camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Don't you ask this question ever, especially if you are a young photographer? Well, let me repeat it again, how good a lens do I need?

Modern lenses are sharp enough. There is no way we can compare the technology of modern lenses to what we had when we were shooting film. As far as I am concerned I can categorically say that I NEVER used a lens that failed to do its part when I did mine.
I decided to use some images shot around my neighborhood to illustrate that using good technique any lens will yield the results we expect. Not all true behind those comments that modern, high Mp. cameras cannot do well with old lenses. The D-610 has 24 Mp. but other cameras like the D800 does as well with these lenses.

None of these images were shot with modern lenses. As a matter of fact, the image of the old man walking his dog was made using a 1974 Nikon 50mm f1.4 single coated lens. a primitive lens considering modern multicoated lenses. I did not even use the exposure meter and rather I went with the "sunny 16 rule."
The flowers were shot at ISO 640 with the Nikon 105mm f4 from the ealy 70's, no tripod. The backlighted columns were shot with a Nikon 35mm f2 from the early 80's. All of them old, manual lenses using a Nikon D-610 and ALL of them original JPEG images with minimal manipulation during editing with Photoshop.

So, how good a lens do I need?

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neh

Nice post. Good pics. Thinking about resurrecting an older Nikon N/Al 50mm 1.2 lens to use with a Canon Rebel T3i with a Nikon Al to Canon EOS converter ring. Thank you for posting.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You will not be disappointed. Thanks for your comments.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I tend to agree that the old glass, at least the Nikons I own, from the late 60’s and seventies work quite well. The old glass I still own are the reason I purchased a Df body. The 55micro, 105 f2.5, 105 micro f4 and the behemoth 800 f8 all produce crisp images whenever I do my part correctly. They aren’t worth much monetarily but I don’t care and they aren’t for sale. Happy shooting Papi.

Almostageezer Loc: USA

There will always be those that must have the latest and greatest. That's fine for them. I don't need the latest and greatest. I just want to make images that make me happy.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Many of you seem to have a good common sense. Do your part and the lens will do its part....new or old.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

William,
I've used my Zeiss 80mm and 150mm lenses on my D700 and 800e. They work just fine. Those lenses are probably from the mid-60s. I also have an assortment of Nikkor lenses from some 30 years ago. I don't hesitate to use them on those cameras, as well. Some of the older Nikkors will cause physical damage to the contacts within the camera body. One Nikkor won't even start to mount. But, those that can be used work very well.
--Bob

Kuzano

Clearly, old glass is good enough if you are OK with manual focus primes.My favorites are Hexanon from Konica (some great large f stop fast lenses throughout their line and plentiful inexpensive. There is a 57mm f1.4 and f1.2 that sell for $100 and $300 that will shoot almost as sharp as Fujifilms 56 f1.2, and using focus peaking will match that $600+ Fuji lens.

Favorites for me are some olympus OM SLR lenses, most Super Takumar Pentax thread mount. Most legacy MF lenses adapted to mirrorless and in the f1.8 prime sell for $50-75 in recognizable brands on eBay and are plentiful. Focus Peaking brings them to high standards of focus if they were sharp on old SLRs to start with. With the focus peaking now in mirrorless, I like the idea that a $100 Hexanon and $10 adapter can match that $600 Fuji 56/f1.2. Manual focus ain't so bad when you save those kinds of dollars.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

(I'm not shooting for NATGEO either. )

Largobob

Own the best glass you can afford....no matter the age, or manufacturer.

The lens forms the image. High quality glass increases the likelihood of getting a high quality image....assuming the operator does his/her part.

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Looks like your good to go. Especially if you can do post processing.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

A very good point, and the photos prove it!

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Completely agree with you and your statements are supported by your examples. Nice shots.

The only issue I have with some older lenses is the propensity to show chromatic aberration with the ones I have. The sharpest, best performing lens I have is an old screw mount Yashika 50mm 1.4 lens that came with my first film camera ! Canon L lenses come very close but i still love the little 50mm with an adapter for Canon EF mount. The CA is sometimes a pain but Lightroom does a good job of getting rid of it. My Vivitar 300mm prime screw mount on the other hand, while very sharp is so bad with CA that I can only use it in ideal situations.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Nice set of images. I shoot all the time with my vintage "film" Pentax and Takumar lenses. Some I am sure are sharper than my "digital" Pentax or other lenses. The oldies certainly have higher contrast and more color saturation. I shoot raw so that may help too. And all the PRO Nikon shooters I personally know use their old film Nikkor lenses. The fast 85mm and 105mm are monsters!