📛 Become a channel member: th-cam.com/users/thomaseislphotographyjoin ☕ Donate a coffee to support this channel: ko-fi.com/thomaseislphotography ❓📩 Direct support: thomaseisl.photography/shop/p/support-ticket
Ive changed all my lenses for af/af-d versions, 16 2.8 fisheye, 28 2.8, 35 2.0, 50 1.8, 85 1.8, 105 2.8 macro, 180 2.8 ,300 f4, zooms 28-105, 70-210. With my nikon d610 and fg20 they work perfectly. Greetings from Thomas, Gdańsk, Poland
I had these lenses for around 20 years. 35mm is very sharp while 50mm is good for lowlight/indoor situation. But now, when I take photos for my kids, I prefer using the 85mm or even 135mm DC, because they could let me keep a distance from them and take more natural snapshot photos. The shallow dof could also give me nice bokeh~ I think these three inexpensive lenses are MUST-HAVE lenses for F mount users~
Yes, I agree - these lenses are indeed must-haves. Also, I think that it is a good idea to use telephoto lenses for these kind of shots. These longer focal lengths are also great for taking snapshots at events as you can keep your distance to the action! I also have the 135 DC but I'm having a hard time getting the best out of the "very long" focal length. Thank you for the comment!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you for your reply~ In fact, after buying the Voigtlander 40mm/2 (the older version with close up adapter), I prefer to use it instead of the af-d 35mm (unless I need to use continuous AF for moving object), because I like voigtlander's colour rendering and MF for wide-angle is relatively fast. Btw, do you feel voigtlander's lenses are usually brighter than Nikon's lenses at the same aperture? I usually could step down 0.3-1.0 EV, it makes me feel the voigtlander lenses are even faster than their labeled speed.
Yes, the Voigtlander rendering is truly special! Regarding the brightness, I think it goes both ways. For example, the wide-open vignette on the 28mm f/2.8 Voigt makes it appear a tiny bit darker than the Nikkor 28mm AiS. So it might be perfectly possible the other way round as well, so that the AF-D Nikkors are actually a bit slower than your Voigtlander. Voigtlander lenses are fantastic, that's for sure!
Thanks for the review. In 1969, I switched from one 35mm SLR film camera system to a 35mm Nikon system. The first lens I purchased for it was a 35mm f/2 Nikkor. The second lens I purchased was an 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor. The third lens purchased was an 180mm f/2.8 telephoto. I used all three manual focus lenses primarily for photojournalism and scientific/medical subjects. Later, I had Nikon convert my 35/85/180mm pre-AI lens kit to AI. After a few years, I added a 50mm f/1.4 that I bought from the estate of a photographer who worked for a competing newspaper. After a few decades, I upgraded to 35mm f/1.4 manual focus, 85mm f/1.4 auto focus, and 50mm f/1.4 auto focus.
Thank you very much for sharing. What you describe is a great example of how lenses where considered an investment, not something you were hoarding excessively in a cupboard for no reason.
Love the d lenses! Sold all my d lenses once for the g, ended up u-turning for the size and character. Shooting 28 1.4 and 85 1.4 on D800, 35 2.0 and 50 1.4 on Df.
I often crop 1.2x on the D800, so the 28/85 becomes around 35/105, still get 24mp images, and get rid of the vignetting while shooting wide open. And of course I always have the option to go full frame.
24MP is still plenty! The D800 is a lot of camera and the combo of af-d lenses and D800 is just perfect. The D800 does not have this overly sharpened Sensor, it is just perfect.
I love the Df too… the D4 sensor, the 16mp is just about the right file size, the dynamic range, the low light capability, the smaller size with the light weight, and the nostalgic F3-like operation! The D800’s are my workhorse since 2012. The Df is more of my personal thing.
Great video! Question: Does F5 have custom menu option for choosing aperture selection by wheel or by aperture ring? I think that by default you must choose aperture by wheel and ring must be set to f22 on lens?
Nice we are on the same page on this. I use a 24-50-85mm AF-D combo for my F90x and D800 camera's for the reasons you mention. The 24mm f2.8 is a little sharp jewel and just provides a wider scope. This week I found the 50mm AF-D f1.4 for bokeh experiments and portability. Thanks for your video!
Very nice review, makes me lust for those three lenses myself. I own this "trinity" as AiS manual versions and in the current AF-S design (the only AF-D version I own is the 50mm/f1.8, love that one). When I get you right, the optical design of the AF-D lenses ist quite similar to the AiS ones, right?
Thank you for your nice comment, KC! Regarding your question: the 50mm ais should almost identical (except Potential minor coating differences) the 85mm ais and the afd have the same number of elements but grouped differently, expect better performance from the afd version
I'd consider the AF-Ds a viable option if you own analog and digital AF bodies. If you only shoot film MF and digital AF, then your current setup sounds great as well. In any case, these lenses are so cheap and great value at the moment, that you could just get the trio to see what it does for you!
we have similar thought on choosing lens :). I recently bought a mint 35mm AFD and use on nikon df, very cheap price, nice color rendition and reasonable sharpness, super compact light weight. I hope they are internal focus though. Its bokeh is a bit nervous but it is a matter of character.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! This is a great combination of lens and camera. As you said, the 35mm might be nervous, but it is also characterful! I love to read that other photographers also see the great opportunity these lenses present. The 85mm is also really exciting with the Df, and has internal focusing. Thanks for sticking around and the comment, Terry
Back to basic? I only have the 85mm 1.8, but I have old 35 and 50, and I have a manual 85 f.2, all good lenses. In the old days som used a 135mm insted of the 85, and later a 180mm f 2.8. I have those. The nikkor ED AF 180mm f 2. 8 is a very good lens.
Thank you for the comment! Agreed - picking a set of three prime lenses and working with them is truly back to basics - really improves the workflow, especially if they are amazing Nikkor lenses
Please be very careful when buying the D lenses used, they have issues with oily aperture blades - so the aperture closes slowly resulting in totally wrong metered images. Which is really a pitty because weight & size are ideal for traveling
📛 Become a channel member:
th-cam.com/users/thomaseislphotographyjoin
☕ Donate a coffee to support this channel:
ko-fi.com/thomaseislphotography
❓📩 Direct support:
thomaseisl.photography/shop/p/support-ticket
Ive changed all my lenses for af/af-d versions, 16 2.8 fisheye, 28 2.8, 35 2.0, 50 1.8, 85 1.8, 105 2.8 macro, 180 2.8 ,300 f4, zooms 28-105, 70-210.
With my nikon d610 and fg20 they work perfectly. Greetings from Thomas, Gdańsk, Poland
Wow, excellent setup - great choice of lenses! Thanks for sharing, hope you will like them as much as I like mine 🙏
I had these lenses for around 20 years.
35mm is very sharp while 50mm is good for lowlight/indoor situation.
But now, when I take photos for my kids, I prefer using the 85mm or even 135mm DC, because they could let me keep a distance from them and take more natural snapshot photos. The shallow dof could also give me nice bokeh~ I think these three inexpensive lenses are MUST-HAVE lenses for F mount users~
Yes, I agree - these lenses are indeed must-haves.
Also, I think that it is a good idea to use telephoto lenses for these kind of shots. These longer focal lengths are also great for taking snapshots at events as you can keep your distance to the action!
I also have the 135 DC but I'm having a hard time getting the best out of the "very long" focal length.
Thank you for the comment!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography
Thank you for your reply~
In fact, after buying the Voigtlander 40mm/2 (the older version with close up adapter), I prefer to use it instead of the af-d 35mm (unless I need to use continuous AF for moving object), because I like voigtlander's colour rendering and MF for wide-angle is relatively fast. Btw, do you feel voigtlander's lenses are usually brighter than Nikon's lenses at the same aperture? I usually could step down 0.3-1.0 EV, it makes me feel the voigtlander lenses are even faster than their labeled speed.
Yes, the Voigtlander rendering is truly special!
Regarding the brightness, I think it goes both ways. For example, the wide-open vignette on the 28mm f/2.8 Voigt makes it appear a tiny bit darker than the Nikkor 28mm AiS. So it might be perfectly possible the other way round as well, so that the AF-D Nikkors are actually a bit slower than your Voigtlander.
Voigtlander lenses are fantastic, that's for sure!
& Z mount users while adapted
Thanks for the review.
In 1969, I switched from one 35mm SLR film camera system to a 35mm Nikon system.
The first lens I purchased for it was a 35mm f/2 Nikkor. The second lens I purchased was an 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor. The third lens purchased was an 180mm f/2.8 telephoto. I used all three manual focus lenses primarily for photojournalism and scientific/medical subjects. Later, I had Nikon convert my 35/85/180mm pre-AI lens kit to AI.
After a few years, I added a 50mm f/1.4 that I bought from the estate of a photographer who worked for a competing newspaper.
After a few decades, I upgraded to 35mm f/1.4 manual focus, 85mm f/1.4 auto focus, and 50mm f/1.4 auto focus.
Thank you very much for sharing. What you describe is a great example of how lenses where considered an investment, not something you were hoarding excessively in a cupboard for no reason.
Great channel, Thomas. Keep up the good work
Thank you very much - I appreciate the feedback (and I'm already working on the next video)
I have all 3 for use on D800E (all acquired this summer). I need to spend more time with them based on this helpful video.
Definitely - I am sure that you will like the results!
Thanks for the comment Jared!
Love the d lenses!
Sold all my d lenses once for the g, ended up u-turning for the size and character.
Shooting 28 1.4 and 85 1.4 on D800, 35 2.0 and 50 1.4 on Df.
Same happened to me - I can totally relate to that. Thanks for sharing!
I often crop 1.2x on the D800, so the 28/85 becomes around 35/105, still get 24mp images, and get rid of the vignetting while shooting wide open.
And of course I always have the option to go full frame.
24MP is still plenty! The D800 is a lot of camera and the combo of af-d lenses and D800 is just perfect. The D800 does not have this overly sharpened Sensor, it is just perfect.
I love the Df too… the D4 sensor, the 16mp is just about the right file size, the dynamic range, the low light capability, the smaller size with the light weight, and the nostalgic F3-like operation!
The D800’s are my workhorse since 2012. The Df is more of my personal thing.
Fun fact - the Df has a control scheme almost identical to the F4
Great video! Question: Does F5 have custom menu option for choosing aperture selection by wheel or by aperture ring? I think that by default you must choose aperture by wheel and ring must be set to f22 on lens?
Yes, it is custom setting 22 which has to be set to 1 in order to use the aperture ring. Thanks for the comment and the positive words!
I really enjoyed this video. I am thinking of getting the 35mm!
You should! Thanks!
Nice we are on the same page on this. I use a 24-50-85mm AF-D combo for my F90x and D800 camera's for the reasons you mention. The 24mm f2.8 is a little sharp jewel and just provides a wider scope. This week I found the 50mm AF-D f1.4 for bokeh experiments and portability. Thanks for your video!
Completely agree, the 24 is an excellent lens indeed!
Thanks for the comment!
Very nice review, makes me lust for those three lenses myself. I own this "trinity" as AiS manual versions and in the current AF-S design (the only AF-D version I own is the 50mm/f1.8, love that one). When I get you right, the optical design of the AF-D lenses ist quite similar to the AiS ones, right?
Thank you for your nice comment, KC!
Regarding your question: the 50mm ais should almost identical (except Potential minor coating differences) the 85mm ais and the afd have the same number of elements but grouped differently, expect better performance from the afd version
The 35mm afd has an improved optical design compared to the 35mm f2 ais
I'd consider the AF-Ds a viable option if you own analog and digital AF bodies. If you only shoot film MF and digital AF, then your current setup sounds great as well. In any case, these lenses are so cheap and great value at the moment, that you could just get the trio to see what it does for you!
we have similar thought on choosing lens :). I recently bought a mint 35mm AFD and use on nikon df, very cheap price, nice color rendition and reasonable sharpness, super compact light weight. I hope they are internal focus though. Its bokeh is a bit nervous but it is a matter of character.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
This is a great combination of lens and camera. As you said, the 35mm might be nervous, but it is also characterful!
I love to read that other photographers also see the great opportunity these lenses present.
The 85mm is also really exciting with the Df, and has internal focusing.
Thanks for sticking around and the comment, Terry
@@ngterry9653 can you use the aperture ring on lens with the DF for aperture priority? Presumably you have to set it to f22 for program mode?
@PJ-om2wq you can set in the menu to use the physical aperture ring on D lens, instead of setting it to f22
@@ngterry9653 how does that work in shutter priority or program mode?
@@PJ-om2wq no, it only works for aperture priority
I have a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 from around 2006, very nice
A very nice lens!
Any recommendation for a 135mm ?
Oh, definitely the 135 f/2 DC! Absolutely love it.
I have to admit I would have gone mirrorless by now with the Z mount if Nikon had made an FTZ adapter with a built in motor for the AF-D lenses.
Yes, it would be an interesting option if it would exist!
Back to basic? I only have the 85mm 1.8, but I have old 35 and 50, and I have a manual 85 f.2, all good lenses. In the old days som used a 135mm insted of the 85, and later a 180mm f 2.8. I have those. The nikkor ED AF 180mm f 2. 8 is a very good lens.
Thank you for the comment! Agreed - picking a set of three prime lenses and working with them is truly back to basics - really improves the workflow, especially if they are amazing Nikkor lenses
...and thanks for sticking around on this channel, Jan!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Forgot to mention the AF Nikkor 28mm f 2.8D . Also a good lens if you want to go wider.
I prefer the 50mm f1.8D - I have the 1.4D also.
Cool!
Great video, i have a 85 1.4g which for me is one of the most beautiful lenses. The look it produces from f1.4 to f2 is just gorgeous!
Ah, that is a great lens indeed! Also, quite inexpensive for what it is. F Mount is great value, love that. Thanks for sharing, Liam!
Please be very careful when buying the D lenses used, they have issues with oily aperture blades - so the aperture closes slowly resulting in totally wrong metered images. Which is really a pitty because weight & size are ideal for traveling
Thanks for the words of warning - old lenses should definitely be serviced first to mitigate potential issues.
Better off w/ a Nikon AF 24 to 85mm / G VR f.3.5 used only $225
As long as it works for you - I personally prefer prime lenses.