Best bargain manual focus lenses?

[Carnivale]

I just got a D40 and I've been having a blast with an old Series E 50mm f1.8 manual focus lens. I'd like to know what other cheap, used lenses I should look for. I'm considering the Series E 100mm f2.8, which sells on eBay for under $100.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[jimstewart]

Not a recommendation as such, but a D40 allows you to to mount many pre-AI lenses, that can often be found on ebay for very cheap, and some of them are quite good optically for their age. Do a bit of research on them first before buying, and have fun!

 

[Hoosier]

The 200/4 AI-S is a top lens with fantastic sharpness and small size. Get one

 

[Richard G T]

The 200/4 AI-S is a top lens with fantastic sharpness and small size. Get one

Agree with this choice. Also look at the AIS 105 f/2.5.

Best wishes,
Richard
--
Equipment: 1 camera, 1 lens, 38 years
http://www.pbase.com/rgthompson

 

[slimandy]

105mm f2.5 AIS

and (not so cheap) 35mm f1.4 AIS
--
http://www.andrewsandersphotography.co.uk

 

[pierre1]

Get the better version CRC, focus to 0.2m
This one's with my D700 @ f5.6



and the 28mm with my D40 @ f5.6



Pierre
http://www.pbase.com/matrixone

 

[Carnivale]

Get the better version CRC, focus to 0.2m

How do I tell the versions apart?

 

[Tom Monego]

The 100 f2.8 series E is a great lens, tiny, not much bigger than some 50s, light weight and quite good optically. Bought mine for $60 in excellent shape. Is the 105 f2.5 better? Probably, but will be much more expensive as it is nearing cult status. The 100 series E is no slouch either.

Tom

 

[Guidenet]

If you can find a good pre-AI 105 f/2.5 with P-C on the nose and with a good price, you'll have a real winner for portraiture. The AI models tend to be more expensive.

Also a pre-AI 55 f/3.5 Macro especially with the extension tube that came with it is a superb lens.
--
Cheers, Craig

 

[pierre1]

The good version has ser. #'s from 635370 - 836872
Scroll down on this link.
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Pierre

 

[shay guevara]

Aprt from whats been mentioned already

35/2.5 E lens.
75/150 3.5 E - a very sharp lens once popular with fashion photographers.

If you are OK with going off brand there are interesting things like the Kiron 28/2 or Vivitar 28/1.9 to be found in Nikon mounts.

Shay

 

[swivelfan]

There are quite a few bargains of manual lenses around (mostly in the tele range):

Wideangle:

• 20mm 3,5
• 28mm 2,8 AI-S 0,2m close focus

Normal lenses:

• 50mm 2,0

Tele lenses:

• 100mm 2,8 Series E
• 105mm 2,5 AI or AI-S
• 135mm 2,8 AI or AI-S
• 75-150mm Series E (so cheap and good that there is no reason not to own one)
• 80-200mm 4,5 AI (also very cheap with good performance)
• 200mm 4,0 AI or AI-S
• 300mm 4,5 IF-ED

--

swivelfan (I started with the legendary Coolpix swivel series: 9 9 5 / 4 5 0 0 with all the converters, now D 7 0 0 and a few lenses)

 

[bmrx]

I'd look into the pre ai 28 f2. I've got an ai'd version that has quickly become my walk around lens and environmental portrait lens. It's got good sharpness, excellent color and contrast. The only issue is a small bit of ca that's easy to fix. Picked up the lens for $120 on ebay and if I didn't need the ai ring I could have picked one up at the local shop for $60.

Another new found joy of mine is off brand bargain lenses. There have been some amazing manual focus lenses produce by companies who didn't make it big. For example I picked up a 90mm 2.8 macro Panagor "Kiron" for $35 that is outstanding. Nikon is predictable and even on their worst day produce good lenses, but if you can find a cheap deal there are some real gems out there amongst all the no names.

 

[James Sherman]

Another new found joy of mine is off brand bargain lenses. There have been some amazing manual focus lenses produce by companies who didn't make it big. For example I picked up a 90mm 2.8 macro Panagor "Kiron" for $35 that is outstanding. Nikon is predictable and even on their worst day produce good lenses, but if you can find a cheap deal there are some real gems out there amongst all the no names.

Kirons-Kinos are usually gems. I also have a Vivitar (Komine - serial number begins with 28) 28mm f/2 close focus lens that's razor sharp and a joy to use. The close focus is quite useful, too. It's also roughly the same size as the Nikon 35mm f/1.8, but I only had to pay $24 on ebay a couple of years ago.

 

[stealth3kpl]

The good version has ser. #'s from 635370 - 836872
Scroll down on this link.
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Pierre

This was an interesting page. I discovered my AF 24mm f2.8 is at least 14 years older than my 24mm AIS f2.8 which was made about 2005!
Pete

 

[lizzie b]

The 200/4 AI-S is a top lens with fantastic sharpness and small size. Get one

Agree with this choice. Also look at the AIS 105 f/2.5.

Best wishes,
Richard

I use the AI version of these lenses and find them to be excellent. The 55 2.8 micro AIS is the lens I use most though, during the lighter months it's the standard lens on my 35mm SLRs too.

Lizzie

 

[The Developer]

Is an extremely sharp (wide open at F2) and cheap lens.

I just got a D40 and I've been having a blast with an old Series E 50mm f1.8 manual focus lens. I'd like to know what other cheap, used lenses I should look for. I'm considering the Series E 100mm f2.8, which sells on eBay for under $100.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

--
-thedeveloper

 

[The Developer]

I just got a D40 and I've been having a blast with an old Series E 50mm f1.8 manual focus lens. I'd like to know what other cheap, used lenses I should look for. I'm considering the Series E 100mm f2.8, which sells on eBay for under $100.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

--
-thedeveloper

--
-thedeveloper

 

[Tim Ackerman]

I'll second any recommendation for the 105mm f/2.5

I love my Voigtlander lenses too, plus they meter on the D40 so that is a great bonus

 

[Carnivale]

Thanks for all the tips, and keep them coming!