NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Steven Paulsen on July 24, 2018, 00:01:20

Title: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Steven Paulsen on July 24, 2018, 00:01:20: :) Why do I still cling on. Is it that some of these old buggers still work well or am I still on that "Reminiscent Bridge" between my Film & D cameras?
1. Old Ai'd, 50/1.4
2. Factory Ai'd 85/1.8
3. The lovely Ai 105/2.5
4. (Please fill in the blank for your favorite, 135mm.)

My old large barrel 135/2.8f broke a spring or the aperture blades froze wide open, long ago.
It's difficult to find a most likeable replacement. :)
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Frank Fremerey on July 24, 2018, 00:12:01: show some pictures to illustrate why you like them so much.
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Seapy on July 24, 2018, 00:30:38: If you part with them you will remember why you kept them. Then regret parting, like old friends.
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Mongo on July 24, 2018, 00:49:29: Steven and Seapy....you both must live in Mongo's head. "+ 1" to both your comments.

Mongo's cannot part with is 85mm f1.4 AI-s for this work. Yes, not the sharpest but has its own unique and lovely character.
Also discovered Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART is fabulous for portraits (believe it or not) AND older Tamron 90mm f2.5 AF macro which has been delivering amazing portraits
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: richardHaw on July 24, 2018, 02:48:10: https://richardhaw.com/2017/05/21/repair-nikkor-p-c-180mm-f2-8-auto/

https://richardhaw.com/2018/07/01/repair-nikkor-180mm-f-2-8-ed-ai-s/

https://richardhaw.com/2016/04/21/repair-nikkor-q-135mm-f2-8/

https://richardhaw.com/2016/07/10/repair-nikkor-135mm-f2-8kaiai-s/

:o :o :o
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Steven Paulsen on July 24, 2018, 03:32:24: I forgot to mention, I'm on lens #3 in the 135 category. An ais with sticky blades, a vivitar with a fungus jungle, both returned or refunded. I think the one on deck may work out ok. (A Series 1, F2.3.) A lot of blue CA, but hopefully not on the eyelashes. The overall IQ reminds me of the stuff coming out of my Kodak slr/N.

The old 135 has been a donor so many times, there's not enough left to put it.back together.
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Jakov Minić on July 24, 2018, 10:49:01: I will never part company with my 85/1.4 AF-D so I fully understand the sentiment!
What's a 135mm lens wthout DC :)
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Mongo on July 24, 2018, 11:40:50: Forgot how much Mongo loved his 105 mm f2.5 and AF 180 mm f2.8 ED (new) in the film days. Still own both but they have lost some of their prominence in these digital days given the 70-200mm f2.8VR
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Steven Paulsen on July 27, 2018, 14:48:47: Quote from: Mongo on July 24, 2018, 11:40:50
Forgot how much Mongo loved his 105 mm f2.5 and AF 180 mm f2.8 ED (new) in the film days. Still own both but they have lost some of their prominence in these digital days given the 70-200mm f2.8VR

<chuckle>
I am almost 100% with you, Mr. Mongo. My 70-200VR honestly can take the place of my old assortment. Maybe, since I refer to this lens as (The Baseball Bat,) "I am going to threaten you, oh portrait person," sort of thing. The so called soft corners of the V1 come in handy, however I somewhat disagree & love my Version 1.

Yes, ^^^^ Above^^^^, the 135DC has had my curiosity for quite some time.
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: ArthurDent on July 27, 2018, 15:20:17: I really like my 24-105 f/3.5-4.5 AFD. It cost me next to nothing, but is a great portrait lens on the D500.
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: jgould2 on July 27, 2018, 21:23:51: Hi all.

I have to agree with Jakov about the 85 f/1.4 AFD. I have no plans to replace it although I have not yet tried it on my (fairly new) D810.

JIM
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Nasos Kosmas on July 27, 2018, 21:39:33: Quote from: ArthurDent on July 27, 2018, 15:20:17
I really like my 24-105 f/3.5-4.5 AFD. It cost me next to nothing, but is a great portrait lens on the D500.
You mean 28-105/ 3.5-4.5 AFD my favorite lens in the age of film
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: Erik Lund on July 31, 2018, 10:01:46: Fixing a broken return spring for the aperture is quite an easy fix,,,, either follow one of Richards guides or hand it over to a repairman. ;)
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: richardHaw on July 31, 2018, 14:41:07: https://richardhaw.com/2016/04/21/repair-nikkor-q-135mm-f2-8/
more here! :o :o :o
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: richardHaw on July 31, 2018, 14:42:14: Quote from: Erik Lund on July 31, 2018, 10:01:46
Fixing a broken return spring for the aperture is quite an easy fix,,,, either follow one of Richards guides or hand it over to a repairman. ;)

Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeno62 (https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeno62)

Kenneth Olsen inspired me to start the blog. he has very useful videos :o :o :o
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: the solitaire on August 06, 2018, 00:15:36: I told the story more then once. Sold my 80-200 f4 Ai-S. Never got over the loss. Bought another 80-200 f4 Ai-S only to find it's a perfect companion on photo trips everywhere.

Do I keep other old lenses? Well, yes. Of course I do.

Lenses I sold, most of the Af lenses I bought. The only one I hold on to is the 85 f1,4 AF-D

Other old lenses I use frequently:
16mm f3,5 pre-Ai Fish Eye Nikkor, 20mm f3,5 UD Nikkor, 35mm f2 Nikkor-O, 50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S, 55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S.C, 105mm f2,5 Nikkor-P (Sonnar), 135mm f2,8 Nikkor-Q.C, 300mm f2,8 Ai-S.

So, why do I hold on to these? Well, for me they work just as well as their AF counterparts, just cost far less. That way I can use a 300mm f2,8 lens, a fish eye lens and many other lenses that all have their specific uses. I prefer fosucing my AF lenses manually, so they do not really give me benefits
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: 46mpx on August 08, 2018, 05:30:08: For me, the cheapest and one of my favourite old school portrait lens is the AI-S 200/4:

on a D850,
Title: Re: Old School Portrait Primes
Post by: 46mpx on August 08, 2018, 05:31:31: and here's a crop of the image above,