Speculation - Old Nikon glass. Worth Hoarding??

dougdarter

dougdarter

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,099
Name
Douglas
Edit My Images
Yes
It occurs to me, that with the advent of the new D3, in FX format, that some people are going to be wanting the old AFD/AFS lenses because the D3 is crippled using DX glass, at least in terms of resolution, and the old lenses will suit the FF format perfectly - this is what they were designed for after all.

Now, I've always maintained that the older AF/D/AF-S professional glass with 2.8 apertures (of which I have a bagful:p) is some of the highest quality ever made by Nikon, when forgetting all the technical spec, and concentrating just on glass, perhaps the best ever.

Most of the output over the last several years has been designed with DX in mind, especially the VR. So, do I hoard my lenses, or will Nikon bring out a new range destined to be used specifically on the D3?? I wonder.
 
If they were mine I would hold on to them, very firmly. As long as they are not damaged, I think your assessment of them as being of the best quality is right.
There must be a point where lenses can reach the peak of development, optically ( I think Nikon got there with the type of lenses you have) then all they can do to encourage sales is to add things like VR.

Of course, what I meant to say was, they are rubbish and you will get awful results using them on digital. I will take them off your hands and even pay the postage if you like? :naughty:

Allan
 
allanm said:
Of course, what I meant to say was, they are rubbish and you will get awful results using them on digital. I will take them off your hands and even pay the postage if you like? :naughty:

Allan
Click to expand...

:D:lol::clap:
 
Interesting question, Doug. For any AF-S lenses you have, it's probably a no-brainer. Nikon probably aren't going to replace them any time soon. (Except perhaps the 70-200 VR, which by all accounts seems to have been deisgned for the DX crop even though it is technically FX.) But I'm not so sure about AF lenses. If and when Nikon get their act together as far as their product range is concerned, I think they've got to be thinking about bringing out AF-S versions of some of their older lenses. What that will do to the resale value of older lenses is hard to judge.
 
Its definately worth keeping them. I'm in the camp where putting AF-S on lenses just isn't needed - it keeps the weight down and cost.

Compare the price of the new AF-S 60mm macro (which I have) with the older AF-D version. The price went up 75% near as damn it. For AF-S. On a macro. When most people manually focus macro lenses. Does not compute.

I'm happy to stick to older lenses and the good news is they perform great, the little 35/2 AF-D is a pocket sized marvel on the D700, and the el cheapo Nikon 28-105 AF-D is a revelation.

"Old" does not mean "bad" in my book - actually I just bought a 28mm f/2.0 AI-S and thats manual focus all the way :)
 
Surely glass is what it's all about? all the rest is sugar coating. I know I'd rather have manual everything with excellent glass than auto everything with ok glass.
 
Steep said:
I know I'd rather have manual everything with excellent glass than auto everything with ok glass.
Click to expand...
Sure. But market prices aren't determined by what you'd rather have.
 
taz said:
When he becomes as (in)famous as Ken Rockwell they will be:lol:
Click to expand...

There is a heck of a lot of good stuff on the KR site. He may be self opiniated, outspoken and bombastic,and you may not like his style, but discarding everything you don't like, and picking between the bones, a lot of what he says makes sense.

His conclusions often seem to have a Nikon balance, but that is because he prefers Nikon to Canon, and that's purely subjective. He certainly knows his stuff, and he obviously has an huge following. He is a renowned cinematographer, and has been a press photographer for years, so he is not withou expertise and experience!!

Canon owners seem to think a lot less of him - I suppose that that's understandable:lol:

Some quotes:

Maybe because it's entirely an artist's eye, patience and skill that makes an image and not his tools.

No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want

You need to learn to see and compose. The more time you waste worrying about your equipment the less time you'll have to put into creating great images. Worry about your images, not your equipment.

Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need.

A few of us would do well to read them, and re-consider our priorities.

His site is a tool to use, no more, no less. Take what you need, and leave the baggage behind.
 
Some interesting comments but what are you hoarding then?
 
35 F2, 180 F2.8 and a 600F4 so far. Damned this thread, the bargains on ebay will diminish now.........:lol:
 
The 35-70 f2.8D is a little cracker - light weight too. OK, it doesn't have the wide angle of the 24-70, but with the 17-35 as a companion it is worth keeping hold of....and I was going to sell mine!

As the original poster has suggested - it is exactly what I have done. I have just sold off a pair of D2Xs (cheap - sorry!) and bought a D3...so out comes all my old 35mm glass, which I am very glad I hung onto. The 17 - 35 is a lovely lens and works fine on the D3.

I also have an 80-200 AFS, which I have just sent back for a full clean and service...the 70-200 works, but vignettes with the D3 NOTICEABLY. The VR is great though. I was racing in this weekends Cowes - Torquay - Cowes race and was able to shoot one of our rivals running along beside us, as he left the water coming off the waves...the ACTIVE VR worked. We were bouncing around at about 40 knots, they were bouncing around at about 40 knots....you can see the stitches on their lifejackets, so that is pretty good. The spray has gone all cotton wooly too, as I was hand holding at 1/60 for some and the VR has allowed it....but that vignetting, I have to do something about it.

It was a good race - after 186 miles, 1 second seperated us! Got some good shots too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top