Choosing nikons- recommendations?

A

Andrew Luczenczyn

Active member
I'm opting out of the kit lens (because for some reason in Canada it's 1300 dollars less without it), and using the savings for the novoflex adapter and eBay nikon glass.

My major concerns are in the wide angle and crop factor. I'm currently stuck between the 17-35 IF and the 18-35 IF.

For my purposes, I shoot mostly dramatic work so I'm choosing lenses with aperture rings.

Can anyone comment on the apparent distortion on the 18-35?

Feel free to share what glass you use an your thoughts on them
 
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17-35 is the beast of Nikon. If you can get your hand on a good used copy (running less than $900) and you're all set. It is f/2.8 also. I have one and love it.
 
You talking about this? http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1835.htm

You should get it in your hands - its probably horrible for filming - but maybe not

After being around the houses with a wides I would check out the 18/3.5 prime

Which while expensive can be cheaper than the 17-35, also may have better focus feel and less distortion

My manual nikkor set everything else was dirt cheap (28/2 etc) but that is the one lens that I had to dig a little deep for!

S
 
A more budget route is the tamron 17-50mm 2.8 NONVC... its only 350 bucks and after you stop it up to 4-5.6 its very sharp. Only problem is that you have to use a nikon G adapter, but could be worth it. 17-35 2.8 is obviously better but triple the price. If you want something wider, check out the tokina 11-16 but its the same as the tamron, no aperture ring...
 
I use a rokinon 35mm & 85mm, and then a sigma 20mm f/1.8 for my wide. I find the 20mm plenty wide for all of my needs and I like the minimal distortion. Having a wide that's that fast is also quite nice.
 
@Andrew: 24-70 is good but pricy. You can sub it with the old version 28-70 and 80-200 is another beast from Nikon. For myself, i'm still looking for that 80-200 f/2.8
 
We're still testing our new FS100 but we have a set of Nikon Primes from our DSLR days (24,50,85,105 still looking for the perfect 35mm might go Rokin) We also have a Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 that gets a lot of use, and a 18-200VR we've yet to try but is similar to the kit lens I've heard.

Remember DX lenses cover the sensor area on the FS100 and with an MTF or Novoflex adapter you can control the iris of most Nikon lenses the drawback is the throw of the iris control on the adapter is short... the plus is no clicks. FYI I think a used 80-200 2.8 is in our future, along with the Tokina 11-16mm.
 
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