Used Nikkor Lenses - including the Classics

[fcotterill]

I thought of adding a few links collated in my searches over the past few years, learning about the Greater Nikon Ecosystem and hunting down bargains etc. This information may be interest to those with a fondness for older glass and especially shooting cameras with less demanding sensors. Anyways in my experience it's fun to learn about what's out there....

For the genesis of the oldest lenses See the 1001 Nights series run by Nikon's Haruo Sato and Kouichi Ohshita, Nikon optical maestros who apparently also revel in using the Classics in their private lives. Also search the NikonGear forum especially for Lenses to shoot on the Nikon Df. The following is not complete obviously but a useful start and decent coverage. There is also the book The New Nikon Compendium by Simon Stafford. It's available via Used sites. Although current up to about 2004 only, but covers all the AIS and AFD etc as well as first generation of DSLRs.

Nikon Lens Compendium and Roadmap

Nikon has continuously been developing its line of DSLR camera lenses. Check out the key specs and upcoming releases here.

www.apotelyt.com

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/photography.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com [Reviews useful but too often Wrong ]

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html [very useful to trace year from serial#]

https://www.opticallimits.com/all-tests

https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/nikon/reviews/

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html#rating [Lenses Ratings are excellent Standard ]

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-an...g-legacy-nikkor-lenses-with-the-nikon-df.html

https://photographylife.com/lenses/brand/nikon

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/6...utm_expid=20106105-1.lXsXJU8CT2i23Ibvc1h0tg.1

https://blog.mingthein.com/2016/11/16/the-ultimate-lens-list-nov-2016-1/#more-13507

Here are the lists of Recommended lenses in Nikon's current inventory. useful to put these here for Context. Last year, Thom Hogan made the inexplicable decision to take down all his older reviews, which sends a significant cohort of Nikonians elsewhere. Previously, I'd archived links to several of these reviews - now dead.

https://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-databases-for-nikon/thoms-recommended-lenses.html

https://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-databases-for-nikon/thoms-recommended-lenses-2.html

 

[fcotterill]

Here is a sketch of options for a kit of relatively affordable Used Nikkors to get out there, taking photos, or to build a compact System for Walkaround, general photos and Travel etc. Quite a few top-tier optics in G and E mount are rather heavy, with notable exceptions (namely 18-35 G). Even the wunder lenses that are the Z-Nikkors add up to a fair weight (but let's see how much the FX Pancakes tip the scale!). Obviously one can mix and match primes with zooms, adding a Fisheye or Macro, or longer telephoto but this tends to add kick up total cost. A few of these options are unique, being no longer made (70-180 Micro-Nikkor, the Defocus-Control twins stand out).

There are many other options to choose, including Sigma F-mounts. Obviously a decent quality telephoto will always cost more. These options all give autofocus with decent image quality on a FX camera up 24mp, with better results stopping down and/or on a DX body. Note most of these models will not AF on a Z MILC (until Nikon releases a better FTZ adapter, which also registers aperture setting into the exif).

Price estimates are from mostly at shops (and website MPB.co.uk) I monitor in UK, and in usual years visit 1-2 times/yr. They include Grays of Westminster (pricey but top quality) to Aperture (my firm favourite), Camera World, London and LCE (London Camera Exchange) which has many branches across UK. There is also Ffordes (big stock) up in Scotland and West Yorkshire Cameras (Leeds) but I've not dealt with them. Be patient if you seek cheaper prices, or risk eBay.

Prime Doubling Set #1 : 20 f2.8AFD @ £200, 35 f2AFD @ £190, 85 f1.8AFD @ £220 = £610

Prime Doubling Set #2 : 24 f2.8AFD £200, 50/1.8 D @ £80, 105 f2.8AFD Micro @£250 = £530

Zoom Set : 18-35 f3.5-4.5AFD £160, 28-105 f3.5-4.AFD @ £110, 80-200 f2.8D AFS £400 = £670

Options: 16 f2.8AFD Fisheye @ £500, 28 f2.8AFD @ £160, 28 f1.4AFD @ £1000, 50 f1.4D @ £200, 55 f2.8AFD Micro-Nikkor @ £220 , 85 f1.4AFD @ £420 105 f2AFD @ £600 135 f2AFD @ £600, 180 f2.8D@ £420

17-35 f2.8D AFS @ £419, 20-35 f2.8AFD @ £360, 18-35 G @ £419, 24-85 f3.5-4.5G £300

24-120 f4G £400, 80-200 f2.8 AF IF-ED £400, 70-200 f4G £700, 300 f4 AF ED £270, 300 f4D AFS £600, 300 f2.8D AFS-II £1600 [this superb fast 300 prime is the model made 2001-2004 @2.6kg using HK26 hood] 70-180 f3.5/5.6AFD Micro-Nikkor £800+

There are any number of many ways to build a set of Manual focusing kit of AI / AIS Nikkors to shoot on a digital camera (let alone adapting other MF lenses) . Some options from 20mm - 400mm. MF is fine at shorter focal lengths, but many have come to prefer AF telephotos. Some of these Classics have become scarce over the past couple of years (eg 20mm and 45 f2.8AIP, 400 f5.6AIS IFED) - probably many have learnt about them on websites and forums

20 f4AI £200.00 or 20 f3.5AIS £250.00, 28 f2.8AIS £200, 45 f2.8AIP £250, 55 f2.8AIS Micro-Nikkor £190, 105 f2AIS £190, 180 f2.8AIS £250, 200 f4AI £150, 80-200 f4AIS £200, 300 f4.5AIS IFED £180, 400 f5.6AIS IFED £1000