Give me guidance please.

T

the doc

Well-known member
I know these kind of topics annoy some people - but I have spent a fair bit of time on these forums and just can't work out what I want to do... guide me!

I have the pancake and kit lens. Now thinking of going for some nice old lenses with adaptor. So hard to decide though!

1) I want to stick to one lens mount / 1 adaptor.

2) I want it to be cheap... not pro level. Best bang for the buck.

3) I want a good macro lens... and a good long zoom (200mm + preferably.)

4) Based in UK - so european supplier / ebay preferable.

Guide me! I just don't know enough about lenses to make the decision between Sigma, Nikon, Olympus, Canon....... etc etc etc.
 
Canon FD lenses seem to be a popular choice here. There are several great posts on the different ones and what people like.
 
Yes, or old Nikkors with F mount work great for me. eBay has lots of options.

I have a 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 105mm, and 200mm. This is what I had left after I selling off my old Nikon F2 and FE2 bodies.

Remember there is about a 2:1 crop, so multiply the lens focal length by 2 (eg a 50mm Nikkor is a 100mm on the GH1)
 
Hey - thanks guys.

I know about the crop... and I know FD lenses are popular... but so are a lot of others!

I guess what i really want is someone who has gone through this process... spent their money... made some mistakes... to say to me.... RIGHT... for your macro THIS lens is cheap and good and for your zoom go for THIS one.

Thanks Camero for your link. When I first looked at it it looked like basic stuff i already knew... but the later info on the differences between different lens manufacturers was very interesting.

I am looking for advice on specific lenses related to the current market though (i.e... if you were starting out now... knowing what you now know... what would you have bought?)

Will certainly look through the rest of that guys site though - looks cool.
 
Get the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, both Nikon mount. Maybe you can pick up both of these used. Two simple lenses to get a great range of focal lengths that are pretty fast for zooms. Use your pancake lens as your fast standard lens and you're set.

*Edit: except for your macro; I don't know anything about that.
 
Cheers cassell-I have read good things re those lenses... but I specifically said i wanted a long zoom (200mm at least....preferably a zoom rather than a prime) and a macro.
 
The Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 micro is def the way to go if looking for an AMAZING cheap macro lens.
 
Get the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, both Nikon mount. Maybe you can pick up both of these used. Two simple lenses to get a great range of focal lengths that are pretty fast for zooms. Use your pancake lens as your fast standard lens and you're set.

*Edit: except for your macro; I don't know anything about that.
Click to expand...

I LOVE my Tamron...and fantasize about the Tokina 11-16, (don't tell my wife)

JUST REMEMBER: You WON'T have control over aperature. You'll need to address that.
 
Ben_B said:
The Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 micro is def the way to go if looking for an AMAZING cheap macro lens.
Click to expand...

I have read a bit about this lens now - does seem nice - none on UK Ebay at the mo though.

So... if i am edging towards a Nikon adaptor I am still needing a nice long zoom - something up to 200mm.... preferably higher... and not a prime. Any suggestions?

What is this about aperture by the way? Surely the adaptors let you adjust aperture?
 
i have a tokina 80-200 2.8 at-x in FD mount. if you need a fast and cheap zoom this is a good lens... quite heavy, it has it's own tripod collar and using it handheld is nearly impossibile.
I have recently bought a Tokina SD 70-210 4-5.6 , FD mount. Still haven't used it in real working situation, but the first tests i have done reveals it is a very good lens. sharp with nice bokeh and much much lighter and shorter than the other tokina. Both are very solid with a good feel, and i paid more or less 80 euros for the 2.8 and 30 for the 4 - 5.6
Of course they don't have Af or stabilization, so using them handheld is nearly imposible above 100 .
i have never considered nikon lenses becaus of inverse focus, just can't get used to it.
 
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