Best lens for a vintage DSLR? Nikon 35 f2D vs 35 f1.8G!

[@HamerReviews]

Vintage DSLR REALLY threw me off… but Jesus you’re right. The D1 was my first DSLR - LOVED that camera. I remember my Nokia N95 had more megapixels but image quality was incredible on the D1 in comparison. It’s interesting because it’s what taught me at a relatively young age that megapixels truly meant very little.

[@cameralabs]

Yeah the D1 is over 20 years old now and was in fact Nikon's first proper DSLR.

[@MSUTri]

The D1 was my first DSLR, bought used in about 2006. It was usable, but the D1H was such an enormous leap over it. The D1 weirdly used the NTSC color space instead of sRGB, had increasingly bad banding noise above ISO 400, and was generally very slow in image processing. The D1H just worked much better in every way, despite being more or less the same in most aspects. It has excellent color, very good noise performance, the buffer was much larger, and the menus were more user friendly. I shot many great photos with it, and returned to it after my D2H (which also suffered from fairly strange color output) died in the rain. It wasn't until I got a D200 in 2009 that it was fully replaced. Out of all of them, while the D200 was a much better camera, I am more nostalgic for the D1H. I think it still had the better color output. I moved to mirrorless and large sensor compacts for a decade, but recently got the D3 and D700 that I lusted after back in 2008. Other than the inconvenience of large size and compact flash cards, I have a hard time imagining needing (rather than wanting) anything more from a camera than those. Going back to DSLRs is refreshing in terms of amazing battery life and focus tracking performance.

[@ericlarson6180]

I have and use the F2D. It works great on my vintage FM as well as on my D850. I really like it’s vintage look especially the large amount of vignetting when shot wide open. Be careful about not getting a copy with oiled aperture blades a problem with some copies of this lens. Mine has this problem but the aperture doesn’t appear to stick (yet).

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@quikee9195]

You can put the "D" on a wide range of Nikon bodies - film or digital... it will work (with manual focusing of course) even on an 40+ years old Nikon FE or F3.

[@cameralabs]

That's the appeal of it over the newer one for me

[@jeffrydemeyer5433]

I have the 35mmF2D I got it for it's colors after the Angry photographer praised it for that. I still agree with him on that, the colors just look nicer out of camera than any of my other 35mm lenses. Still sad I can't use it with AF on my Z6

[@cameralabs]

I was hoping for a distinctive rendering style from the 35d, but didn't really see it in my tests or sample images. I'm choosing it more because I like the physical style and focusing.

[@slr7075]

I love the colors of this lens, and I even notice it when looking through the viewfinder compare to Nikon's other primes.

[@brianmckeever5280]

Looks like you're having fun, great you have the opportunity! Enjoyable content, thanks.

[@cameralabs]

Glad you enjoyed it! Have you checked out my other channel, Dino Bytes?

[@brianmckeever5280]

@@cameralabs Of COURSE! I've watched them all!

[@cameralabs]

@@brianmckeever5280 bonus points!

[@joffemannen]

My first non kit lenses are from my mother's F-501, so they're AF without the D. And therefore I've sort of started collecting, but I have to start slow and said no to the AF 35mm f2 at less than £100 this week. Well, I've got a lifetime of collecting ahead, and there are plenty of them around at reasonable prices. And most seem to be almost on par with modern optics (or am I just fooling myself)

[@cameralabs]

They can't compete on resolution, CA, contrast etc, but that's not to say they're not enjoyable, or even preferable in other respects.

[@phil1066photography]

Great review Gordon :-) I used to have the 24 2.8 D back in my nikon days. Loved that lens. Nice to see Bens chocolate making an appearing at 9:00 haha. Go Whittakers of NZ!! Hope you're keeping back the gorgeous shutter sounds back for the vintage camera reviews of those two Nikons, haha :-)

[@cameralabs]

Yes! I kept that shot of the chocolate bars!

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! Interesting to see how the older full frame lenses performe today, even on a old DSLR like the nikons your were using! Have a good week!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks, it was a fun test to make. And my D1 review is next on Dino Bytes!

[@slr7075]

I would love to see how it performs on early FX 12MP sensors like the D3/D700.

[@cameralabs]

@@slr7075 there's a few replies here from people who use the D lens on a D700 with good success.

[@maxhammick948]

Technically the D lens isn't focussing faster, it's screw drive so the D lens is being focussed faster by the pro-level body. It's worth bearing in mind, as budget SLRs may not perform as well and some of the cheapest nikons won't AF with it at all! For the D1 the G lens is quite anachronistic, so I would have gone with the D as well

[@cameralabs]

You're absolutely right, I remember the early budget DSLRs being slower with that option, and then an increasing number of models being released which didn't have the option at all.

[@Cotictimmy]

I was hoping it was going to be the full frame f1.8G lens that was going to be compared. Ah well. 😢

[@terrywbreedlove]

I had the D2x and shot it for so many years. My friend had the D1 crazy how far we have come.

[@cameralabs]

It's pretty crazy! PS - my D1 review is on my Dino Bytes channel if you're interested.

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

7:22 it seems the 35mm F2 D is slightly back focused on the top of your hat, hence the lack of sharpness in the middle of your visage and the harder bokeh too

[@AbbasBinYounas]

Hello Mr Laing, do you think you would recommend these older AF-D lenses, especially primes, for older, low megapixel bodies like D3, D4 etc.?

[@cameralabs]

I would for the aesthetic, but for quality, perhaps not

[@senseofeverthing]

I love this review! Please make more of those!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks! I will if it gets more views!

[@michaelmcintosh8599]

Hmmm I have the DX 1.8 which I now use on my D780 after upgrading from the D7100. Well it shoots in FX mode with no cropping .

[@cameralabs]

But I'm guessing there's some substantial vignetting in the corners in FX mode?

[@Wh33lsofFortune]

I actually use the dx 35 1.8g on my D700. Vignetting is not even a big deal, totally usable on full frame

[@cameralabs]

Yes, it's corrected for more than APSC, although I'd be interested to try it again on full-frame.

[@Wh33lsofFortune]

@@cameralabs oh definitely, no disagreement there sir. It really renders quite beautifully

[@RichardBO9]

Thank for a great review. I recently purchased a Nikon Df from MPB, because, hey, everyone needs a Sunday morning going to coffee camera. 😅 The 35mm F2D is one lens I was considering. Also thinking about the Zeiss 35mm f2. Like you, my heart says Zeiss and my head says Nikon. I usually follow my heart . 🤔

[@cameralabs]

Nice!

[@joeaddison]

I picked up a 28mm 1.8 recently for my vintage Digi Nikons and it's been a joy to use

[@cameralabs]

Great choice, it was my second option!

[@Durio_zibethinus]

Question: what is your favourite mirrorless brand for playing with those old lenses? Does the assist feature really work on every manufacturers for adapted lens?

[@cameralabs]

Actually I prefer to keep it old skool and not adapt, although I think the Sony's are quite flexible.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

@@cameralabs thank you for your answer! I think it's cheaper that way as we use one body for many lenses with a dummy adapter.

[@Skipsul]

I've shot a lot of different old lenses on my Sony. It's mostly a matter of finding the right adapter (some obscure short-lived brands require a lot of hunting, or DIY), but I've stuck with manual focus stuff. Any current mirrorless (Canon EOS-R, Nikon Z, Sony E, Fuji, M4/3) will work for the older lenses because the newer cameras have much shorter flange distances, making the adaptor basically just an extension tube.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

@@Skipsul thank you for your input. I really appreciate it.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

How 'bout a D200 with that nice Kodak CCD? 8 X 10 prints or less for 300dpi printing but it looks so good. That's why I also have a Sony A350. 14mp instead of 10.

[@cameralabs]

The D200 is lovely, and the D80 is a cheaper option too with similar output - in fact I recently made a new video about the D80 you might enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/op2miHWCnraXbqM

[@413TomaccoRoad]

@@cameralabs I have a D60 and my D200 is on a FedEx truck somewhere in Ohio, headed for CT and then W. MA. I wouldn't have decided on getting it if it didn't have a screw drive for film AF Nikkors; plus being a more rugged body.

[@cameralabs]

@@413TomaccoRoad the D200 is a fine choice, hope you enjoy it!

[@LouisLuzuka]

Oo this is a series that I can stand behind, maybe it’s time to dust off my dads older film Nikon cameras 📸

[@cameralabs]

It's always time to dust-off old cameras!

[@Skipsul]

I have recently resurrected my old Minolta kit. Been great getting back to basics.

[@LouisLuzuka]

@@cameralabs what’s the best way to start just buy a roll of film and shoot? I’ve never shot film before

[@LouisLuzuka]

@@Skipsul ooo how did it go

[@cameralabs]

@@LouisLuzuka sure thing, it's the same as digital except the white balance and ISO are fixed, you only get 24 or 36 shots per roll, and you don't get to compose or review images with a screen! But the same theory on exposure and composition apply.

[@DibirathSen]

Surely the f2D - it looks better and works well enough for older bodies

[@cameralabs]

It's the one I prefer!

[@charliemiller5831]

when looking at your side by side selfies.... the f2D pic does not flatten your features like the DX does. That dreaded 3D pop contraversy comes up yet again... yikes!

[@richardpetrovic8941]

This lenses both are good, and sometimes less is more. Lenses and cameras do not do good pictures, it can do good fotografer - by me😊

[@gusatvoschiavon]

Would be nice to see some film shots too

[@cameralabs]

Once I bag my vintage Nikon film SLR, I'll do that for you! I'm looking for an F3...

[@gusatvoschiavon]

@@cameralabs i want to have a f3 and a f100 someday, they both look so good Might have some more(like the older F, an fm~ and the beautiful rangefinders) but these two are necessity

[@cameralabs]

@@gusatvoschiavon we're in agreement! All I need to do now is find one that's affordable!

[@gusatvoschiavon]

@@cameralabs same kkkkkkkkkk

[@Sanemancured]

On my D700 no contest. D all the way and GAS ensues.

[@cameralabs]

I know, once you have one of the D lenses, the others start calling out to you!

[@413TomaccoRoad]

The colors are different and the D lens renders whites better. I never shoot wide open on any lens. First click down from wide open for me always.

[@tanmoymondal7191]

My name is Tanmoy Mandal. My home is Bangladesh. I am a student. I am the son of a poor family. I don't have the money to buy a camera. I would be very happy if you could please give me a camera

[@cameralabs]

All my cameras are loaned from the manufacturers and returned after testing, sorry.

[@tanmoymondal7191]

@@cameralabs plz sir

[@tanmoymondal7191]

@@cameralabs I would be very happy to give a gift