Gallery - (more) humble Nikon Lenses


diediealsomustdive

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Apr 2, 2006
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Hardly a day passes without someone asking about the sharpest, the best bokeh, the greatest Nikon and many who continually chase such greats, often to the detriment of their wallets, and occasionally relations with the better halves.

So, I like to start a gallery of images from more humble Nikkor lenses. By that I mean the kit lenses (like the 3 versions of 18-55, 18-70, 18-105, 18-135) that many are quick to disposed off; the 55-200 (2 versions), and the more humble lenses like AFS35mm f/1.8G (which many says why DX, why not f/1.4, why so plasticky), AFD50mm f/1.8, etc.

And in all fairness, perhaps also including the AFD85mm f/1.8 as a poorer cousin of the fame AFD 85mm f/1.4. You get the idea... 105mm f/2.5 instead of the f/1.8, 24mm f/2.8 instead of f/1.4, etc.

So lenses like 17-35, 14-24, 24-70, 28-70mm f/2.8, 80-200mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, etc don't apply here. But lenses like 28mm f/3.5 or even f/2.8 would be welcome.

From PP point-of-view, reasonable amount of PP please. A bit of levels, curves, contrast, hue-saturation, unsharp mask, etc that is the norm anyway, are most welcome.

Hopefully this gallery can be an inspiration to those poorer brethren who cannot afford to BBB (maybe better half won't let you), or simply want to enjoy the hobby without paying the astronomical price of some of these glasses.

Oh and in the spirit of learning, do give some details of the photograph, where it was taken, and any interesting stuff about the photograph.

Hope you will hop on quickly!
 

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AFS DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR

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This shot was taken on a back-pack trip to Medan-Brastagi-Lake Toba area. The subject is a "Batak" Karo, the ethnic group found in North Sumatra. Photo taken in the Karo Highlands, using D60, AFS 55-200 set at 85mm (approx), VR off, P, 1/250s, f/4.5, -0.3EV.

I am pleasantly surprised by the sharpness and contrast, in the original the pores are really very well reproduced.

OK, I left my he-man rig back home due to the back-pack nature of the trip. Instead of not having the reach I went out to buy from CS BnS this lens.... No regrets.
 

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AF 50mm f/1.8D

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One recurring theme for me is that I often travel for work related reasons, and bringing the he-man rig is not quite the thing to do. So a light-weight setup of D60 and a few lenses often accompany me to sometimes exotic locations.

This shot was taken at Galway, Ireland, in the early part of night. D60, AFD50mm f/1.8, Aperture Priority, ISO800, 1/50s f/2.5, -0.7EV. For night scenes I always reduce the exposure otherwise the photo will come out too bright.
 

AF-S 18-200/3.5-5.6 DX VR II D90 (EXIF intact)
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Reversed AF-S 35/1.8 DX D90
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Reversed AF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 II D40
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AF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 II D40
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AFD 70-300mm ED

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Prague, Czech Republic.

D70, AFD70-300mm ED set at 190mm, Aperture Priority, 1/800s f/5.6.

I had also tried the AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6G, which is humbler, but not really worth it, the contrast was way lower. Never did try the VR version, though.

Comparing this against the 55-200VR, I prefer this lens. However, I find the 55-200VR to be no slouch, and very good given the right lighting conditions (i.e. plenty of light), it really has no right to be so good given the price.
 

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More from AF-S 35/1.8 DX

In camera B&W Shots at ISO Hi1 to get grainy effect. Nikon's high ISO noise looks very much like film grains.
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Some closeup shots.
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Shot of a humble lens with a not so humble filter.. Think the filter doesn't make much of a difference from a humble Nikon NC.
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swer1z.jpg


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These were back in '05 I believe. Not too bad for D70 kit lens, having ED glass and solid construction.
 

Support support :thumbsup:

From AFS 35mm F1.8 DX : A pic of my wife taken from my D90 1 year plus ago (straight from cam)

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:lovegrin:

Bryan
 

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Nikon FM10
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
Kodak Elitechrome EBX
Canoscan 4400f

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Elitechrome EBX was quite extreme, not the pp. :sweat:
 

some of my 18-200 to share ..

helped me get on shooting in the earlier times i started learning photography

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ryan
 

18-55mm 2nd Version (D40 version).

My 2nd backup lens. BOUGHT the lens as a backup's backup. Yes, I do use the lens if people wonder.


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Dont mind if i join, taken with former D5k with it 18-55vr, :embrass::embrass:

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my fav light drinking partner.....:cool:
 

D40 with 55-200mm kit lens @ ISO 1600.
Cropped 16:9 from JPG output.

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Hmm. Leica event with a 55-200mm. :bsmilie:
(not to mention a D40 and a SB400)


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Oh yeah. Chanel also. 55-200mm (VR)

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These were back in '05 I believe. Not too bad for D70 kit lens, having ED glass and solid construction.

Nice!

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Romania. Fujifilm S2Pro, AFS18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G at 70mm, Aperture Priority, 1/125s f/4.5.

Up to now still my favourite kit lens:
- metal mount
- f/4.5 at 70mm, all other kit lens already f/5.x at 70mm
- sharpness wise not too different from 18-105 and 18-135
- sharper and more contrast than 18-55I