Nikon 105mm f/2.0D AF DC-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 105mm f/2.0D AF DC-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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This prime lens has defocus control which offers new creative possibilities for shallow depth-of-field portrait photography. Photographers can fine-tune the foreground or background image area, creating unique blurred effects. Built-in lens hood.
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Technical Details

- Portrait lens with Nikon's exclusive Defocus Control
- Change the appearance of out of focus elements so that they appear softer or coarser
- Rear focusing for fast AF operation
- Fast, medium telephoto lens featuring Defocus-image Control
- Rounded diaphragm opening makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural
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 "one of the most amazing lenses I have owned" 2009-04-03
By David Hofmann
As a pro photographer for many years I have had the chance to try a large amount of lenses. This lens is one of my all time favorites.



It is already very sharp even wide open and from 2.8 on it is simply brilliant. The vignetting even at f/2 is less than other lenses in that range. The AF is quick and if used with a a D3 or D700 or D300 or newer camera it is also very quiet.



The magic of this lens is the wonderful bokeh (quality of the out of focus areas). My main work is portrait photography and I end up using this lens for the majority of my work.



The DC control is often not understood well. It "over-corrects" the spherical abberation of the lens to the front or back. As a result either the front or back of the subject will appear slightly softer. In reality the effect is subtle and since you will have to adjust the DC control ring each time according to your aperture setting *and* you will have to refocus each time you touch the DC ring, I end up not using this feature at all.



The overall built quality of the lens is excellent and solid. Manual focus is smooth. The built in lens hood is useful and locks in.



I have compared this lens to different 105 mm lenses and this one is the best lens in that range you can get. I would highly recommend getting this lens before Nikon decided to discontinue it.



There is one slight con to this lens at least when shooting with a D3. I noticed that only the 5 center AF points are accurate with this lens. When I used outer the AF points, the focus is slightly off in my photos. I have verified this with lots of tests. It is not a big deal for me as I use the center AF points all the time when I do head shots and portraits anyway. And yes it is only with this lens, all my other lenses are accurate with all AF points, so my camera is definitely calibrated correctly. Other photographer using this lens have confirmed my findings.



Again this is no issue for me and it is my most used lens for portrait work. The look of the photos is just wonderful, smooth and the subject seems to pop.



Many examples of my work with this lens can be found on flickr user: childish_david

 "Why isn't this lens in more bags?" 2009-03-16
By Orlando Gonzalez (Iraq)
This is easily the best portrait lens in production today. It is also the sharpest lens I have ever used. I currently own the 17-35mm, a 70-200mm VR, and other sharp prime glass but this one is hands-down THE best. The DC control is not difficult at all to use. I keep hearing people complaining about how "tricky" it is to use and how it has a high learning curve and bla, bla, bla. I honestly don't understand their claims. Bottom line is...if you can do simple math; you can use the DC ring. Period. The 85mm f1.4 seems to be more popular but it is NOT better. It is not a portrait lens wide open either due to its shallow DOF. This 105mm is massive and sings on a D700. The built-in hood is very convenient and simple to use.

This masterpiece will definitely rock any DX body out there and shows no signs of vignetting on FX (just like my 70-200mm VR should but doesn't.) It produces almost three dimensional images....really shocking indeed. If you crave cream-cheese bokeh...almost oil-painting like.....get this thing. I will take mine to the grave as it will never ever leave my side. Any serious portrait shooter should own this classic. A MUST have.

 "More lens than most people can handle" 2009-02-03
By J. Thompson (Orlando, FL USA)
This is an absolutely amazing lens. It takes unbelievable pictures with sharpness and bokeh that will knock your socks off; optically, it's probably one of the best three Nikon lenses available. The bokeh isn't just creamy - it looks like an oil painting. Virtually every picture properly shot reminds me of the paint scenes from "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams - it's that amazing. Frequently, I don't understand how a lens can make things look the way this lens does. It does more than record reality - it enhances it.



In my opinion, this lens outperforms the 85 1.4, in the right hands. And there's the key - this lens is probably too much for all but the most dedicated photographers. You really have to know what you're doing to get the most out of this lens. For a number of reasons, dilettantes are likely to get inferior images; most importantly, at this focal length, if you aren't using the right shutter speed, even a tiny bit of camera shake will kill your sharpness (the weight of this lens doesn't help, either). This lens is one stop slower than the 85, so in any given situation, your shutter speed is likely to be twice as long if you're trying to maximize background blurring (although the DC more than makes up for that if you know how to use it). And the extremely shallow depth of field can be hard to handle; I almost always manually focus with this lens because autofocus, while fast and accurate, just doesn't allow this lens to perform to its true potential. Finally, more than any other lens I use, and for reasons I don't fully understand, the viewfinder is NOT a completely accurate representation of the final picture you will get from this lens, and that takes some getting used to. Neither the viewfinder nor the LCD is capable of rendering the subtle patterns of light that this lens can generate. There's a certain luminosity to the pictures that is only first appreciable when you can actually look at the RAW file on a good monitor, and it's breathtaking, but you're not always expecting it. So, you have to know how this lens behaves while you're shooting with it, and that takes more practice and dedication than most people are willing to devote - they want to mount a lens and start snapping away.



For those who are agonizing between this and the 85 1.4: the 85 1.4 is, in my opinion, a much more forgiving lens because it doesn't have the sheer unbelievable resolving power that this lens does, especially in the borders. The 85 1.4 allows even inexperienced photographers to take contrasty, eye-popping shots with nice bokeh (once they can learn to deal with the depth-of-field issues, of course). This lens can do better, because it was designed to, but you really have to know exactly how to handle it - it's a nightmare in the hands of those who don't really know their camera. It's also a good bit heavier than the 85 and hangs off the body a bit more - the picture doesn't really illustrate the heft of the lens. On the other hand, it doesn't have the 85's more persnickety lens hood - it has a retractable lens hood that is much more convenient and can't get lost or scratch the lens body.



If you're a very serious amateur or pro, you will absolutely love this lens and you will enjoy the process of learning its intricacies. It's especially nice for portraits, its intended purpose, but of course has the optical quality to do everything well (except macro - it has a rather longish minimum focusing distance). If you're an amateur who wants a general-purpose lens to take great pictures, this lens will only amplify your shortcomings and bring you frustration, so I recommend you stick with the 85 1.4 if you have this much cash to spend. If you want a walkabout lens, I'd also go with the 85 - this lens is a bit heavy for that in my opinion, though both are a bit long in focal length as a general purpose lens for my taste. I prefer a 35 or 50 for that, depending on what I plan to shoot.



EDIT: As everyone always says, this lens is primarily for portraits. Its resolving characteristics do in fact make it great for portraits of women and children (the majority of portraiture clients in my experience). For men, I prefer the 85/1.4 or even the 50/1.4 if you're dealing with an interesting face. I have used it on men on occasion, but only when I'm going for the particular effect that DC provides. Most men don't imagine themselves the way this lens will render them.

 "Absolutely breathtaking" 2008-07-15
By Shawn Chen (Cupertino, CA USA)
This is one of my favorite lens in my arsenal and certainly my best for portraits. I prefer this lens over my 85mm f/1.4.



Pros -

- A sharp prime lens

- Fast at f/2, sharp even in the corners

- Fast AF (faster than 85mm f/1.4) and nearly as fast as my AF-S lenses

- Defocus capability - it does work but need some playing with

- Solid Nikkor construction/metal body with rubber rings - there's no mistaken it's a high-end Nikon lens



Cons -

- Less contrast than say a newer lens with nano-crystal coating (or more ED lenses) but arguably more favorable for people/portraits

- It's a tad pricey but you get what you pay for



I use this as a walk around lens frequently, particularly on a normal day when I'm not lazy. Prime lens helps me with my photography training and more awareness around composition. This lens balances superbly with my D300.

 "Fast, sharp, tough" 2008-02-10
By James Krall (San Juan Island, Washington)
I bought this several months ago to fill a gap and I got it for $300 cheaper than the 85 1.4. They're comparable in many respects and you really can't go wrong with either lens.



The DC 9(distortion control) is a bit tricky. I've not used it much, the bokeh is creamy enough without it. It's a beautiful lens. I wish I could say more about it, you know, make an educated comparison between it and the 85 1.4, or the legendary 105 2.5, but I can't. I know that it handles like a cadillac and I look for opportunities to use it. (I shoot theater with it. I use its fast 2.0 aperature to selectively focus on one person at a time.



I'm very pleased with it and will not part with it.


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Buy Nikon 105mm f/2.0D AF DC-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now

Nikon 135mm f/2.0D AF DC-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 135mm f/2.0D AF DC-Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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This high-performance, medium telephoto features Defocus Image Control allowing for control of the degree of focus in the foreground or background.
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Technical Details

- Portrait lens with Nikon's exclusive Defocus Image Control
- Control the degree of spherical aberration in background or foreground elements for more creative control.
- Rear focusing for fast AF operation
- Large maximum aperture for shooting in low light.
See more technical details

 "Amazing is an understatement" 2010-01-26
By M. N. Mehta (MA, USA)
This is a fantastic portraiture lens if you can get a good copy. This was my second copy, and is significantly sharper than my first. Pretty darn sharp at f/2 but absolutely Japanese kitchen knife sharp from f/2.8 onwards. I dont shoot this much higher than 5.6 - defeats the purpose IMO. The color rendition is fantastic and the bokeh amazing, as others have mentioned.



I also own a 85 1.4 and a 105 2.8 vr and at 2.0 this is even sharper than both of those on my D90, and is at par with the 85 1.4 in the beauty of the photos.



Build: old school Nikon crinkled finish. I wouldn't be surprised if tanks were made out of the same metal. The hood extends out and is a little fidgety if you try to slide it out or back down without an even distribution of pull or force. This may not make sense until you actually try to do it (as I found out when I got the lens).



The weight of the lens is a personal issue, depending on what you are used to. It feels very sturdy in my hand, and not particularly heavy.



As a point of reference the front element is not as sunken in as the 105 DC so may be easier to damage it if you prefer to not use a filter. The DC effect takes A LOT of work to master, not a feature that you will pick up overnight, but is icing on the cake if you can master it.



This is a tough lens to find - so if you like portraits, i.e. half body/headshots, then pick it up when you can, it doesn't come in big quantities and doesn't seem to stay in stock long. Second hand ones are now trading for $1500+ so it may go the way of the 28 1.4...



The only thing missing is VR, but if I can keep my shutter speed above 100, its smooth sailing!

 "Amazing lens at a good price" 2010-01-11
By G. Lee (New Jersey)
With everyone giving steller reviews about this lens, I want to talk a little about what this lens is not. I have tried this on a variety of bodies, and they all produce exceptional pictures. On DX body and therefore 200mm equivalent, it's pretty fast considering its size but it doesn't really shine because there are other options. On FX body, it creates a very unique partnership.



I believe there is certain myth about the Defocusing Control feature. I had tested the effects on bokeh in very controlled environment and frankly unless I am blowing up a 12MP photograph to 100% crop, I cannot tell much of the difference! This doesn't mean it is useless, but I misled myself when I first acquired the lens thinking it can turn a rather unavoidable harsh background into swirled soft ice cream. Of course, the soft focus works well, but honestly there are so many ways to make a picture "soft" do I really need to spend $1000+ on a lens for that effect? Marketing people make me cry sometimes. To me, the DC feature is worth about $50...



However even if I ignore the DC ring for a second, this lens produces beautiful and sharp photos. I pretty much own all of Nikon's best lens line-up (in the similar class I have 85mm 1.4, Carl Zeiss 85mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4, and all the constant aperture 2.8s). Yet when I have a special occasion and the distance I need to work with I will always pack this lens with me. It renders beautiful colors, and creates ultra-sharp subjects (that are in focus of course). The AF speed is respectable and the accuracy is dead-on. I rarely shoot at 1.4 unless I am indoors with very low light, so to me this f2 lens is perfect for me.



I always recommend this to people if they are uncertain whether they will like a certain prime lens. Just take a cheapo zoom lens and set it to the length you wish to evaluate and fix it there. Shoot around all day and see if you can get used to the length and the working space. 135mm is an odd length, therefore one may find it inconvenient. However, I don't think anyone on this planet can argue about the quality of pictures this lens produces.

 "Nikon 135mm f/2.0d AF DC-Nikkor" 2009-04-09
By R. Alex Johns
Pros:

Ideal long portrait lens on full frame

good medium telephoto on DX

Cons:

not af-s.

tends to require a half click to the forground from nutral on the dc ring for maximum sharpness(havent been abel to confirm if this is typical or just my copy).



An excelent lens. wonderfull bokeh for portraits and incredibly sharp. maximum quality is generaly at f 2.8 and down and f4 f5.6 is were your gonna want to be. with dc incredible bokeh can be achived at even f5.6.

My only caution is that this lens is highly specialized and is designed for a large studio or out door. On DX it is too long for portraits and to short for wildlife smaller than a cat. for DX users a 85mm f/1.4 is more usable. Definatly a must have for FX portaiture but keep in mind its a thousand dollars in the camera bag for a lens that isnt going to get much play time.

 "Superb medium telephoto lens which will last an entire career" 2009-04-07
By Scooter (United States)
This lens is not just a specialty 'portrait lens' but a superb piece of optical excellence from Nikon, and a lens that you can buy now and use for an entire career or lifetime of photography. It is among Nikon's sharpest lenses ever produced, with sharpness exceptional even wide open at f/2 in the corners. Autofocus is extremely fast on a D300 or D700. At f/2 the bokeh is gorgeous, close to that of the famed 85mm f/1.4, but more interesting as the 'defocus control' (not a good term for the actual function but Nikon's choice) allows you to do the following things:



- leave it at the same aperture at which you are shooting (i.e. if you're shooting at f/2 or f/2.8, then set the DC ring at f/2, or f/2.8 in either direction) to get beautiful bokeh and a sharp subject; in this case, your bokeh will be more pronounced either behind or in front of your subject (assuming there are things in front of the subject which are out of the depth of field or focal subject). An example: a row of flowers in a garden in front of the subject, with focus on the subject set, and shooting aperture of f/2.8 = setting the DC at f/2.8 "F" ("front") causes the flowers in front of the subject to have 'more bokeh' than normal, whereas setting it at "R" ("rear") causes the same for the rear row of flowers (although this is a bit harder to see unless you're at narrower apertures where you usually don't get that much creamy bokeh).



- set it beyond or below the aperture you are shooting, to gradually 'defocus' the subject that is already in focus. Now this sounds like anathema to anyone who wants "sharp" photos from lenses (as "sharpness" is one of the big selling points) but for portraits specifically, a tack-sharp shot is in fact not always what you might want. For older, more 'mature' subjects which may have the various blemishes, wrinkles, lines, etc. which would be very pronounced and distinct in a tack-sharp lens' focus, a slight change of the DC ('defocus control') ring allows for the ever so slightest (at one stop different from your shooting aperture) to a much more soft 'defocus' of the subject. In other words, if you're shooting at f/2.8, setting the DC at f/3.5 or more (either "F" or "R" - I found "R" to be a bit nicer) will gradually place the subject of the portrait ever so slightly out of focus - or 'soft' focus, as the old lenses and filters would create - and make the subject very attractive without any of the unwanted details that one wouldn't want in a portrait enlarged to, say, 11x14 or whatever size.



The wide f/2 aperture allows for beautiful bokeh and tack-sharp shots without manipulating the DC ring, if you're not interested in 'soft' focus, and the f/2 aperture is exceptional for low light photography, whether at night, indoors or outdoors, or in a low-light setting such as a theater, sporting event indoors or outdoors, etc.



Some say this lens is 'hard to use' because of the DC ring; once you take a few sample shots with it and experiment with one subject, you'll start to get a feel for the types of settings that you find most pleasing, and use those in the field. Or, you can just not change the DC ring at all and enjoy the extreme sharpness, superb bokeh and extraordinary color rendition from this ultra-pro-quality lens.



The construction is solid, tank-like and built to last a photographic lifetime; the price is not trivial, but it is about right for this level of lens, and as a one-time investment, it's justifiable given the shots you will get from it. There is no VR, of course, so it's important to use good technique to get the sharpest shots (i.e. try to limit camera shake, use fast shutter speeds, etc.) at this 135mm focal length. On a DX camera the focal length converts to about 200mm so this is superb for portraits outside (basically at the same length as the non-DX 200mm f/2 pro lens which sells for $5k). However, the long focal length means that the slightest camera shake at slower shutter speeds may impede sharp photos; I try to stay at 1/100 or faster when handheld to avoid this (and in low light, the f/2 wide open will allow that if you have your high ISO set on a newer model that gives usable images even at ISO6400). Now on a tripod for portraits this lens has to be best in its class; the difference between the 85mm f/1.4 may be only 50mm in focal length, but the effects that this lens can produce with some judicious use of softening the subject's focus really stand out in enlarged shots, particularly those of weddings, etc. where tack-sharp isn't always the aim, and even a slightly "dreamy" or "romantic" mood is the goal. It focuses quite close for this focal length and aperture, so both head-shot-only close-ups and head-and-shoulders portrait shots from farther away (even full body shots, if you're far enough) are possible. It's nice as a medium telephoto or quasi-macro lens outside, as well, for flowers and other nature shots, as the focal distance works well.



Ergonomics: excellent. The built-in hood is a little clumsy but very convenient, and doesn't ever get in the way. The weight is perfectly balanced and feels terrific on my D700. The rubber focus ring doesn't move when focusing, and is perfect to grip with the left hand (assuming a right-handed camera shooter). There is no case included with the lens in the box, but a Nikon soft lens bag for $15 or so is a good investment - get a big one like the CL-S2, as this lens is rather large (not much smaller than the 70-300mm VR). The recommended nylon hard case is a bit bulky and not really necessary if you already have a camera bag or backpack that holds a few lenses - just get the soft case to protect it from scratches, etc. inside that bag.

 "135mm - Under Rated" 2008-07-22
By A. Crowe (Calif)
I have shot Nikon lenses and cameras since 1969. At that time I had the Non-AI Nikkor 135mm. Just a great lens for a short to medium Tele. with my old and venerable FTn. Bokeh was sweet. Some of the best shots I had taken were with this lens.



A few months ago I needed a med. tele. for both machinery and portrait shots. As I researched the Nikon lens array I kept coming back to the 135mm f2 DC. You see, this is a lens that is fantastic as to sharpness and does a marvelous portrait and is capable of scenics and interior architectural shots at the same time. I do not rate it as highly for portraits as I would the 85mm f1.4. I would give the analogy that if you had a 300 foot board (the 85mm) and cut off 1/4" (you now have 299'3/4") then you have the 135mm f2.



The largest misconception I have heard of this lens is that the DC affects DOF; it does not. It affects the CoC (circles of confusion) in front of or behind the critically focused subject. In other words, it gives you bokeh "choices" front and back of subject.



This is one of the greatest lenses with this amazing speed that Nikon has come up with.



It is equivalent to a 200mm lens on my D300 given the sensor crop (Cmos). It is FF (full frame) on my F5. It works beautifully for portraits as it is so sharp. On the other hand, it is superior in the field for landscapes or stationary subjects. It is a bit heavy at almost 2 pounds but I shoot with it in every aspect of my photography. So versatile.








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Nikon 18mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens

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Ultra wide angle lens with Aspherical lens element and rear focusing capability / Center to Edge Sharpness / 77mm Filter Size
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Technical Details

- Lens Construction - 13 elements in 10 groups
- Aspherical lens element
- Minimum Focus Distance - 0.85 feet (about 10 inches)
- Attachment/Filter Size - 77mm (filters and hoods are optional)
- Dimensions (diameter x length) - 3.2 x 2.3 inches
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Nikon 45mm f/2.8 Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Silver)

Buy Cheap Nikon 45mm f/2.8 Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Silver)

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Built-in CPU for Nikkor information exchange / Compatible with all P-Type Nikkor SLRs, and F3HP, FM3A and FM-10
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Technical Details

- Compatible with all exposure modes of CPU-controlled Nikon SLRs (P-Type Nikkor), as well as F3HP, FM3A and FM-10
- Special silver finish matches silver FM3A & other select SLR cameras
- Includes matching HB-35 lens hood, NC filter, plus front & rear lens caps
- Seven bladed rounded diaphragm produces more natural out-of-focus highlights
- Lens construction - 4 elements in 3 groups
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 "A future classic" 2007-01-15
By The Great CD Swindle (Monaco)
A wonderful lens designed with foresight and understanding of the needs of photgraphers not found frequently these days. Designed for manual focus but with data connection to digital bodies it is a robust, smooth, tiny lens which is sure to become a future classic.

 "Sneaky little lens" 2006-11-10
By Adam North (Sydney, Australia)
This beutiful lens almost makes you fell that you have a old silver Hasselblad lens on your Nikon.Very portable.

VERY SHARP!

 "Great lens!" 2006-02-23
By R. Marotz (MN United States)
Based on so many reviews praising this lens for its ability to render smooth out-of-focus elements (boke or "bokeh"), I picked one up with high hopes. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed when trying to shoot flowers and finding the background harsh and distracting, even moreso than my 50mm f/1.8D. I was told by a few people that my lens was likely a lemon, though after some investigation, I determined that much of the praise for the boke came from the rounded aperture blades, which produce a rounded out-of-focus highlight rather than a heptagonal one (as in the case of the 50mm Nikkors). Apart from this, the background smoothness is limited by the same limitation inherent in the 50mm primes, which is the correction for spherical aberration.



However, stopping the lens down to f/4 overcomes most of the harshness in out-of-focus blur you see wide-open.



I thought I would get that bit of information out in the open as the vague praise of its boke is a bit misleading (tessars aren't really known for their boke anyway). However, that is not all there is to the lens (we can't obsess only about what's not in focus!), so let me mention a few more things!



The 45/2.8P can produce amazing colors. I would say the color saturation, while natural, is the highest of any lens I've used. This is the main reason I like this lens so much. Further, contrast, tonal gradations, and shadow detail produce a very pleasing overall image.



When in focus, the 45/2.8P is very sharp, even at wide apertures. Some will say it's sharper than the 50s, some will say it's not as sharp as the 50s. I would say they're roughly comparable.



Distortion is very low, flare and ghosting are tame overall, and light falloff is noticeable at wide apertures but often contributes to the relatively undefined "look" people like so much from this lens.



The 45/2.8P is, I think, the smallest 35mm lens Nikon makes (or made, they are discontinued now). It is built better than the AFD 50s, its compactness and relatively good build quality inspires a sense of confidence. The manual focus ring feels very nice and is enjoyable to use, as long as you don't need AF.



On the whole, I think this is a fantastic lens, even though it's not the "boke lens" I was originally expecting. Many photographers will say that the best lens is the one you have with you, and the 45/2.8P, with its combination of compactness and superlative image quality, can be a hard lens to not have with you. Is it worth the price compared to the 50s? In truth, for many people probably not. The differences in image quality are seen in subtleties, which may not compensate for the relatively small aperture and lack of autofocus. However, although I am not made of money, I don't consider purchasing it a mistake at all!

 "Great lens ... bad price." 2005-12-19
By Jerry Jackson Jr. (Cincinnati, OH United States)
The 45mm f2.8P is one of the best primes you can get for the Nikon mount. That said, the lens design is old (cheap) but yet Nikon expects you to pay more for this lens than the 50mm f1.8D?



The bokeh on the 45mm is great ... but you can argue that the bokeh on the 50mm f1.8D is just as good ... and the 50mm f1.8D is MUCH cheaper.



Sure, it's manual focus unlike the 50mm F1.8D which has autofocus ... but that's just another reason that this lens should be priced at less than $100.



Anyway, if you LOVE manual focus prime lenses and feel the urge to buy this you probably won't be disappointed ... but you will be paying more than you need to for a fast lens.

 "One of Nikon's Best Lenses" 2005-07-01
By John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
I've heard a well-founded rumor that this 45mm f2.8 Nikkor lens is an exact carbon copy clone of the 45mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Tessar which was made for the Contax/Yashica SLR camera system. Furthermore I had heard that this lens was made by Kyocera in the same factory which had made the Japanese Carl Zeiss lenses. I'm not sure if either rumor is true, but the 45mm f2.8 Nikkor lens is a classic Tessar design. Regardless of its origins, this lens is truly an exceptional performer and is a nice companion to a Nikon FM3A body if one wishes to do some discrete street photograhy with this camera or one of its predecessors in the Nikon FE/FM series. True, it is more expensive than the 50mm AF Nikkor lenses, but what you gain is better image quality and, I suspect, better mechanical quality too.


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Nikon WM-E80 Wide Converter Lens for Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera

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No Adapter Required
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Technical Details

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 "Seriouly Limits Camera Functions" 2007-04-09
By A Taichi Practitioner (New York, NY USA)
Quite a bit of the camera's functionalities are lost when this converter is attached to the camera, with only limited zoom, flash, landscape mode, etc. Of course, navigating the layered menu to switch the lens settings whenever the lens gets attached or detached gets a bit annoying as well.


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Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Ideal mid-range zoom lens for architecture and portraiture / ED Lens Design offers Extra Definition with virtually no distortion
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Technical Details

- 28-70mm mid-range zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture for Nikon digital SLR cameras
- Molded-glass aspherical lens for minimized distortion, higher resolution, and superior contrast
- M/A switch for quick transitions from AF to manual; 2.3-foot minimum focusing distance
- 9-blade rounded diaphragm opening makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural
- Measures 3.5 inches in diameter and 4.9 inches long; weighs 33 ounces; 5-year warranty
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 "returned without a problem" 2009-09-08
By Myles A. McGuinness (San Diego , CA USA)
I returned this lens but without a hitch. It made a strange sound when focusing, quality was solid just could get past the noise factor.

 "I don't understand anything less than a 5 star review for this lens." 2008-11-17
By Kate Stokes (Atlanta, GA)
I'm sorry, I just can't understand ratings that aren't 5/5 for this lens. It flat out rocks. Let me just get a few things straight regarding this lens vs. the newer 24-70mm lens that replaced it:



1. This lens is more stout than the 24-70mm, yes, but it is also noticeably shorter which to me is preferable. This means it has a nearer/lower center of gravity and is easier to manage for long periods of time. The 24-70mm is basically like handling a telephoto zoom (i.e. 70-200mm or 80-200mm) with its center of gravity further out, harder to handle for long periods and easier to knock into people with.

2. The 24-70mm is a very sharp lens. I understand that. This lens is at least as sharp, however, and in my opinion slightly sharper. This becomes important in point number 3 below.

3. This lens can be picked up for roughly 2/3 the price of the 24-70mm. To me that settles the issue. Now, if the 24-70mm had VR then maybe it would be a different story but it doesn't. Again the 24-70mm is harder to handle, longer, no sharper and costs at least 50% more ($1,000-ish vs $1,5000-ish)



I hope I have made a good case for getting one of these over the newer 24-70. This is a top notch solid professional battle ready piece of equipment here. Don't listen to the talk of it being "too big" or "too heavy." First of all, as I said it's much easier to maneuver than the longer 24-70, and second of all the heaviness of this lens is overrated. If you are coming from a kit lens yes you will find it heavy. If you are used to shooting with pro glass this will not seem extraordinary heavy. It is in line with professional Canon and Nikon glass I have used over the years in terms of weight. Unless they decide to put VR on the 24-70mm I am not going to take another look at it while I can still find these for 2/3 the price.

 "The perfect wedding & portrait lens for DX" 2008-07-28
By Carl E. Feather (KINGSVILLE, OH USA)
Ancient by the standards set with the 24-70 and 14-24, this lens was once the standard mid-range zoom in the Nikon line. I got mine in 2003 when it was the only constant aperture lens available in the Nikon line in this range.

Compared to the 14-24, it's not as sharp, colors are more muted and flare is worse. Neverthless, it remains the lens I use for my engagement and portrait sessions on my D300.



The lens has a look that I can only describe as more "organic" than the new lenses. The subtle softness is actually a benefit for portraits. It has wonderful bokeh, as well. The lens is well built -- mine fell onto concrete and survived to complete a wedding -- nevertheless, $400 in repairs were necessary due to damaged internal drive parts.



If you shoot portraits on DX you should look at this lens. The range is perfect -- 42mm for full length to 105mm for close facial shots. If you shoot nature and landscapes, the 24-70 is a better choice.

 "Excellent quality, very sharp, heavy and very expensive" 2008-02-07
By Miguel A. Rodriguez (North Bay Village, Florida United States)
I have owned this lens for about four years now, and it is my favorite lens. It is built like a tank, very solid construction and very heavy. For maximum sharpness, I recommend using the lens at F/8 for most situations however; at constant f/2.8 the pictures are very sharp also. It does excellent at weddings and studio portrait photography. Distortion is not a great concern however, you may have to use a little distortion correction in Photoshop, or what ever software application you use to edit your pictures, when shooting at 28mm. Distortion at very close range, especially when shooting tall buildings is noticeable. The lens has a tendency to flare very easily including at night. Nothing that can't be fixed in Photoshop but, flare can be avoided by paying a little more attention. I rate this lens 9 out of 10. I will love to see this lens in a VR version in the future.

 "Great Lens!" 2006-06-12
By R. Cunningham (Michigan)
I have owned this lens for 2 years and it is by far my most used lens. This is saying quite a bit because I also own the Nikon 28 1.4 and the 85 1.4. Both of those two are outstanding, however the zoom is much more convenient to use.



It is heavy but on the D2H it balances very well.


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Nikon 35mm f/1.4 Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 35mm f/1.4 Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.
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Technical Details

- Large maximum aperture of f/1.4
- AF-S 35mm lens a fast, single-focal-length lens with normal picture angle
- Well-balanced design realizes both high MTF performance and natural-looking picture blur
- Newly developed optical system effectively corrects sagittal coma flare and coma aberration
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 "Only non-AF lens I own !" 2007-11-16
By C. Peter Jorgensen (Vermont, USA)
The 35mm f1.4 Nikkor is the only non-AF Nikon lens I own and I've had it for many years, perhaps 20 or more. I've been shooting professionally a photojournalist since 1960 and haven't retired yet. I own perhaps 12 Nikon lenses and 4 bodies, including an F5, F6, and D-200 and have a D3 on order. All my lenses are current versions except this one which I've always said I would never sell because of its quality and speed. It also has that elusive "bokeh" when shot at f1.4 that just brings great eye appeal to any subject matter. [I was looking for something else when this item caught my eye and felt I had to add a comment because it is one lens I treasure.]

 "Great lens" 2007-04-11
By Lovblad (Geneva, Switzerland)
This was and is a really great lens. The optics are great. I bought one cheaply more than ten years ago and it remains great value for money.

 "Nikon's fastest manual focusing wide angle lens" 2005-07-19
By John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
The venerable 35mm f1.4 AI-S Nikkor lens is optically unchanged since its introduction in the early 1970s. It was one of the lenses prized by photojournalists, and remains popular with them today. An excellent performer, even wide open, this lens was among the first Nikon made with its CRC lens technology, or in plain English, with floating elements, for optimal performance even close up. It was also the first Nikon wide angle lens with multicoating. This lens holds its own against the Leica 35mm f1.4 Summilux-R and the recently discontinued Contax Carl Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon (However, having used both this lens and the Zeiss Distagon, I believe that the Zeiss lens is optically superior.). I am surprised that Nikon has not yet introduced an autofocusing version of this lens; I suspect that one major reason is that there hasn't been sufficient interest in one from professional photographers.


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Nikon 35-200mm f/3.5-4.5 Zoom-Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 35-200mm f/3.5-4.5 Zoom-Nikkor AI-S Manual Focus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Professional photographers make Nikkor lenses their lenses of choice. Nikon is committed to every aspect of lens manufacturing, maintaining clarity, sharpness, focusing accuracy, range and reliability.PRODUCT FEATURES:Ideal as an all-in-one lens system for travel application;Provides full aperture viewing and light metering.
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Technical Details

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 "hmm,." 2007-09-09
By Angel Lotti
its a great lense..althoughi have the minolta version, its VERY good. the range is OK. its not the best, but it will do if your an amateur taking photos around the house or the city. its a great product and trust me, the magnification is WAY WAY better than the stock lense. i bought my minolta x700 that came with the stock lense and this lense for only 90 dollars since it is used. i loved it overall. looks very professional


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Nikon FC-E8 Fish-Eye Converter Lens for Nikon 4300, 4500 & 5000 Digital Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon FC-E8 Fish-Eye Converter Lens for Nikon 4300, 4500 & 5000 Digital Cameras

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Originally developed for scientific or industrial applications, Fisheye lenses are now also widely used in advertising, commercial and general photography. Fisheye lenses create a dramatic effect, showing the viewer the world as a fish might see it. With coverage up to 220? - virtually seeing backwards - Nikkor Fisheye lenses can add a new dimension to your photography.For special effect photography, as well as a variety of scientific and industrial applications, the Fisheye lens FC-E8 for Nikon CoolPix digital cameras is ideal. All-encompassing 180? fisheye coverage records everything in front of the camera, and produces a circular image on the film. Bright f / 2.8 aperture for dim light or fast shutter speeds. Close-focusing is now down to 33cm (1 foot), full-aperture viewing and metering. Easy filter interchange; 5 filters are built into a revolving turret inside the lens.
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Technical Details

- For use with Nikon Coolpix cameras
- Approximately 183 degree coverage. Can be used as a full frame or circular image lens
- For use with CoolPix 900/950/990, to use with the CoolPix 880 requires an optional step-down ring
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 "A Very Versatile Lens for the P5100" 2009-08-17
By Dreux Sawyer (West Orange, NJ USA)
Due to its superior quality, this lens also performs admirably as a super wide angle lens when used with a tighter zoom angle. Zoomed all the way out, it becomes a traditional fisheye lens, and despite not being listed as so, is an essential accessory for the P5100. It's like having several lenses in one. Once you have the Nikon UR-E20 Adapter, this and all the 28mm mount lenses become available to you. Due to it's versatility, it's a bargain even though pricier than third-party brands, which earns it five stars. If you're a serious P5100 photographer, you won't be disappointed.

 "Fun with Glass" 2002-12-02
By J V V (Los Angeles)
A truly fun piece of glass and I use it as both a toy and a tool. I love to shoot people and objects with it and see what the distortion does to the image, but it's also incredibly useful when you have no room to work or back up. I found it especially useful in the confined spaces of aircraft cockpits. But that fine thread to mount it on the camera drives me nuts! Especially when I'm in the confined space of something like an aircraft cockpit. But I always put it in my kit when on the road.

 "Big bang for the buck!!! And a cool toy to boot." 2002-02-16
By Richard C. Drew (Oak Lawn, IL USA)
Slipped right on the CoolPix 995. Almost slipped onto the floor as well - the lens cover is nice, but held on by friction between a felt strip inside the cover and the side of the lens. It's second nature to pick it up by the lens cover. And the lens falls right out. Be warned! I caught mine just in time and spend 5 minutes cleaning off finger prints. This is a common complaint from people I know who own this lens. The rear lens cover is a pain - not fully threaded and a pain to get on. Enough of the 'bitchin.

The lens itself is great. I had a Tiffen wide angle on my old Kodak DC290 - this Nikon is far superior. The camera has two Fisheye lens presets that adjusts and locks the camera's settings for optimum results. The resulting photo can be dark if taken indoors (the flash is automatically disabled) - but a few seconds in PhotoShop increasing the contrast and brightness fixed it right up (try that with a film camera!)

For [this price] you can't beat this lens. If you plan on doing panoramic or full room shots, get it. Example: I stood my tripod in a corner facing the center of a room. It captured EVERYTHING, floor to ceiling, wall to wall, except what was directly behind the camera. I then import the resulting image into a panoramic editor, output a Quicktime VR file (takes under 20 minutes total), and have a virtual view of the room. Cool. Plus everyone who sees it asks "is that a lens?!?!"

 "Durable Lens" 2001-10-17
By J. Sullivan
This summer while taking wide angle photos with this converter, I set my camera with fish-eye and small tripod on an unstable rock. As I set the timer, I watched in horror as my camera and converter fell off the rock and another 50 feet down a rocky slope. I thought all was lost, and my vacation ruined. To my amazement, the Nikon fish-eye converter and camera still worked! The glass was pretty scratched up, but I was still able to take photos with it. Because it's digital I was able to touch up the scratch marks on the photos when I got home. I've since bought a new Nikon Fish-Eye replacement, but I continue to be amazed at its durability.

 "Cool Lens" 2001-07-27
By CJinJax (Jacksonville, FL United States)
You'll love this thing. Nikon quality is amazing. This lens gives a great effect to your pics. If you photograph inside rooms, you can get the whole room in the picture, a full 180 degrees. Takse the two 180 's and combine them in your computer to 1 sphere and you have a full 360 degree room view. Awesome for real estate agents or for just having fun. Awesome potential.


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Nikon 200mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Nikon 200mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.PRODUCT FEATURES:Fast f/2.0 capability which effectively allows subjects to be given more emphasis by throwing background elements out of focus;Exclusive Silent Wave Motor enables ultra-high speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation;VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster. In addition, active vibration mode selection possible for use in active situations such as a moving boat, car or plane;New Super ED glass excels at eliminating secondary spectrum and correcting chromatic aberration and offers low refractive index and lower dispersion. Also Super ED Glass more resilient to rapid temperature changes;M/A mode enables instant switching from autofocus to manual with virtually no lag time even during AF servo operation;VR performance with Automatic detection of panning;VR On/Off mode available;Internal Focusing (IF) design for smoother focusing;Electronic Focus Preset Operation;Rounded diaphragm blades (9 blades) for natural blur;High Performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating offers superior color reproduction and minimizes ghost and flare;New G design enables aperture selection from select 35mm AF SLR and DSLR camera bodies and incorporates distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes;Fully compatible with D1X, D2H, D100, D70, F6, F5, F100, N80, N75;Fully compatible with Nikon TC-14E II, TC-20E II and New TC-17E II Teleconverters;Focuses as close as 6.2 feet;Detachable hood (HK-31) and rotating tripod collar.
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Technical Details

- Included accessories - Attachment-type filter holder (with 52mm NC); Front cap (new); Strap (LN-1); Hood (HK-31); Semi soft case (CL-L1)
- Fast f/2.0 capability which effectively allows subjects to be given more emphasis by throwing background elements out of focus
- Exclusive Silent Wave Motor enables ultra-high speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation
- VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster. In addition, active vibration mode selection possible for use in active situations such as a moving boat, car or plane (on/off)
- New Super ED glass excels at eliminating secondary spectrum and correcting chromatic aberration and offers low refractive index and lower dispersion. Also Super ED Glass more resilient to rapid temperature changes
See more technical details

 "Worth every pound (of the 2.9kg) - feedbacks vs the 300mm f/2.8" 2009-12-17
By Shawn Chen (Cupertino, CA USA)
It weights as much as the af-s 300mm f/2.8 (gen 1) but is about 2.5" shorter in length. The primary lens is the same size, and it's a chore to lug around. 10lbs to be exact with a D700 and a battery grip. The personality of the lens, e.g. sharpness, bokeh, is similar to the 105mm DC Nikkor f/2, except it has faster focus, able to shoot a couple of stops faster with VR, and has a 200mm focal length.



It's sharp wide open at f/2 and insanely sharp from 2.8 and beyond under non-challenging lighting conditions. The quality of the optics makes it somewhat more bearable to lug around, but it's dimension is unconventional--stubby and shorter than the other Nikon super telephotos. Ironically, it doesn't balance as well as the af-s 300mm f/2.8 for me. Without a tripod or monopod, I tend to shoot with the camera on my shoulder and arm extended. The 'stubby' 200mm f/2 is harder to grip and balance, but optically it creates the same creamy bokeh as the 300mm albeit a tad sharper. To the very point, it's more comfortable to balance the camera with a 300mm on my shoulder and arm (w/o tripod/monopod) than the 200mm.



I seldom shoot sports, instead I shoot a lot of candid shots of people, particularly children, and the 200mm is absolutely a marvel. Once you're a believer, you can't settle for anything less. Few lens I own can get the level of sharpness I like wide open, and the 200mm f/2g is the sharpest of the lot. (85mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 60mm f/2.8, 105mm f/2, 300mm f/4, 300mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8)

 "Best of the best" 2008-04-28
By Felix Gumby (kearney, ne United States)
I purchased this lens in order to take advantage of the 2.0 f-stop in horribly lit hs gymnasiums. This lens paired with my D2Hs is outstanding. It has to be the best volleyball lens in existence.



The only drawback is that it weighs a TON (better start doing your push-ups!). But, when you see the shots it produces, the weight is no longer a problem. I used a 70-200VR prior to this purchase, and it is/was a great lens, but it isn't even in the 200's class.



If you shoot basketball or volleyball this is a great lens. . . if you can afford it. If you can't, . . well, you only need one kidney.



Update, I have now paired this lens with a D3. . . OUTSTANDING.


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