LENSES, TIMES

Angry Photographer's Favorite 15 Lenses List:

I have the 60mm Macro based on your recommendation. Lately I've been reaching for my D90. Yes, the forgotten Nikon but my favorite DSLR of the bunch I've owned. Solid, just seems likes an extension of me...doesn't get in the way. I can do almost everything without ever needing to take my eye off the viewfinder. I've been shooting RAW and using primes which help with the lack of low light performance eclipsed by the newer bodies. 12 MP doesn't bother me. I like the colors and output even in JPEG. Small file sizes are nice. Everything is there, Commander mode, hard buttons for WB, ISO, bracketing, drive mode, DOF preview, metering, flash exp comp, dual dials, lighted top LCD, custom function button, easy menus....and accepts the old lenses in a small but tough body. Same sensor as the hallowed D300 I have some neuropathy in my hands so the smaller the better and it's easy on the neck. All that in mint condition for under $250. I could afford an expensive DSLR but would rather buy glass or lights....or steaks.

Thanks for putting the list down below, I always forget your recommendations. Now I can write it down. Thanks

Hm, well I've owned many of these. The 60mm f/2.8 AF-D was soft at normal-infinity focusing distances that weren't Macro, especially on the right side for some reason. (Both copies I owned) It excels at Macro only and is very flat-field for copy-work (probably the best lens for this). Many lenses are sharper at medium distances. (Though it probably does beat the new 60mm f/2.8 G lens) At portrait distances the bokeh is nervous and atrocious, so no it's not a good portrait lens, though you have to appreciate the build quality. The 105mm f/2 DC lens had a ton of CA, so did the 300mm f/2.8 Ai-S. (Which is why I own the 300mm f/2.8 AF-S II lens instead, better in every way) The 135mm f/2 DC has better bokeh than the 105mm DC (I've owned both), more creamy, CA is still present but not a complete deal breaker. (The Zeiss 135mm f/2 crushes it with it's completely apochromatic lens, though the bokeh is slightly less creamy as you'd expect from a much sharper lens) The 105mm DC lens is very sharp though. I own both the 35mm Zeiss f/2 and the Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 currently and I've got to tell you, the Sigma is better in many ways. I know you hate Sigma, but it is. I do love the Zeiss, and it's lighter and more compact, but it doesn't have the resolving power of the Sigma, or the lack of CA and distortion. The Zeiss needs a fair bit of distortion, CA and vignette adjustment in lightroom, that the Sigma does not. I will do a more complete comparison to access "color rendition" and "microcontrast" as you always heavily favor, so the jury is out on that yet. I may get that Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 just to compare it to the Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 lens for kicks. See what the differences really are. It's probably nice, but we'll see. The 180mm f/2.8's got a lot of CA wide open too, but it's a very nice fashion lens otherwise. The other's here are very nice options for their intended purposes. I do agree with you however about many of the college grads in America. We put way to much focus on bullshit over useful skills. Cheers.

Ken . you are the guru ;o) you speak total sense and love your advice :o)

i got my nikon 300mm f/4.5 ed-if ai-s.... awesome sauce of lens

Just recently got the Nikon AF-S 18-35mm G. Also have the 105mm DC and AF 180mm 2.8.

haha~

If i want a wide-angle FX lens should i get the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 or Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G? I would just be shooting real estate, architecture, art/graffiti murals. No atro photography (yet)

Optically, which do recommend between the 300mm F4 and the 300mm F2.8?

the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 ais that you love because its cheap ? How color rendition and micro contrast of it ?

Hi Ken.,I have an older nikkor 55mm micro 2.8 that is very hard to focus. I believe it is dried grease in threads. Is this an expensive fix. or is it something I could do myself?

Bought the Tokina, great!

Mass communications major know the feeling way too much!! Lol so true keep jumping off those cliffs!!! Three thumbs up

Can you make a video of all your favorite zoom lenses? From cheap to expensive, from ultra-wide to telephoto?

Got 3 of those 15 in the lineup. All through the recommendation of TAP. All spot on.

+Theoria Apophasis Got me a 60mm for $115 and Wheeewww you were not kidding good sir. Amazed at the color saturation. And cheap, yeppp cheappp, from our good friends at Roberts!

I very much enjoy my Nikon 85 1.4G, though you're probably right about the 85 1.4 that you mention here. On the other hand, the 50mm 1.4 AIS is completely vanilla to me; my long nose 50 f 1.8 has real character by comparison. I happily have the 20 f1.8g, and find it to be beautiful. I'll add that the AIS 35-70 f3.5 is awesome, though I don't have quite as many lenses as you to run comparisons.

(intro) Isn't that the truth! ... Great video Ken... I have a few of those already and I have to completely agree with you. 👍👍