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Which series of Nikon Lenses?

C

C.B. Lorch

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Thinking of moving into some Nikon lenses, and was looking to see which series of Nikon lenses work directly with the RED Nikon mount in terms of full aperture and other control (if any), as well as sensor coverage. I read about all of the other mounts out there as well as Doug Underhals modified RED Nikon mount, but I'm starting from scratch in terms of glass, so why not just have the functionality on the lens.


Thanks,
 
i've got the 28-70 f2.8 and the 80-200 f2.8. both manual apeture. search b&h with the 4 digit "19--" numbers below and you will find them...

1910: 16mm f2.8
1919: 24mm f2.8
1923: 35mm f2.0
1902: 50mm f1.4
1931: 85mm f1.8
 
There are still manual lenses in Nikon's catalog. Good place to start. Link

If you can afford them, the Zeiss ZFs have better mechanics, and are sharper. Go Duclos.
 
The ZFs are great but I wouldn't call them sharper. It depends on your taste.
AI/AIS lenses in very good condition can be extraordinary. Especially the wides,
what the ZF's offer, specifically if you have Duclos modify them is a matched set that has a close to cinema feel without all the searching. Duclos can do the same to a set of Nikkors though. My suggestions would be...

Nikon AF-S 17-35 F2.8
Nikon AI/AIS or Zeiss ZF 28mm f2, 35mm 1.4/2, 50mm 1.2/2, 85mm 1.4
Nikon AF (Not-s) 80-200mm F2.8

Weather you choose Zeiss or Nikkor is a personal and financial choice, the Nikkors will be cheaper but harder to find.

Try here... http://www.keh.com and ebay.
 
There's no question that Evin is the expert here, but my two cents are quite different on a few of those lenses.

I positively LOATHED the 35mm f1.4. It was really soft wide-open, had tons of CA wide open, and just plain wasn't really usable at anything close to f1.4. I wasn't all that hot about the 28mm f2.0, either. In both cases, I'd much rather spring for the new Sigma 30mm f1.4. You'll need the Underdahl upgraded Nikon mount to use it, however, but it's a vastly better lens then either of the other two. You can actually love it at f1.4. And then there is this: The Underdahl upgrade is worth the price of admission if only for its ability to let you use the truly remarkable Tokina 11-16mm zoom. I cannot tell you how much I love that lens! (And I'm not alone on that score.) But, again, the Sigma 30mm f1.4 is just plain a lot better than the other two Nikon wides (and since it splits the difference between them, you won't miss them, either).

As for the 50mm f1.2, I had that one, too, but sold it after a short time. I found it much too soft wide open, whereas the 50mm f1.4 is terrific wide open. Since the 1.4 is quite a bit cheaper than the 1.2, and I didn't feel as if I gained anything at all (except more weight!) from the 1.2, I don't think you'll find anything in 1.2 that you can't get out of the 50mm f1.4

So. . . if I was putting together a "basic" Nikon kit, this is what it would be:

1. Buy the Underdahl upgraded DX mount.

2. RUN, do not walk, to buy the Tokina 11-16mm zoom. What an amazing piece of glass!

3. AF-S 17-35mm zoom.

4. Sigma 30mm f1.4

5. Nikon 50mm f1.4 AIS

6. Nikon 85mm f1.4 AIS (a truly amazing lens!)

7. Nikon 80-200mm AF

These lenses will give you a lot of options, and are especially good when you need to be fast (f1.4) and still have a lot of flexibility with respect to focal lengths.

But the key to this kit is the Underdahl upgraded Nikon mount.

I can also highly recommend several other Nikons that we currently have in our kit:

A. Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye f2.8 (a great fisheye for the money)

B. Nikon AF-S 28-70mm zoom (the natural extension of the 17-35 zoom)

C. Nikon 105mm DC f2.0 AF (my current favorite lens for close-ups)

We also have the 135mm f2.0 and the 180mm f2.8, both of which are very nice lenses, but are probably a bit of overkill given the 80-200mm zoom. BUT, I would also recommend you look into a couple extension tubes (we use them more often that you'd think) to get some great close-ups and maybe even the 2X teleconverter. These little extras are pretty cheap, but they sure can come in handy (the extension tubes are more usable than the teleconverter, however).

Anyway, that's just my two bits. I'd love to see Evin's comments on response here. He certainly has a lot more experience with the Nikon lenses than I do.

Stephen
 
I have a full set of Nikkors mostly Ai. It is worth searching Ai lenses out because of their nice mechanical construction and longer throw.

I really like the 50mm 1.2. Also the 20mm Ais (f2.8 I think) is excellent. 28mm f2 is very good (giving you a nice roughly 40mm lens perspective).

My favourite of all is the 85mm 1.4 which is a stunning portrait lens built like a tank. However the 105 1.8 is also very very good ... Where do you stop?

For Macro work try the 55 mm f3.5 - a really really sharp lens and can be had on ebay for a song.

I dont know why it has been stated that the Zeiss is sharper. Can anyone provide any empirical evidence for that as I would be interested to know.

Rob
 
Rob Castiglione said:
I dont know why it has been stated that the Zeiss is sharper.
Click to expand...

Diglloyd.com has a thorough review of the ZFs, with comparisons to comparable Nikon/canon lenses. It's a paid review though. The 28/2 you mentioned is a good example where you will easily see an improvement with the ZF.

Apart from all of that, I own a set of Nikon Ais, and the ZFs are much better to work with.

But of course, you can get beautiful images with the Ais lenses. And they are cheap.
 
One of the central difference between cine and still lenses is quality control. Some examples of the very same Nikon lens can show drastic differences in quality of image. Quality control is less of a concern at Arri, etc. My Nikon set is the product of comparative testing - finding the best examples possible in each model I own. Don't hesitate to open the box and test it out. And yes, many manual iris Nikon lenses are still being manufactured with many others available in near mint condition. Take a look at Ken Rockwell's site for some of the best reviews available.

Best of luck.

Nick.
 
Sample variation indeed does play a part. That's part of the reason I bought a Zeiss PL mount prime set. But there are gems out there if you're willing to do the leg work. I haven't tried the Tokina yet but it seems to be getting a lot of interest. If your going to go with Doug's mount seriously look into the 14-24 and 24-70 2.8 Nikkors, these are some of the best zooms ever made period! I hardly ever take my 24-70 off my D3, it trounces every prime I own except the 85mm 1.4 and 300mm F2.8 AF-S VR from the same series.
 
I own and have been using the following Nikon lenses on RED One:

Primes
14mm f/2.8 D AF, 20mm f/2.8 AIS, 24mm f/2 AIS, 28mm f/2.8 AIS, 35mm f/2 AF D, 50mm f/1.2 AIS, 50mm f/1.4 AF D, 85mm f/1.4 AF D, 85mm f/1.4 AIS, 85mm f/2 AIS, 105mm f/1.8 AIS, 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS, 400 f/3.5 AIS

Zooms
17-35 f/2.8 AF-S, 28-70 f/2.8 AF-S, 80-200 f/2.8 AF, 50-300 f/4.5 AIS

I’ve had very good results on RED One with each of the above lenses.

I don't own any G series Nikon lenses. I use the RED Nikon mount - and I've experienced absolutely no lens seating problems using my Nikon lenses on the RED Nikon mount - they fit snug and tight like they should.

My lenses are all stock, and I eye focus with them on RED with no problems for the genres I usually shoot: adventure travel, tourism, hospitality industry, alternative sports, wildlife, nature, documentaries, music, and business media. I rarely use a matte box with my Nikon lenses - I use screw-on filters. I never use a follow focus with my Nikon lenses. For the genres I shoot mobility is critical - and a MB and FF don't satisfy those needs.

Don't overlook Nikon AIS lenses. Though they were built in the late '80's and '90's, many of them are excellent and very good on RED. Note all the AIS glass on my Nikon lens list. All of them were hand picked for being very good lenses to round out my kits, but also specifically because they were AIS, which was a solid improvement over the previous AI lenses - better lens coatings.

I love Nikon lenses! I've been using them regularly since 1969 when I personally bought my first Nikon F camera brand new on a trip to Hong Kong. I can afford very high-end lenses, but I'm not into throwing money into the wind. I simply buy lenses which work well for the genres I shoot. I don't buy Nikon lenses because they are relatively inexpensive - I buy them because they are good lenses which give me excellent images on RED One - being affordable is frosting on the cake.

BTW - I also own several PL lenses (RED and other), and a Canon FD 150-600 zoom, which I use when they're the best choice for a project.

Hope this helps...
 
SEVENTEEN Nikons. . .

:-)

And I thought I was being obsessive with 11. And that was for two cameras.

:-)

"Guess what, honey! I need a few more lenses!"

Stephen
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
SEVENTEEN Nikons. . .

:-)

And I thought I was being obsessive with 11. And that was for two cameras.

:-)

"Guess what, honey! I need a few more lenses!"

Stephen
Click to expand...

LOL - my wife is an excellent 35mm stills photographer and my Production Coordinator for my TV/film projects - so she thoroughly understands my lens addiction! She has a complete Canon DSLR system, with a great kit of L series lenses. She totally understands my "lensaholic" obsession - in fact she's a "lensaholic" too. We're a lens loving family for sure...

BTW - she'll also be transitioning over the the new RED DSMC line shortly...
 
Steve Gibby said:
LOL - my wife is an excellent 35mm stills photographer and my Production Coordinator for my TV/film projects - so she thoroughly understands my lens addiction! She has a complete Canon DSLR system, with a great kit of L series lenses. She totally understands my "lensaholic" obsession - in fact she's a "lensaholic" too. We're a lens loving family for sure...

BTW - she'll also be transitioning over the the new RED DSMC line shortly...
Click to expand...

Christmas must be fun in your house!
 
Let's see . . .

I've got the Peleng 8mm, Tokina 11-16, Nikon 17-55 (workhorse), 28mm 2 AIS, 35 1.4 AIS, 50mm 1.4 AIS, a Kiron 35-135 3.5 macro zoom, a Tokina 80-200 2.8 zoom.

I'm eyeing that Sigma 30 1.4 that Stephen talks about because I'm also disappointed in my Nikon 35 1.4. It does seem mushy wide open, which is why I bought the lens. So maybe I'll sell it and go for the 30 1.4.

I haven't shot anything with the Tokina but I also think it's a fabulous lens, just unreal how sharp and wide and funky it is. It's inspirational. The Peleng is a stone gas, and if it's too freaky fisheye at 8mm 4k for you then switch your cam to 3k. Great for interior car work, other small spaces, and a bargain.

The 17-55 just stays on my RED all the time during standard type shoots. I only take it off for macro stuff and if I need to go to T2 or wider.

If I have a gig where I think I might need no breathing and T1.3, then I borrow my friend's set of Zeiss speeds. But so far that hasn't happened much, and that 17-55 covers so many bases and is super sharp and super convenient. I made a crude but effective bracket for it so the focus ring has hard stops, and put a 32 pitch gear on it for follow focus and I find that I can pull focus quite accurately.

The GDX mount does let you use so many more lenses, which opens up new photographic vistas for you to explore in your search for artistic expression as you travel though life's quest for . . . (ORCHESTRAL MUSIC swells, and fade to black).
 
I have the following Nikkor Lenses

24/2 AI
35/2 AIS
50/1.4 AIS
85/2 AIS
105/2.5 AIS
17-35/2.8 AFS D IF-ED
80-200/2.8 AF-D ED New
Tokina 11-16

All came from Peter Sensor, except the zooms which will probably eventually go in for the same treatment. So far, good results from these lenses.
 
stevesherrick said:
Christmas must be fun in your house!
Click to expand...

Yup...new lenses for everyone! We may not need more, but we definitely want more...got to feed that glass addiction :biggrin:
 
Steve Gibby said:
Yup...new lenses for everyone! We may not need more, but we definitely want more...got to feed that glass addiction :biggrin:
Click to expand...

There can be far worse addictions. At least, that's what I tell my wife. Look honey, just think I could be addicted to crack. To which she replies "Is crack cheaper?":biggrin:
 
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