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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / September 2006

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lens query nikkor

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james - 09 Sep 2006 17:24 GMT
I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
the stores.  I already own the Nikkor AF ED 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D lens. I have
also the chance to buy  the Nikkor AF 85mm 1:1.8D fixed lens and the  Nikkor
35mm 1:1.2D fixed lens.  The two fixed lens were used with a 35mm film
camera and I don't know how they translate on the digital camera.  The other
uncertainty that I have is wether or not these two fixed lens will produce
better images than a single zoom lens.  Should I bother with the fixed lens?
Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
on 6*4?
Buy_Sell - 09 Sep 2006 17:45 GMT
Multiply your mm X 1.5 for the D70.

Personally, I would buy the two fixed lenses if the price were right.
They should perform very well in low light situations where you don't
want to use a flash or tripod.

-------------------
> I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
> the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
> on 6*4?
ilaab - 09 Sep 2006 17:55 GMT
>I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
>the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>fixed lens? Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better
>when printed on 6*4?
Or you could by my D70s which will have a 24-120mm VR for $700.00. I also
want to get rid of my 80-400mm VR so I can get me a 300mm 2.8 VR for my
D200.

Ilaab
tomm42 - 09 Sep 2006 18:06 GMT
> I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
> the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
> on 6*4?

The two prime lenses are excellent lenses, the 18-70 is considered as
the best bang for the buck in the Nikon lens line up. The 70-300 is a
so-so lens, if you think of it as a 70-200 you'll be fine. If the prime
lenses are autofocus they would match nicely with the D70. If they are
older AIS or AI lenses they will work but not meter with the camera.
The 18-70 would be a good walk around lens. The 35 and 85 are two of
Nikon's best lenses. If the price is right and the primes are AF lenses
I'd try to get all 4. The 35 on a digital camera has the image angle of
a 52mm on a 35 and the 85 an image angle of a 125mm lens on a 35. The
range below the 35mm is very nice to have as is the range above 85.
Just think you'd be set for lenses, for a long time.

Tom
Paul Furman - 09 Sep 2006 18:57 GMT
>>I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
>>the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> The 18-70 would be a good walk around lens. The 35 and 85 are two of
> Nikon's best lenses.

This 85/1.8 is not the best, that's the 85/1.4 at $1000. The 35 f/1.4 is
pretty handy if that's what he's talking about.

> If the price is right and the primes are AF lenses
> I'd try to get all 4. The 35 on a digital camera has the image angle of
> a 52mm on a 35 and the 85 an image angle of a 125mm lens on a 35. The
> range below the 35mm is very nice to have as is the range above 85.
> Just think you'd be set for lenses, for a long time.

The two longer lenses are pretty inexpensive so yeah if the price is
right it'd be a fun starter kit.

Signature

Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

David Ruether - 10 Sep 2006 00:01 GMT
>>>I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
>>>the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>>Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
>>>on 6*4?

>> The two prime lenses are excellent lenses, the 18-70 is considered as
>> the best bang for the buck in the Nikon lens line up. The 70-300 is a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> The 18-70 would be a good walk around lens. The 35 and 85 are two of
>> Nikon's best lenses.

> This 85/1.8 is not the best, that's the 85/1.4 at $1000.

The 85mm f1.8 AF is one HECK of a lens, as near perfect even on
35mm full frame as they get (VERY sharp to the corners at all stops
wider than f16 or so, and at all distances - it is hard to imagine better
than that!).

>The 35 f/1.4 is pretty handy if that's what he's talking about.

It is unclear which the original poster is referring to, but there is no
Nikkor 35mm f1.2; the 1.4 will not meter on a D70; and the MF
35mm f2 (will not meter on the D70) and AF 35mm f2 are superior
to the 35mm f1.4 at wide stops, so...

>> If the price is right and the primes are AF lenses
>> I'd try to get all 4. The 35 on a digital camera has the image angle of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> The two longer lenses are pretty inexpensive so yeah if the price is right it'd be a fun starter kit. --
> Paul Furman

The 18-70 is surprisingly good, and for the 1/2 frame coverage of the
D70, the 70-300 f4 is more than adequate (remember when people
actually used to like this lens more than the better older 75-300mm???;-).
(See my www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html Nikkor comparison list...)
--
David Ruether
ruether@verizon.net
rpn1@cornell.edu
http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
Paul Furman - 10 Sep 2006 00:54 GMT
>>tomm42 wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> wider than f16 or so, and at all distances - it is hard to imagine better
> than that!).

Just that I've heard the 85/1.4 is famous for the smooth bokeh
(out-of-focus) and that's probably the main reason you'd use a lens of
this length. If highlights in the background are not overly contrasty
this may not be a noticeable difference.

>>The 35 f/1.4 is pretty handy if that's what he's talking about.
>
> It is unclear which the original poster is referring to, but there is no
> Nikkor 35mm f1.2; the 1.4 will not meter on a D70; and the MF
> 35mm f2 (will not meter on the D70) and AF 35mm f2 are superior
> to the 35mm f1.4 at wide stops, so...

The 35/1.4 has funny looking bokeh wide open and not perfect sharpness
wide open but stopped down a bit, I understand it is better than the f/2
just not such a bargain for the price so the f/2 is sensible but if
there's a deal on the 1.8 I'd be interesed, I've been looking for
something in this range myself. There is an AF 35 f/2.

>>>If the price is right and the primes are AF lenses
>>>I'd try to get all 4. The 35 on a digital camera has the image angle of
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> actually used to like this lens more than the better older 75-300mm???;-).
> (See my www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html Nikkor comparison list...)

Signature

Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

David Ruether - 10 Sep 2006 01:30 GMT
>>>tomm42 wrote:

>>>>>I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
>>>>>the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>>>>Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
>>>>>on 6*4?

>>>>The two prime lenses are excellent lenses, the 18-70 is considered as
>>>>the best bang for the buck in the Nikon lens line up. The 70-300 is a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>>>The 18-70 would be a good walk around lens. The 35 and 85 are two of
>>>>Nikon's best lenses.

>>>This 85/1.8 is not the best, that's the 85/1.4 at $1000.

>> The 85mm f1.8 AF is one HECK of a lens, as near perfect even on
>> 35mm full frame as they get (VERY sharp to the corners at all stops
>> wider than f16 or so, and at all distances - it is hard to imagine better
>> than that!).

> Just that I've heard the 85/1.4 is famous for the smooth bokeh (out-of-focus) and that's probably the main reason you'd use a lens
> of this length. If highlights in the background are not overly contrasty this may not be a noticeable difference.

Ah, I guess I go for "zing" over "bokeh"...;-)

>>>The 35 f/1.4 is pretty handy if that's what he's talking about.

>> It is unclear which the original poster is referring to, but there is no
>> Nikkor 35mm f1.2; the 1.4 will not meter on a D70; and the MF
>> 35mm f2 (will not meter on the D70) and AF 35mm f2 are superior
>> to the 35mm f1.4 at wide stops, so...

> The 35/1.4 has funny looking bokeh wide open and not perfect sharpness wide open but stopped down a bit, I understand it is better
> than the f/2 just not such a bargain for the price so the f/2 is sensible

I never liked the f1.4 as much as either f2 35mm Nikkor (both
are sharp wide open, with the corners on FF being a bit better
on the MF, at the expense of some illumination roll-off) - the 1.4
appears to be lower contrast even stopped down quite a bit...

> but if there's a deal on the 1.8 I'd be interesed, I've been looking for something in this range myself. There is an AF 35 f/2.

There is no 35mm f1.8 AF. The 35mm f2 AF is a quite good
lens...

>>>>If the price is right and the primes are AF lenses
>>>>I'd try to get all 4. The 35 on a digital camera has the image angle of
>>>>a 52mm on a 35 and the 85 an image angle of a 125mm lens on a 35. The
>>>>range below the 35mm is very nice to have as is the range above 85.
>>>>Just think you'd be set for lenses, for a long time.

>>>The two longer lenses are pretty inexpensive so yeah if the price is right
>>>it'd be a fun starter kit.

>> The 18-70 is surprisingly good, and for the 1/2 frame coverage of the
>> D70, the 70-300 f4 is more than adequate (remember when people
>> actually used to like this lens more than the better older 75-300mm???;-).
>> (See my www.ferrario.com/ruether/slemn.html Nikkor comparison list...)

--
David Ruether
ruether@verizon.net
rpn1@cornell.edu
http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
Rita Ä Berkowitz - 10 Sep 2006 01:31 GMT
> Just that I've heard the 85/1.4 is famous for the smooth bokeh
> (out-of-focus) and that's probably the main reason you'd use a lens of
> this length. If highlights in the background are not overly contrasty
> this may not be a noticeable difference.

You've heard right!  The 85mm f/1.4D is only second to the old Nikon 58mm
f/1.2 NOCT.  I love mine and I must say that the DoF can be very shallow.
An inch or two forward or back can make or break a shot.  This is definitely
one lens you learn to "zoom with your feet" very quickly for action shots.
Here's a "mid-flight" shot.

http://www.geocities.com/ritaberk2006/pics/Pears.jpg

Rita
Paul Furman - 09 Sep 2006 18:17 GMT
> I am about to buy a Nikon D70, 2nd hand, it comes with a  with zoom lens,
> the 18mm to 70mm (Nikkor), the lens that usually comes  with the camera in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Are the images with the fixed lens going to be visually better when printed
> on 6*4?

I'm not personally familiar with any of these, just based on research
I've done...

I don't think there is a 35mm f/1.2 nikkor, the 34/1.4 is likey an older
model that won't meter & might not even mount without modifications,
certainly not autofocus. But if modified, that would be a neat lens to
use, helpful in low light and somewhat sharper/better than the 18-70 kit
lens. The 18-70 is pretty good though so not a huge difference besides
the low light ability. The 35 will translate as a bit longer than a 50mm
standard normal view so that's nice to have. It's hard to manual focus
on a D70 though. Still would be an interesting & useful thing to have
for low light or large prints of landscapes with exceptional detail.

The 85mm f/1.8 is pretty good for the price but translates (1.5x) as a
field of view of a 128mm medium telephoto lens which is sort of maybe
not that useful. What sort of shooting do you like to do? This would
make nice portraits at a long distance or catch details of street scenes
(across the street) at night or hummingbirds at close range or flower
'closeups' in shady woods.

The AF ED 70-300mm f/4-5.6 D is so-so if you don't plan to get anything
else & aren't too picky it's a cheap second everything-kit with the
18-70 though the 70-210 f/4-5.6 or 80-200 f/2.8 are better and you don't
really need 300mm with the 1.5x factor on digital. If you did need 300
it's probably for sports or wildlife and then you need a faster lens
anyways, this will only look really sharp stopped way down on a tripod
for non-moving subjects in broad daylight.

Signature

Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

james - 09 Sep 2006 21:17 GMT
Thanks everybody for the useful advice.  One other thing, if I am going to
use different lenses then I will eventually have the problem of dirt on the
sensor.  Near where I live my neighbour has a D70 and an expensive
maintenance insurance policy to go with it.  He sends the camera off for 4-5
weeks  at a time for cleaning dirt off the sensor.  He does  do a lot of
outdoor photography in dry dusty places, but for me, as an outdoor person,
will muck on the sensor  be a major concern and would I be able to rely on a
specialist DIY kit for cleaning the sensor?
Ed Ruf  (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!) - 09 Sep 2006 22:23 GMT
>Thanks everybody for the useful advice.  One other thing, if I am going to
>use different lenses then I will eventually have the problem of dirt on the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>will muck on the sensor  be a major concern and would I be able to rely on a
>specialist DIY kit for cleaning the sensor?

First, you might find crud on your lens left over from the manufacturing
process somewhere inside the camera eventually, also zoom lenses will
exchange some air and whatever it carries as well. So learning to clean the
sensor is something you should do. It's not that big a deal. I use
SensorSwabs and rewrap them myself with Pecpads and a few drops of Eclipse
alcohol. Been doing the D70 for now 8K+ shots and the D200 for near 4K. The
crud really only shows up when the les is really stopped down.
--
Ed Ruf (Usenet2@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html
Paul Furman - 10 Sep 2006 00:10 GMT
> Thanks everybody for the useful advice.  One other thing, if I am going to
> use different lenses then I will eventually have the problem of dirt on the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> will muck on the sensor  be a major concern and would I be able to rely on a
> specialist DIY kit for cleaning the sensor?

Get a "static-powered" sensor brush to take care of almost everything
unless dust gets glued on with moisture or smoke then the sensor swabs &
fluid is eventually needed & it's not hard at all to do yourself.
Regular cleaning with the brush will probably mean you won't need swabs
for a long time. Swabs don't work if you haven't first used a brush &
blower to get all the dust out of the chamber. I work outdoors & change
lenses often in heavily dusty conditions.

Signature

Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

tomm42 - 10 Sep 2006 16:32 GMT
> Thanks everybody for the useful advice.  One other thing, if I am going to
> use different lenses then I will eventually have the problem of dirt on the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> will muck on the sensor  be a major concern and would I be able to rely on a
> specialist DIY kit for cleaning the sensor?

You can easily learn to clean your own, often all that is needed is a
"Gioto Rocket" blower. I have had my D200 for 7 months and it has only
had one notice able dust spot, and that fell off. I change lenses alot
and I'm not very careful where I change them. But I never leave the
camera without a lens or a body cap on it. With most photographers I
know dust hasn't been a big problem and they just deal with it when it
comes around, every 4-5 weeks seem awfully excessive. Small dust
particles are easily handled in Photoshop or whatever editor you use.

Tom
 
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