Older Lenses
Jul 18, 2018 15:46:00 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
SteveR wrote:
I'm tempted to buy a vintage Nikon 20mm manual focus for my D800. Any thoughts on this lens?
The 18 f/3.5 Ai-S is another gem worth considering, (IF you can find someone willing to part with a mint copy)!
Jul 18, 2018 15:55:05 #
Kuzano wrote:
No special rendering or "drawing" characteristics, other than Sharp, Sharp, Sharp.
This is exactly the modern thinking that separates new lenses from old lenses. Today, if something isn't edge-to-edge needle-sharp, then its viewed as being unworthy. In the old days, people valued other characteristics of rendering that perhaps could be better seen than described.
Jul 18, 2018 15:59:50 #
NCMtnMan wrote:
Quality glass is quality glass whether it is 50 ye... (show quote)
The definition of "quality" itself has changed over time. Today, corner-to-corner sharpness is highly valued; in days gone by, being sharp in the center was important, but corner sharpness was less important because something in the corner could take attention away from the center, and other characteristics, which have to be seen rather than measured or described, were also valued.
Jul 18, 2018 16:04:38 #
rehess wrote:
The definition of "quality" itself has changed over time. Today, corner-to-corner sharpness is highly valued; in days gone by, being sharp in the center was important, but corner sharpness was less important because something in the corner could take attention away from the center, and other characteristics, which have to be seen rather than measured or described, were also valued.
We don't generally shoot brick walls flat on edge to edge.
Jul 18, 2018 16:58:21 #
Exactly as I was saying. In fact Canon designed their 20mm f2.8 with curvature of field so that you could get sharper edges while photographing interiors of rooms. The old Nikkor 20mm f3.5 works the same way. And while, it's not great for photographing brick walls straight on, it works fine for everything else.
Jul 18, 2018 22:46:43 #
dragonking wrote:
I have several old lenses and some are 50years old... (show quote)
"I have since found out that the distance from the lens mount to the focal plane of the camera is smaller in Nikon cameras compared with other cameras."
I share your frustrations! The cause, however, (perhaps just a typing error on your part) is that the distance from lens mount to focal plane in a Nikon camera is greater than other major manufacturers. Hence, any addition will prevent focus at infinity. I was told by my now retired but still brilliant camera repairman that this distance is one dimension of what is called "the mirror box".
Jul 19, 2018 02:39:31 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
DJO wrote:
The cause, however, (perhaps just a typing error on your part) is that the distance from lens mount to focal plane in a Nikon camera is greater than other major manufacturers. Hence, any addition will prevent focus at infinity. I was told by my now retired but still brilliant camera repairman that this distance is one dimension of what is called "the mirror box."
The Leica-R flange focal distance is greater than that of Nikon F. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance
Fotodiox makes a replacement ring for R lenses, which focus at infinity on F cameras.
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