Top Nikkor lenses...

Hertsman

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Ok, so Canon get to willy wave their white glass around, so everyone knows what they've got and how much it cost.... ;)

What are the BEST Nikkor lens - DX or FX..... ? And I mean THE best, L equivalent.
 
Nikon users are smug enough not to need a little red ring to make themselves feel better about themselves...

But yes, a gold ring is the marque but that's not to say their lenses without a gold ring aren't good as many of them are very good.
 
minnnt said:
The trinity is probably Nikons equivalent.

14-24
24-70
70-200 vr2

Nikons higher class of lenses usually have a gold ring but there are many super lenses out there.
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Would agree - these three are great lenses. Best would be what you want - the 24-70, great though it is, is pretty pants for shooting a Spitfire at Duxford airshow!!! A 200-400, maybe the 200-500 or a 500 prime would be the ones! For portraits the 85mm is a stunner, but so are the 105 and 135 DC lenses.
 
Not wishing to fuel the CvN argument (for once lol)

The best, sharpest, lens I've ever owned is one I have now - the DX 35mm f1.8, which is about £160 new but I bought it used for £95

The next best I've ever owned I also still own, the 85mm f1.8, which is around £360 new and again I bought used, this time for £240

Dave
 
Greys of Westminster have serious iconic Nikkor glass in their locked display cabinets. Utter drool mode if you've a mega healthy bank account!
 
DG Phototraining said:
The best, sharpest, lens I've ever owned is one I have now - the DX 35mm f1.8, which is about £160 new but I bought it used for £95

The next best I've ever owned I also still own, the 85mm f1.8, which is around £360 new and again I bought used, this time for £240

Dave
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That's what I use (on a D7200), but I find the 85mm sharper than the 35mm. Maybe I need to check the focus on my 35mm?
 
ERU said:
That's what I use (on a D7200), but I find the 85mm sharper than the 35mm. Maybe I need to check the focus on my 35mm?
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I use both on my D7200 too - the 35mm I find sharper at f2 than the 85 is, but that may in part be due to it being easier to lock focus exactly where I want it as there's more DoF at f2 on the 35

If you're not finding that too then maybe a hint of adjustment is needed :)

Dave
 
Whilst I had the trinity from Nikon, and yes not being painted white was one of the motivation to go Nikon opposed to Canon shallow as I am I care about the look, my favourite is actually an old manual focus lens the 105mm f2.5. It is a cracker of a lens, really like it.
 
The original poster asked for nikons best lenes without reference to any cost. So I think the 200mm f2 vr1 or vr11 should be in the mix as should the 300mm f2.8 be as both are fantastically sharp with great definition. Also the Nikon 200mm f4 macro lens is a great addition to any camera bag.
Cheers Keith
 
DG Phototraining said:
Not wishing to fuel the CvN argument (for once lol)

The best, sharpest, lens I've ever owned is one I have now - the DX 35mm f1.8, which is about £160 new but I bought it used for £95

The next best I've ever owned I also still own, the 85mm f1.8, which is around £360 new and again I bought used, this time for £240

Dave
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Agree with both of these, I love both of these lenses
 
If its strictly Nikon lenses then the following would be a nice collection....

DX lenses in conjunction with the Nikon D500....
12-24mm f4 G
17-55mm f2.8 G

FX lenses in conjunction with the Nikon D5 / D810
14-24mm f2.8 G
24-70mm f2.8 E VR
70-200mm f2.8 G FL VRII
35mm f1.4 G
58mm f1.4 G
85mm f1.4 G
105mm f1.4
200mm f2.0 G
300mm f2.8 G VR II
400mm f2.8 G VR
500mm f2.8 FL VR II
600mm f4.0 FL VR
800mm f5.6 FL VR

The above list is quite a nice bulk of Nikon's finest lenses but are any of them actually capable of resolving for the next generation of high megapixel sensors?
Can they resolve over anything over say 40mp?

I think Sony is heading the right direction with their G Master line-up which has been engineered with the next generation sensors in mind........ could we see a new wave of G Master equivalent Canon or Nikon lenses?
 
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DG Phototraining said:
I use both on my D7200 too - the 35mm I find sharper at f2 than the 85 is, but that may in part be due to it being easier to lock focus exactly where I want it as there's more DoF at f2 on the 35

If you're not finding that too then maybe a hint of adjustment is needed :)

Dave
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The 35 would i guess be a more useful walkaround lens
 
The 85mm f1.8g is probably one of Nikon's finest lenses if you consider it's overall quality for its price.
 
Rizvan said:
I think Sony is heading the right direction with their G Master line-up which has been engineered with the next generation sensors in mind........ could we see a new wave of G Master equivalent Canon or Nikon lenses?
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I think Canon are already doing that, but by stealth (*). They have a 50 MP camera in production and have demonstrated 120 MP sensor prototypes, and it seems that their R&D programme is taking account of the needs of such sensors. Their most recent high-end lens designs (eg 24-70/2.8 II, 35/1.4 II, 11-24, etc) are astonishingly good. I'm expecting the recently announced 16-35/2.8 III and 24-105/4 II to be similarly good: that will be the proud of the pudding, in a way.

(*) That feels like a smart move to me, by the way. Sony are at risk of creating a situation where people feel they can only use this new body with G Master lenses, but there aren't enough G Master lens designs around and Sony don't have the resources to introduce enough new lenses each year... I think evolution rather than revolution is safer in marketing terms.
 
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minnnt said:
Nikons higher class of lenses usually have a gold ring....
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Nawty said:
But yes, a gold ring is the marque.....
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I think this is a myth that is past its sell-by date. The best lenses have gold rings, but lenses with gold rings aren't necessarily the best. For example the AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8 fisheye has a gold ring. You'd need to be working with a rather bizarre definition of "best" to include that one.
 
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I thought the Nikon 800 f5.6 was meant to be the sharpest?
 
Depends how you define best.

The 200/2 has many fans.
A couple of other very good ones not so far mentioned

60mm 2.8 G
300mm f4 PF

Also concur with 58 1.4
 
jovial said:
Since nobody has mentioned any older lenses yet - 28mm f2.8 AIS.
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Somehow forgot that one. Another favourite and again great value. The legacy lenses are a mixed bag but there are some absolute gems in amongst them. Somebody else already mentioned the 105mm 2.5 but the 135mm 2.8 is also great and I also really liked my 20mm f/4.
 
The problem for me with the classic fast zooms is their weight. I stick with primes. and will often go out with just the one, and it can be any one, just for the fun of it.
I must admit that one of my favourites is the AF 180mm f2.8 ED which is a bit heavier but oh so sharp.
 
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