's of course something you DO need.
 
bill totolo said:
A lot of people are mentioning the 17-35. How does it compare to the 17-55 2.8?
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Well, there's one critically important difference... the 17-55mm is a DX lens, whereas the 17-35mm is a 35mm lens. I personally avoid digital lenses at all costs.

The 17-35mm is a terrific lens. Relatively fast, sharp as hell, and you can beat someone to death with it if you have to. I hear the 17-55mm is also a very good lens, but at about the same price why would you want it? The extra range doesn't count for much since any lens collection worth a damn includes a high-speed 50mm. And, oh yeah, it's a DX lens. Disqualified!
 
It doesn't seem like a lot of people are repping 135mm lenses, but I personally love that focal length.
 
dougspice said:
Well, there's one critically important difference... the 17-55mm is a DX lens, whereas the 17-35mm is a 35mm lens. I personally avoid digital lenses at all costs.

The 17-35mm is a terrific lens. Relatively fast, sharp as hell, and you can beat someone to death with it if you have to. I hear the 17-55mm is also a very good lens, but at about the same price why would you want it? The extra range doesn't count for much since any lens collection worth a damn includes a high-speed 50mm. And, oh yeah, it's a DX lens. Disqualified!
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Thanks Dougspice,

So, would say, the D90 be able to meter through the 17-35? Also, would a/f work?

Thanks,

Bill
 
Absolutely. The 17-35mm is an AF-S lens. Autofocus is instant and accurate. My favorite lens, aside from the 50mm f/1.4.

It's only older AI and AI-S lenses that have metering and focus issues with the newer cameras. Even then they may meter with the D90. I believe they will on the D300, for instance.
 
dougspice said:
The 17-35mm is a terrific lens. Relatively fast, sharp as hell, and you can beat someone to death with it if you have to.
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HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

ecking said:
It doesn't seem like a lot of people are repping 135mm lenses, but I personally love that focal length.
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I'm a big fan of 135mm, I had an older one that recently broke and I haven't replaced it yet, but I hope too before too long. It's great for extra close close ups.
 
About the NIkon 17-35mm: I've heard it doesn't have hard stops on the focus ring? (like the HVX focus barrel for example) Is it true? Can anyone confirm? How can an AC accurately pull the focus using a follow-focus with this lens?
Thanks.
 
I'm quite partial to these Nikon zooms:

17-35/2.8
28-70/2.8
80-200/2.8

They are sharp and provide pretty complete coverage of most usable focal lengths; I've used all three on shoots with excellent results with a Letus Extreme at f2.8 to f5.6. Another great thing about these lenses is that they focus and zoom internally which helps a lot when you've got a mattebox attached.

All of these lenses have hard stops on the barrels. Yes, they're pricey but far, far less then a similar set of cinema lenses.

I've also got a Voigtlander 58mm/1.4 for those rarer instances needing a fast lens or razor small depth of field.

PS: You may want to try renting one of the lenses for a weekend; it usually costs around $20 or $25 at most rental facilities...
 
Minh said:
About the NIkon 17-35mm: I've heard it doesn't have hard stops on the focus ring? (like the HVX focus barrel for example) Is it true? Can anyone confirm? How can an AC accurately pull the focus using a follow-focus with this lens?
Thanks.
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Sort of true. The ring will keep spinning, but you can definitely feel a bump when it hits either end, and the tension changes.

In practice, this would rarely be much of an issue anyway due to the extreme wideness of the lens.
 
dougspice said:
Sort of true. The ring will keep spinning, but you can definitely feel a bump when it hits either end, and the tension changes.

In practice, this would rarely be much of an issue anyway due to the extreme wideness of the lens.
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Just for clarification, I was referring to hard stops for the aperture rings and not for the focus rings; many, if not most, of the newer digital lenses don't have manual aperture rings.
 
Very nice reel there. My favorite was by far the dancing stuff where they were in lines. Very nice coloring and exposure. Lighting in that shot was top knotch. The rest was also very good.
 
jenningsp said:
on the letusEX and the SGpro, the difference between an f1.4 lens and a f2 lens is about 1/10th of a stop..... not a full stop.

so really buying an 85mm f1.4 over an 85mm f2.0 or 1.8 (the differnce between f1.8 and f2 is incalculable...) is only going to give you a barely perceptible brightness increase. not worth the money in my opinion.
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you know.. i was at the store the other day and i mentioned your point to the guy behind the counter.. he looked at me and said there is a HUGE diff between the 1.4 and 1.8 (85mm nikkon).. i recalled your comment here and was like.. :huh: lol.. So. is there really a hug difference? Of course i realize that indoors you will need a lot of light etc..
 
Leo Versola said:
I'm quite partial to these Nikon zooms:

17-35/2.8
28-70/2.8
80-200/2.8

They are sharp and provide pretty complete coverage of most usable focal lengths; I've used all three on shoots with excellent results with a Letus Extreme at f2.8 to f5.6. Another great thing about these lenses is that they focus and zoom internally which helps a lot when you've got a mattebox attached.
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These are exactly what I have (once the 28-70 arrives tomorrow), plus a Zeiss 50mm 1.4 for those extra low-light situations. In working with the three I have so far I can confirm the excellent results others are reporting. I may add to the collection later, but for now i'm hoping I'll have my bases pretty well covered with them.

Otherwise it's Letus Extreme/HVX Optimized, and HVX200A (plus a whole boatload of other gear unrelated to this thread...).
 
mcvideo said:
you know.. i was at the store the other day and i mentioned your point to the guy behind the counter.. he looked at me and said there is a HUGE diff between the 1.4 and 1.8 (85mm nikkon).. i recalled your comment here and was like.. :huh: lol.. So. is there really a hug difference? Of course i realize that indoors you will need a lot of light etc..
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lenses work differently on film cameras and DSLR's than they do on 35mm adapters.

on a film camera the difference between f1.4 and f2.0 is a full stop of light. but on an adapter it's not. the difference depends on the diffusion of the GG. on the letusEX and the SGpro i'd say it's about 1/10th of a stop. which is really nothing.

there are other differences besides how fast the lens is though...

the f1.4 AIS has more aperture blades, longer focus draw, is sharper and is twice the size of the f2. it probably has better colour and contrast as well.

also it has a bigger rear element, so it'll vignette less than the f2. but this is more of an issue with wider lenses.

it is a far superior lens. BUT on an adapter it loses it's biggest draw card... that it's a stop brighter.
 
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