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Lens Recommendations for the D1?

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Gary Kuzkin

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I know I'm starting a thread over again, but I would really like to "hear" more feedback from folks using the D1. I purchased a D1 last week. My past history is with Pentax film cameras and the CP950, so I have some lens buying to do.

Several threads down the list there is another discussion on lenses. I bought the camera about the time of the first post and decided to try the Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6. I bought the camera with this lense initially, and right now I'm still within my return-rights period. The lens is very versatile, but it is also a bit slow. I'm not sure about sharpness as I have nothing to compare to. I think (just an impression) that my outdoor landscape shots are a bit soft. Portrait shots look pretty good. I plan to shoot both portraits (typically cats) and outdoor scenes / nature pictures.

If folks out there have (even more!) recommendations I would really appreciate it. The new silent wave 17-35 and 28-70 seem highly recommended, but the prices make me lightheaded!! Perhaps I need to bite the bullet - and I will if that's really the right thing to do. Before I do that I want to look at all the alternatives. Nelson Tan's web side seems to recommend Tokina lenses as alternatives. What do you-all think, and are there even more alternatives? I would appreciate feedback from folks actually using some of these lenses. I am not a professional - just an enthusiastic amateur.

BTW - If you hadn't followed the link in the earlier post, Nelson's site has nice reviews of the new lenses ( http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/ ).

Thanks in advance ... gk
 
Weight, speed and cost apart, the main issue between the 24~120 and the AFS lenses is one of color correction. The 17~35 in particular seems to be designed very much to reduce color fringing problems. See Bjorn Rorslett's excellent website on this. I have used the AFS lenses and the 24~120. The latter is generally fine, but on some tough shots - especially with dark fine detail against a bright sky or background, the AFS lenses are much better. Usual story: top quality costs more.

Ibbo.
Gary Kuzkin said:
I know I'm starting a thread over again, but I would really like to
"hear" more feedback from folks using the D1. I purchased a D1 last
week. My past history is with Pentax film cameras and the CP950, so I
have some lens buying to do.

Several threads down the list there is another discussion on lenses. I
bought the camera about the time of the first post and decided to try the
Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6. I bought the camera with this lense initially,
and right now I'm still within my return-rights period. The lens is very
versatile, but it is also a bit slow. I'm not sure about sharpness as I
have nothing to compare to. I think (just an impression) that my outdoor
landscape shots are a bit soft. Portrait shots look pretty good. I plan
to shoot both portraits (typically cats) and outdoor scenes / nature
pictures.

If folks out there have (even more!) recommendations I would really
appreciate it. The new silent wave 17-35 and 28-70 seem highly
recommended, but the prices make me lightheaded!! Perhaps I need to bite
the bullet - and I will if that's really the right thing to do. Before I
do that I want to look at all the alternatives. Nelson Tan's web side
seems to recommend Tokina lenses as alternatives. What do you-all think,
and are there even more alternatives? I would appreciate feedback from
folks actually using some of these lenses. I am not a professional - just
an enthusiastic amateur.

BTW - If you hadn't followed the link in the earlier post, Nelson's site
has nice reviews of the new lenses ( http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/ ).

Thanks in advance ... gk
Click to expand...
 
You'll find that lens quality is more important with digital than it is with film. Wider optics needed for the

small CCD are more prone to flare and distortion - particularly wide angle zooms. If you want to save money, you

may want to stick to a prime focal length ultra wide and a moderate zoom rather than try to do it all with

one zoom. Especially if you are staying away from the really good stuff. High contrast and superior
coatings are really important if you want to make prints of any size.
 
Gary Kuzkin said:
I know I'm starting a thread over again, but I would really like to
"hear" more feedback from folks using the D1. I purchased a D1 last
week. My past history is with Pentax film cameras and the CP950, so I
have some lens buying to do.

Several threads down the list there is another discussion on lenses. I
bought the camera about the time of the first post and decided to try the
Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6. I bought the camera with this lense initially,
and right now I'm still within my return-rights period. The lens is very
versatile, but it is also a bit slow. I'm not sure about sharpness as I
have nothing to compare to. I think (just an impression) that my outdoor
landscape shots are a bit soft. Portrait shots look pretty good. I plan
to shoot both portraits (typically cats) and outdoor scenes / nature
pictures.

If folks out there have (even more!) recommendations I would really
appreciate it. The new silent wave 17-35 and 28-70 seem highly
recommended, but the prices make me lightheaded!! Perhaps I need to bite
the bullet - and I will if that's really the right thing to do. Before I
do that I want to look at all the alternatives. Nelson Tan's web side
seems to recommend Tokina lenses as alternatives. What do you-all think,
and are there even more alternatives? I would appreciate feedback from
folks actually using some of these lenses. I am not a professional - just
an enthusiastic amateur.

BTW - If you hadn't followed the link in the earlier post, Nelson's site
has nice reviews of the new lenses ( http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/ ).

Thanks in advance ... gk
Click to expand...
A good source of objective, technical lens test data is:
http://www.photodo.com

Unfortunately, they do not have tests of all the lenses you might like to have data about. Their tests do show that the Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6 is not a very good lens in terms of sharpness or contrast. Many people love this lens because it is compact, convenient, light weight, and inexpensive. It will not, however, achieve anything like the technical quality of the AF-S zooms.

Of course, good photography involves a lot more than just technical quality.

...Dan
 
I bit the bullet with the 17-35 2.8; 28-70 2.8; 60 2.8 Micro. Especially with the first two, the performance has been excellent! I bought the 60mm for macro capabilities and have been very pleased with that choice. But you really do notice the significant difference in the lens technology between the two telephotos and the macro.

Tom
ibbo said:
Ibbo.
Gary Kuzkin said:
I know I'm starting a thread over again, but I would really like to
"hear" more feedback from folks using the D1. I purchased a D1 last
week. My past history is with Pentax film cameras and the CP950, so I
have some lens buying to do.

Several threads down the list there is another discussion on lenses. I
bought the camera about the time of the first post and decided to try the
Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6. I bought the camera with this lense initially,
and right now I'm still within my return-rights period. The lens is very
versatile, but it is also a bit slow. I'm not sure about sharpness as I
have nothing to compare to. I think (just an impression) that my outdoor
landscape shots are a bit soft. Portrait shots look pretty good. I plan
to shoot both portraits (typically cats) and outdoor scenes / nature
pictures.

If folks out there have (even more!) recommendations I would really
appreciate it. The new silent wave 17-35 and 28-70 seem highly
recommended, but the prices make me lightheaded!! Perhaps I need to bite
the bullet - and I will if that's really the right thing to do. Before I
do that I want to look at all the alternatives. Nelson Tan's web side
seems to recommend Tokina lenses as alternatives. What do you-all think,
and are there even more alternatives? I would appreciate feedback from
folks actually using some of these lenses. I am not a professional - just
an enthusiastic amateur.

BTW - If you hadn't followed the link in the earlier post, Nelson's site
has nice reviews of the new lenses ( http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/ ).

Thanks in advance ... gk
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The 24~120 is a very versatile lens. Its also cheap and light to carry around all day. But is is quite dark at 90~120, and not at its best even at those slow full apertures. Also, digital cameras are much more sensitive to color aberrations, especially color fringing. To some extent this is avoided by the fact that the D1 is not 'seeing' the full 35mm frame area. On the other hand, the 17~35 seems to have been extra specially computed to minimise colo problems, and like the 28~70AFS is superb on the D1 - at a price. The Tokina 28~70/2.8 is all a very good lens at a much lower price.

ibbo
Gary Kuzkin said:
I know I'm starting a thread over again, but I would really like to
"hear" more feedback from folks using the D1. I purchased a D1 last
week. My past history is with Pentax film cameras and the CP950, so I
have some lens buying to do.

Several threads down the list there is another discussion on lenses. I
bought the camera about the time of the first post and decided to try the
Nikon 24-120 f 3.5-5.6. I bought the camera with this lense initially,
and right now I'm still within my return-rights period. The lens is very
versatile, but it is also a bit slow. I'm not sure about sharpness as I
have nothing to compare to. I think (just an impression) that my outdoor
landscape shots are a bit soft. Portrait shots look pretty good. I plan
to shoot both portraits (typically cats) and outdoor scenes / nature
pictures.

If folks out there have (even more!) recommendations I would really
appreciate it. The new silent wave 17-35 and 28-70 seem highly
recommended, but the prices make me lightheaded!! Perhaps I need to bite
the bullet - and I will if that's really the right thing to do. Before I
do that I want to look at all the alternatives. Nelson Tan's web side
seems to recommend Tokina lenses as alternatives. What do you-all think,
and are there even more alternatives? I would appreciate feedback from
folks actually using some of these lenses. I am not a professional - just
an enthusiastic amateur.

BTW - If you hadn't followed the link in the earlier post, Nelson's site
has nice reviews of the new lenses ( http://lioncity.s-one.net.sg/~photo/ ).

Thanks in advance ... gk
Click to expand...
 
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