Nikon Lenses: AIS vs non-AIS AF?

H

haze

New member
I teach a video production/filmmaking class. We are part of a consortium, FilmED Academy of the Arts, that includes several of the top local schools. Our primary cameras for filming sports, the news magazine show, etc. are the Panasonic HVX200 and HPX500. The first year students get trained on those over the summer. The veteran students get trained on the Canon 5D. The schools do not get a Canon 5D, but can reserver them from FilmED. They are frequently reserved.

So, I will be ordering a Canon 5D next week for my school. With the grant money I can't afford Zeiss, but can afford Nikon lenses.The 5D will be used mostly for video, but will also be used for pictures for the school website, graphics classes, etc.

Long story short, I was looking at Nikon lenses with the Fotodiox adapters. I just wasn't sure about AIS vs the AF stuff. I am assuming the AIS stuff, but this is a one-time shot on lenses (at least for a long time) and didn't want to screw up.

I was thinking 28mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, and 85 f1.9 AIS lenses. Does that sound right? Plus, likely order from B&H with the kit lens. I figure it would probably be a good general purpose lens for when we use for photography?
 
If you are using them only on a canon, I would recommend getting Non-Ai, Ai, or Ai-S lenses rather than the AF ones, because in most cases they will have just as good of optics, with better build quality, for less money. I'd recommend the 85mm f2 ais, 50mm 1.8 ais, and the 28mm 2.8 ais. I know those aren't as fast as you wanted, but optically those are probably some of the best lenses nikon has ever made. those also should be relatively inexpensive. I'd recommend ordering them used from keh.com, you probably wont be able to find them on B&H
 
Nikon still makes a all manual 20mm F2.8 lens. I have an AI-S version of it and it is a fantastic lens. A little soft wide open, but very nice when stopped down a little.
 
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