What vintage lenses do you recommend for Df?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

A lens that can do excellent service on a Df, or indeed most Nikons, is the 300 mm f/4.5 ED-IF Nikkor. The ED non-IF is probably sharper, but very elusive and hard to track down (I used several years to find a good sample). The IF design imparts some CA that was not a big problem in the film days, but do show up with digital cameras. However, most is easily removed in a good RAW converter.

What the 300/4.5 ED-IF scores on is its smallness, portability, and ease of use. The focusing ring rotates butter smooth and quick, and the lens is easy to hand held if you need to, but the lens does thrive better on a sturdy tripod no small part due to its outstanding tripod collar.

The 300/4.5 ED-IF focuses close, to 2.5 m, and adding a PN-11 helps improve the near limit further.

Here are some hibernating whooper swans that were very slow in getting my message thus I had to repeat several times ....

"Sorry can you please repeat - I didn't get your meaning"

[richardHaw]

the grain reminds me of film
what ISO is this if you dont mind

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Probably 100. The scene is very low in contrast. It was snowing a lot.

[BW]

It seem to me that the df behave exellent no matter what you put in front of it. That camera is the one I grab in most situations. It has a undescribable quality in all its quirkyness. Sorry for the OT

[Hugh_3170]

I think that the Df's excellent sensor has a lot to do with its good handling of the older lenses, plus the fact that it has a sensible number of megapixels (a useful 16MPx, not a squillion MPx). 

The Df sensor is a tweaked version of that found in the D4 - I am guessing that its sensor performance may therefore be somewhere between that of the D4 and D4S.  Wonder what the Df MkII will come with?

[tommiejeep]

Hugh, I'm with Børge on grabbing the Df.  When I recently went to Rajasthan I did not hesitate which Nikon body made the cut.
All of my lenses work very well on the Df.  One of my 105mm lenses normally is a first choice ( I prefer the 2.5 Ai to the Ais but often reach for the DC105 f2D) .  The 58 1.4G ( obviously not vintage  ) spends a lot of time on the camera.  I prefer my 28 f2 Ai to the 28 f2 Ais.  I often have the 75-150 3.5 E or the 135 2.8 Q with me.  I use the 85 1.4D and sometimes think about an older 85mm but cash has many things tugging at it, D500, DC135 f2, Leica 135/180 3.4 etc.

My only complaints are the Focus Point spread and the 1/4000.  If 2017 does bring a Df2 to the table I would be very happy with the same sensor since I love the output.  A 179 (or more) spread would certainly get my attention.  I'm sort of interested a focus assist light for shooting very dark functions but I've used some work arounds so not critical.  With constant use, all of my small niggles have gone long ago.

If it is a really big event for Nikon they may really surprise us  .
Tom

[chris dees]

It's not quite a recommendation, but I hardly use AF-lenses on my Df; only MF-lenses.
I have a nice (scalloped) MF-collection which fit's perfectly on my (panda) Df.
Nikkor-UD Auto 1:3.5 f=20mm
Nikkor-NC Auto 1:2.8 f=24mm
Nikkor-NC Auto 1:2.0 f=28mm
Nikkor-OC Auto 1:2.0 f=35mm
Nikkor-N Auto 1:1.4 f=35mm (9-blade version)
Nikkor-SC Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm
Nikkor-SC Auto 1:1.2 f=55mm
Micro-Nikkor-PC Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm (not scalopped, but afaik there isn't a Nikkor one, only Nippon Kogaku Japan)
Nikkor-HC Auto 1:1.8 f=85mm
Nikkor-PC Auto 1:2.5 f=105mm
Nikkor-QC Auto 1:3.5 f=135mm
Nikkor-QC Auto 1:4 f=200mm
All factory AI-d (except the 85, I have to find an AI-ring for that one) and all in pristine condition.
They're from 1971 - 1974
Next step is to have them chipped (the 105 already is and the 20 and 28 are on their way to Copenhagen ).

[Roland Vink]

Micro-Nikkor-PC Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm (not scalopped, but afaik there isn't a Nikkor one, only Nippon Kogaku Japan)

If it's a Nikkor-P.C, then it's marked "Nikon" and not "Nippon Kogaku Japan". They are all "Nikkors" 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

In addition to lenses mentioned by Chris,

- 15 mm f/3.5 Nikkor (better than the f/5.6 version as there is more even colour rendition across the frame)

- 24 mm f/2 Nikkor AI or AIS (get a clean sample ; check that its rear focusing cell is in proper position or needs to be tightened. This cell apparently tends to work itself looser over time)

- 35 mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor

- 50 mm f/1.8 Nikkor AIS (early long nose)

- a number of other 50 mm lenses, for example the latest 50/1.4 AIS

- 55 mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor (beware of oil contamination to the aperture blades)

- 58 mm f/1.2 Noct-Nikkor AI/AIS (if you are lucky and own it, using it with the Df is the way to go)

- 85 mm f/1.4 Nikkor AIS (perfect handling and balance on the Df)

- 105 mm f/1.8 AIS

- 135 mm f/2 Nikkor AI/AIS

- 200 mm f/2 ED-IF (AI or AIS)

- 200 mm f/4 Nikkor AI (slighlty better handling than either the early QC or later AIS)

- 300 mm f/4.5 ED-IF (or, quality-wise even better: 300/4.5 ED non-IF, but that lens is very elusive)

- 400 mm f/3.5 ED-IF AI or AIS


The list of zoom lenses is much shorter, though. Most of such designs were inferior to the primes of their time any way.

The following have proved their value, however;

- 25-50 mm f/4 Zoom-Nikkor

- 28-50 mm f/3.5 Zoom-Nikkor

- 35-70 mm f/3.5 Zoom-Nikkor AI (72 mm filter thread, near limit 1 m. The successor with 62 mm filter thread has "macro" mode, but otherwise inferior performance compared to the first version)

- 36-72 mm f/3.5 Zoom Nikon SE (inconvenient 1 m near limit, otherwise excellent. Can also be reversed for close-ups)

- 75-150 mm f/3.5 Zoom Nikon SE (the second of the SE zoom lenses that gets an approval. My decision on the bigger 70-210/4 is not finalised)

- 200-400 mm f/4 ED Zoom Nikkor (non-IF). The perfect landscape lens if there ever was one, but unfortunately scarce and expensive.

I very rarely use AF/AFS lenses on my Df, so the distribution of its focus points is not of interest to me.

I have replaced the stock focusing screen with a K3 (purchased from focusingscreen.com) that makes even weary eyes better enjoy manual focusing.

[chris dees]

If it's a Nikkor-P.C, then it's marked "Nikon" and not "Nippon Kogaku Japan". They are all "Nikkors" 

What I meant to say, there's no Nikon scalloped Micro 55/3.5 (as there is a Nippon Kogaku Japan).

[Fons Baerken]

i miss a few nikkors: 50mm f/1.2, 180mm f/2.8ed, 50-135mm f/3.5

may be interesting to include some non nikkors on the list

[Airy]

Non-Nikkors:
Any Zeiss (50/1.4 not that seductive though)
Voigtländer : 40/2 and 58/1.4
Tamron: 90/2.5 (52B or 52BB); 500/8 reflex is funny and cheap too;
Angénieux: 35-70/2.5 ; 180/2.3 (hard to find)

[Bjørn Rørslett]

i miss a few nikkors: 50mm f/1.2, 180mm f/2.8ed, 50-135mm f/3.5

may be interesting to include some non Nikkors on the list

50/1.2 was on Chris' list? If not we agree to put it on the well-worth-to-use-on-Df list.

I forgot the 50-135/3.5 I stand corrected. 180/2.8ED is also good.

Apart from the Voigtländer APO trio 90/3.5-125/2.5-180/, all of which are usable on a Df, I have little overview of the playing field.

[John Geerts]

The  former F3AF AIS Nikkors  80/2.8 and 200/3.5  perform good on the Df as well 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The  former F3AF AIS Nikkors  80/2.8 and 200/3.5  perform good on the Df as well 

They certainly do, but the imprecise feeling and backlash with manual focusing is an acquired taste for sure.