In this section I’ll be offering blitz reviews of various cameras, lenses & film that I’ve encountered over the last 1-3 years. As this is a hobby for me, you’ll probably notice I’m all about bang-for-your-buck … and that’s ok, as there’s lots of great bargains to be had.
So once I’ve found something that works within my budget, these are the key pieces of info I try to quadruple-check before taking the plunge (regardless of all the comprehensive and contradicting reviews out there). I hope you find this to-the-point ready-reckoner useful.
- Nikon & Canon 35mm SLR Cameras
- Lenses – Manual Focus
- Lenses – Auto Focus
Film Camera Reviews
Nikormat FT2
The Nikkormat FT2 was release around 1975, and was the first manual 35mm film I bought, which was 3 years ago at this stage.
Verdict: a nice collectors item, great if you wish to get the real macoy AI-S ‘rabbit ears’ lugs experience, however it’s surprisingly heavy, utlizes a very quirky lens change operation, changing the ISO isn’t the greatest experience (you’ll probably need to use your fingernails to get a grip on the lever tab), and I’ve found it’s metering system to be oftentimes inaccurate.
Notable features:
| Lens Compatibility | AI & AI-S | Max Shutter Speed | 1/1000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | Split Prism | Min Shutter Speed | 1 sec |
| Metering | Center | Unpowered Shutter | 1 sec – 1/1000 |
| Metering Type | Needle | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | No |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Yes | Flash Hotshot Mode | Non-TTL |
| Battery | 1 x G13A / LR44 | Flash Sync Speed | 1/125 |
| Weight | 880g |
Nikon FE2
The Nikon FE2 was released around 1982, and has been my go-to 35mm film for the last 1.5 years. It offers a lot of great functionality that is surprising for the early 1980’s, and a super fast 1/4000 shutter speed for outdoors shallow dof shots. It uses two easily obtained LR44 batteries, and they just seem to last forever … !
Verdict: a very versatile, easy-to-use manual-focus camera, with some great features, in particular Aperture mode with it’s awesome auto shutter speed selection. Unfortunately the EC dial & FE lock aren’t very ergonomic, with the designers focusing on avoiding-accidental-use, instead of ease-of-use, however the dual-needle metering system is excellent.
| Lens Compatibility | AI, AI-S & AF / AF-D | Max Shutter Speed | 1/4000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | Split Prism | Min Shutter Speed | 1 sec on dial, but 30 sec in A mode |
| Metering | Center | Unpowered Shutter | 1/250 |
| Metering Type | Dual Needle | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | Yes & EC Lock |
| Mirror Lock-Up | No | Flash Hotshot Mode | TTL |
| Battery | 2 x G13A / LR44 | Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 |
| Weight | 550g |
Nikon F100
The F100 is an amazing, do-it-all, ‘pro level’ 5 point autofocus 35mm camera, released around 1999, that offers unbelievable forward & backward lens compatibility, and comes with every bell and whistle you might ever require, along with comprehensive in-built customisation options.
Verdict: a very powerful manual-focus / auto-focus camera in terms of its wealth of features and capabilities, offering lens compatibility across the entire range of manual focus AI lens to the latest VR G lens. Just be aware that it’s relatively bulky & heavy (the reasons why I don’t own one anymore) , they’re becoming increasingly expensive and also somewhat prone to having a broken diopter mechanism.
| Lens Compatibility | AI, AI-S, AF / AF-D & VR G ! | Max Shutter Speed | 1/8000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | 5 AF Points & < 0 > Rangefinder | Min Shutter Speed | 30 sec |
| Metering | Matrix, Center & Spot | Unpowered Shutter | None |
| Metering Type | Manual / AF System | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | EC, FEC & EC Lock |
| Mirror Lock-Up | No | Flash Hotshot Mode | TTL & Rear Sync |
| Battery | 4 x AA | Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 |
| Weight | 880g (with batteries) |
Nikon F80 / N80
The F80 (known in the USA as the N80) is a modern 5 point auto-focus 35mm camera, released around 2000, that offers features you’d expect only on the F100, so it’s amazing bang-for-your-buck … but only if you can live with the fact that it is not compatible with any manual focus AI & AI-S lenses.
That said, I like this camera so much that I own two (an N80 and a F80D), as I swap the modern AF-D, G ED VR lenses between my Nikon D750 / Nikon D610 (FX), D7200 (DX) and the small & light F80, getting the best of both worlds. Note: you can easily obtain CR123A batteries on eBay (however, don’t try recyclable ones, they’re usually the wrong voltage 3.7V instead of 3V).
Verdict: a light, very capable camera in terms of its features and capabilities, although only compatible with lenses that are AF onwards. However it’s a joy to use with AF-D & AF-S / G lenses and has become a firm favourite of mine for hybrid shooting.
| Lens Compatibility | AF / AF-D & G VR | Max Shutter Speed | 1/4000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | 5 AF Points & Rangefinder | Min Shutter Speed | 30 sec |
| Metering | Matrix (10 segment), Center & Spot | Unpowered Shutter | None |
| Metering Type | Manual / AF System | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | EC, FEC & EC Lock |
| Mirror Lock-Up | No | Flash Hotshot Mode | TTL & Rear Sync |
| Battery | 2 x CR123A | Flash Sync Speed | 1/125 |
| Weight | 545g (with batteries) |
Canon EOS 30 / 7 / 7e
The Canon EOS 30 / Elan 7 / Elan 7e was the second last prosumer, modern, 7 point auto-focus 35mm camera, released by Canon around Oct 2000 (the EOS 33 / Elan 7n followed in 2004 closing out the series). The EOS 30 & Elan 7e models provide “eye controlled” auto-focus … yes, you read right !
Having originally started with a cheap & cheerful Canon EOS 3000 back 20+ years ago, this camera was something I could only dream about at the time. So I couldn’t resist picking up one in 2022, to see what the fuss was about … and wow, it’s pretty amazing !
This camera is superior to every Nikon, Canon and Nikkormat film camera I’ve bought to date, offering every conceivable feature and more. It’s a joy to use, the auto-focus is superb, and the metering is the most reliable I’ve experienced over the last 2-3 years of this adventure.
The eye controlled auto-focus actually works, once you take the time to calibrate it, in the way that actually use the camera in the real-world. Pretty incredible not having to use toggle switches to change focus points š¤©
Highly recommended ! š
| Lens Compatibility | EF | Max Shutter Speed | 1/4000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | 7 AF Points & eye-controlled (EOS 30 / Elan 7e models) | Min Shutter Speed | 30 sec |
| Metering | Matrix (35 segment), Center & Spot | Unpowered Shutter | None |
| Metering Type | Manual / AF System | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | EC, FEC & EC Lock |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Yes | Flash Hotshot Mode | TTL & Rear Sync |
| Battery | 2 x CR123A | Flash Sync Speed | 1/125 |
| Weight | 580g (with batteries) |
Canon EOS 300v / Rebel Ti / EOS Kiss 5
The Canon EOS 300v / Rebel Ti / EOS Kiss 5 is the second last consumer auto-focus 35mm SLR camera made by Canon. The EOS 300v was released around 2002, and succeeded by the EOS 300x / Rebel T2 in 2004 (which offered a 1/4000 shutter speed, 1/125 flash sync and more customisation) which closed out this consumer SLR series completely.
| Lens Compatibility | EF | Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 |
| Viewfinder Focus | 7 AF Points | Min Shutter Speed | 30 sec |
| Metering | Matrix (35 segment), Center & Spot | Unpowered Shutter | None |
| Metering Type | Manual / AF System | DOF Preview | Yes |
| Self Timer | Yes | Exposure Comp Dial | EC, EC Lock |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Yes | Flash Hotshot Mode | TTL & Rear Sync |
| Battery | 2 x CR2 | Flash Sync Speed | 1/90 |
| Weight | 375g (with batteries) |
So why even buy the EOS 300v or the EOS 300x … ? Simple, I discovered that these SLR models from Canon are without a doubt the smallest, lightest, fully functional, interchangeable, 35mm SLR’s you can get your hands on ! They work with all the Canon EF glass, while still providing advanced metering and auto-focus capabilities. Best of all, the SLR’s are so small, you’ve no excuse not to throw one in a bag when you travel !
In terms of usability, Canon opted for a large LCD back-screen to display all the key information, which is great, while all the usual functionality is there (e.g. ISO selection, multi-exposure, exposure compensation, etc.)
Manual-Focus Lens Reviews
Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AI-S
This is an excellent manual focus prime lens, which is perfect for landscape or wide urban photography. I found it to be very sharp, a joy to use, and with its 52mm filter diameter it worked with all my other lenses.
| Focal Length | 24mm |
| Weight | 250g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1977 |
| Lens Hood | HN-1 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 30 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AI-S
This is an absolutely outstanding manual focus prime lens, which is great for landscape and is well suited to street photography. For its age I found it to be outrageously sharp, practically no distortion and a pleasure to use ! Update (2022-02): I recently stumbled upon the unassuming Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super Wide II which is just as sharp, maybe even better in the corners … (!)
| Focal Length | 28mm |
| Weight | 250g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1981 |
| Lens Hood | HN-1 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 20 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Simply outstanding ! |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp from f5.6 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:3.9 – which is ‘very good’ |
Nikkor 35mm f2 AI-S
This is a sharp manual focus prime lens, which is great for general walk-about photography. I found it to be very sharp, however, please beware of its ghosting, which occurs when there’s strong light in the corners … it’s one of the main reasons I sold it and bought the 35mm AF-D instead (which also has an aperture ring for backward & forward compatibility, and solves these annoying problems while offering slighly better sharpness).
| Focal Length | 35mm |
| Weight | 263g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1981 |
| Lens Hood | HN-2 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 30 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Good, but can look a little ‘nervous’ when including bushes in the image background |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:5.7 – which is ‘poor’ |
Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AI-S ‘Pancake’
This is an excellent, compact manual focus prime lens, and the best of the f1.8 AI-S variants that Nikkor manufactured (identified by the “0.45” minimum distance on the scale). It takes wonderful ‘people shots’ and due to its dinky size and nice manual handling it’s a perfect fit on any of the 70’s 80’s film cameras.
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Weight | 174g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1980 |
| Lens Hood | HR-4 or HS-11 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 1.8, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 45 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Good, but can look a little ‘nervous’ when including bushes in the image background. It’s an old lens so just be aware of chromatic aberration softness at f1.8 |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6.6 – which is ‘very poor’ |
Nikon 50mm f1.8 E Series ‘Pancake’
Despite competing against it’s up-market Nikkor “0.45”m sibling, this E series underdog is just as capable, and just as wonderful. I’ve noticed that after f2.8 you can’t tell the difference in image quality between the E Series and the Nikkor versions ! Not only that, but to my eyes, the bokeh on the E series version is better than the Nikkor version š® So if you can live with the minimum focus distance of 0.6m, this cheaper, lighter, rival is genuinely just as good !
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Weight | 155g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1980 |
| Lens Hood | HR-4 or HS-11 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 1.8, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 60 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Very good – and I’m scratching may head wondering how this cheaper E Series has seemingly better bokeh than the more expensive Nikkor series … Obviously just be aware that f1.8 has that old-school ethereal look, which is quite nice in certain situations. |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6.6 – which is ‘very poor’ |
Nikkor 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 AI-S
This could be an excellent walk-about, old-skool, push-pull, zoom lens but only if you’re able to get a good copy. I’ve already had two copies to date, and each one has something wrong – decentered terribly on the left at 35mm or uncharacteristically soft between f3.5-f4.5. Which is a shame, as from 40mm-ish onwards at f5.6 onwards it’s beautifully crisp, and the ‘macro mode’ is really useful, and offers very nice bokeh behind flowers, etc.
| Focal Length | 35-105mm |
| Weight | 514g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Lens Hood | HK-11 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 27 cm (macro), 1.4m normal |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Good-Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 / f11 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Very nice in macro mode |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4 – which is ‘very good’ |
Nikkor 80-200mm f4 AI-S
This is an outstanding manual focus tele-zoom lens, which is capable of producing quality images that never cease to amaze me ! It is razor sharp wide open at f4 and has lovely bokeh.
That’s all said, weighing in at 810g, it’s one of the heaviest lenses I’ve come across, so unfortunately it spends more time on my shelf then in my camera bag, in favour of the lighter (albeit not as sharp between 165-200mm) 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 AF-D lens, which only weights 332g …
| Focal Length | 80-200mm |
| Weight | 810g |
| Filter Diameter | 62mm |
| Lens Hood | HN-23 |
| Lens Model Type | AI-S |
| Auto Focus Type | Manual Focus |
| F Stops | 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 |
| Min Focus Distance | 1.2m |
| Blades | 9 straight |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Very nice – beautiful |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4.4 – which is ‘good’ |
Auto-Focus Lens Reviews
While this may be the “auto-focus” lens review section, my main objective over the last few years has been to maximise compatibility across my Nikon FE2 & FT2 to my N80 to even my digital D610 & D7200 (and even my Sony A7 II & A7 III with an adapter).
To that end, most of the lens I’ve reviewed and used below usually have an aperture ring (see ‘f stops column’), and always have a manual-focus capabilities š
Nikkor 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 AF-D
This a great AF ultra-wide zoom lens, which has an aperture ring for backward & forward compatibility. For it’s era, this ultra-wide offers excellent sharpness , with one caveat … it’s always soft in the extreme corners at 18mm no matter what f-stop. That said there’s not much other choice on offer, if you want a Nikon made ultra-wide zoom with a manual focus camera … so I learned to ignore those itsy-bitsy bottom corners š
| Focal Length | 18-35mm |
| Weight | 370g |
| Filter Diameter | 77mm |
| Initial Year of Manufacture | 2000 |
| Lens Hood | HB-23 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 33 cm |
| Blades | 7 rounded |
| Sharpness | Excellent (except at 18mm) |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards, except at 18mm which never sharpens in the extreme corners š |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
| Reproduction Ratio | Unknown |
Nikkor 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 AF-S G ED
This an outstanding AF S ultra-wide zoom lens – it’s razor sharp, handles flare with consummate ease, and is lightweight and supremely portable. This is my go-to ‘modern’ Nikon ultra-wide for the last 5+ years !
| Focal Length | 18-35mm |
| Weight | 381g |
| Filter Diameter | 77mm |
| Initial Year of Manufacture | 2013 |
| Lens Hood | HB-23 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Motorised Auto-Focus (AF-S) |
| F Stops | None – G model |
| Min Focus Distance | 28 cm |
| Blades | 7 rounded |
| Sharpness | Outstanding ! |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards as you’d expect from an ultra wide ‘landscape’ lens |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
| Reproduction Ratio | Unknown |
Tokina 19-35mm f3.5-4.5 AF
This a very good AF ultra-wide zoom lens, which has an aperture ring for backward & forward compatibility. I did a lot of research on the Tokina range of 16-17-18-19 ultra-wide lenses from this era, and this is definitely the sharpest of that particular bunch (although still a little weak at 19mm requiring f11). However it’s eclipsed by its 20-35mm sibling for only a few dollars more (see review below).
| Focal Length | 19-35mm |
| Weight | 390g |
| Filter Diameter | 77mm |
| Lens Hood | A dedicated Tokina hood is required |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 25 cm |
| Blades | 6 straight |
| Sharpness | Good-Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards, except at 19mm which requires f11 |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
| Reproduction Ratio | Unknown |
Tokina 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 AF (Canon)
After a lot of research for cheap & cheerful Canon wide-angles, this ‘orange stripe’ 20-35mm is far superior to any of the 16/17/18/19 -35mm Tokinas, and it’s been alleged that even though it’s branded as 20-35mm, its field-of-view is actually 19-35mm in reality.
I found this lens to be tack-sharp in the centre wide-open through-out the entire focal-range … and requires only f8 to be sharp left-to-right, which is way superior to the equivalent Nikon 18-35mm AF-D offering, and performing pretty damn close to the 2013 18-35mm AF-S G version (for a third of the price !)
| Focal Length | 20-35mm |
| Weight | 504g |
| Filter Diameter | 72mm |
| Lens Hood | A dedicated BH-771 Tokina hood is required |
| Lens Model Type | AF |
| Auto Focus Type | Non-USM |
| F Stops | NA (Canon EF Mount) |
| Min Focus Distance | 40 cm |
| Blades | 6 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | NA |
| Reproduction Ratio | Unknown |
Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super Wide II AF
This is what they call a “sleeper” lens … while reviewers waxed lyrically about the prowess of the Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AI-S, this little lens, which nobody seems to be talking about, is JUST AS SHARP !
It’s an outstanding AF ultra-wide zoom lens, razor sharp, with a ‘macro’ capability and beautiful bokeh (yes, you read correctly). Just be aware that the AF is a little noisy when conducting large distance sweeps, but certainly not a deal breaker.
This has also become my go-to prime lens on my Nikon D7200 crop sensor, giving me an effective 35mm-ish field of view, while working perfectly on my film and full-frame digital bodies.
| Focal Length | 24mm |
| Weight | 250g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year of Manufacture | 1998 |
| Lens Hood | The original hood receives a lot of criticism for how impractical it is, so just use a screw-on HN-3 instead |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 (all in half stops too !) |
| Min Focus Distance | 18mm |
| Blades | 6 straight |
| Sharpness | Absolutely outstanding – on par with the Nikkor 28mm AI-S, and maybe even better ! |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards ! |
| Bokeh Quality | Beautiful ! |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4 – which is ‘very good’ |
Canon 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 USM
After a lot of research, I will agree that this Canon zoom lens is simply fantastic ! They can be bought second-hand from ā¬95 to ā¬110, but wow, they offer amazing bang-for-your-buck: the lens is tack-sharp in the centre at every focal length, and from 28-85mm require only f8 for edge-to-edge sharpness.
The bokeh is beautiful at 85mm f4.5, and the only caveat is that at 24mm the chromatic aberrations are very high even at f11 … so either avoid those tree branches against a bright sky at 24mm or you’ll get a lot of purple fringing, otherwise try take the shot at 28mm onwards.
| Focal Length | 24-85mm |
| Weight | 380g |
| Filter Diameter | 67mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1996 |
| Lens Hood | EW-73II |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | USM |
| F Stops | NA (Canon EF Mount) |
| Min Focus Distance | 50 cm |
| Blades | 6 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Tack-sharp in the centre from 24-80mm, sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards while 24mm requires f11. There is strong chromatic aberration at 24mm, so be careful shooting tree branches against the sky – try 28mm instead |
| Bokeh Quality | Beautiful |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6 – which is ‘very poor’ |
Canon 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 II USM
This old, lightweight zoom from Canon is a ‘sleeper’ lens, I can confirm that the image quality is simply stunning, rivalling Canon L glass equivalents – and best of all these can be had for ā¬55 – ā¬70 !
This version II of the 28-70mm lens, incorporates an aspherical element, which the original version didn’t have, and as a result, the images are razor sharp in the centre at all focal lengths, the bokeh is lovely, and best of all the images are sharp edge-to-edge at f8 at 28mm, and at f5.6 from 35-70mm = amazing !
There is a ‘macro’ mode, but by todays standards it’s normal. As it has a large focus throw, the AF is a little noisy when conducting large distance sweeps, but it’s not a deal-breaker. In addition, while the Canon 24-85mm is amazing, this cheaper lens is even better.
| Focal Length | 28-70mm |
| Weight | 285g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1988 |
| Lens Hood | EW-68A |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Non USM |
| F Stops | NA (Canon EF Mount) |
| Min Focus Distance | 39 cm |
| Blades | 5 straight |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | From 35-70mm it’s sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards, while at 28mm it only needs f8. This is pretty amazing for a zoom lens, Canon pulled out all the stops ! |
| Bokeh Quality | Very good |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:5 – which is ‘average’ |
Nikkor 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 AF-D
This lens has the potential to be a more usable & travel-friendly version of it’s bigger brother, the 28-105mm AF-D (which is another 100g heavier) … however it comes at a price, 70mm is soft wide open, and requires double stopping of the aperture to get decent results.
That all said, it is very sharp from f5.6 onwards, and it also has a long focus-throw & aperture ring, so it does make for a great manual-focus body zoom lens. I guess the challenge being, there’s such a large choice of lenses in this focal-range: the 28-80mm AF-D, 28-105mm AF-D or 28-80mm AF G …
| Focal Length | 28-70mm |
| Weight | 353g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1991 |
| Lens Hood | HB-6 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 40 cm |
| Blades | 9 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards, however at 70mm it has very strong chromatic aberration softness when wide-open |
| Bokeh Quality | Very good |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4.5 – which is ‘poor’ |
Nikkor 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 AF-D
This lens was the precursor to the 28-80mm AF G two enteries below (the G model is an improvement over the AF-D at the long-end of the zoom range, but the G version doesn’t have any aperture ring).
It’s the sharpest zoom lens between 28-50mm of all the AF-D & G zoom lenses mentioned here ! At 80mm wide open (f5.6) it’s definitely a little soft, which may be acceptable that retro halo-soft look, but for landscape you’ll need f8 onwards at 80mm for edge-to-edge sharpness. All that said, if you have a manual-focus Nikon body, and you need a walk-about lens, this one is perfect … and they’re going for only 30-40 Euros second-hand !
Note :: Buy the ‘later’ version of the lens, that has 7 digits in it’s serial number, as it has a wider manual focus grip.
| Focal Length | 28-80mm |
| Weight | 264g |
| Filter Diameter | 58mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1999 |
| Lens Hood | HB-20 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 40 cm |
| Blades | 7 rounded |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | The sharpest of the zooms between 28-50mm, with it being sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards ! However at 80mm be aware of chromatic aberration softness when wide-open |
| Bokeh Quality | Reasonably good at 80mm |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:3.8 – which is ‘very good’ |
Nikkor 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 AF-D
This lens is the ‘step-up’ from the f3.5-5.6 consumer version, being half a stop brighter and offering a longer reach of 105mm instead of 80mm. With 9 blades if offers very nice bokeh at 105mm f4.5 and I found it to be tack sharp in the centre at every focal length ! A surprise bonus feature about this lens is that it has a Macro mode, offering 1:2 magnification ratio, which is amazing !
Be aware though, the only trouble with the 28-105mm AF-D is the prospect of getting a good copy. I can confirm the online banter, that there ARE definitely bad copies in circulation with back-focussing issues. My copy turned out to be one of those bad copies š, and it required an AF Fine Tune adjustment of -7 on my full-frame digital body. So when I tried using it on my Nikon N80 film body, no joy, it back-focuses just enough in my developed negatives to be unreliable in the field, unless I manually focus, which is a shame.
| Focal Length | 28-105mm |
| Weight | 450g |
| Filter Diameter | 62mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 1998 |
| Lens Hood | HB-18 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 22 cm – offers a dedicated 1:2 macro mode at 105mm |
| Blades | 9 straight |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards, just be aware that 28mm is it’s weakest focal length and requires f11 – f13 to be sharp edge-to-edge, otherwise it’s very impressive at all focal lengths |
| Bokeh Quality | Beautifully smooth at 105mm ! |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:2 – a dedicated macro mode, which is outstanding ! |
Nikkor 28-80mm f3.3-5.6 AF G
This lens is a completely re-designed version of the older AF-D zoom lens reviewed above. It has less elements (6 vs typically 8), it has very good close focus abilities, it’s smaller, it’s lighter, and it’s tact sharp in the centre at all focal lengths.
This lens is the opposite of it’s AF-D 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 precursor, it’s sharper edge-to-edge from 50mm onwards, unlike it’s AF-D precursor, which happened to be sharper edge-to-edge before 50mm … that may help you decide a little better. So if you don’t require an aperture ring, nor AF-S, nor VR, then this is the BEST bang-for-your-buck AF zoom lens available.
It has definitely become my favourite walk-about zoom lens, as it’s razor sharp, focusses really close at (impressive reproduction ratio of 3.5), has a very nice bokeh at 80mm, and best of all, you can pick them up for 50-60 Euros.
| Focal Length | 28-80mm |
| Weight | 190g |
| Filter Diameter | 58mm |
| Initial Year Of Manufacture | 2001 |
| Lens Hood | HB-20 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | No aperture ring – G model |
| Min Focus Distance | 35 cm |
| Blades | 7 rounded |
| Sharpness | Excellent – Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards, however it’s soft in the extreme corners at 28mm, and requires f8-f11 to be sharp |
| Bokeh Quality | Very nice at 80mm |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:3.5 – which is ‘excellent’ |
Nikkor 35mm f2 AF-D
This is an outstanding AF 35mm prime lens – it is razor sharp, has an aperture ring for backward & forward compatibility, and unlike its AI-S predecessor, it’s handles lens flare with consummate ease and has a good reproduction ratio for up-close macro style shots. This is my favourite, all-time, prime lens on all my Nikon bodies – in fact, with an adapter, I used it on my Sony A7III for years !
| Focal Length | 35mm |
| Weight | 200g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Lens Hood | HN-3 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 |
| Min Focus Distance | 25 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f5.6 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Nice, just be aware of your background |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4 – which is ‘good’ |
Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AF-D
Similar to the amazing 35mm f2 AF-D, this is another outstanding prime lens – this 50mm auto-focus is razor sharp, has an aperture ring for backward & forward compatibility, handles lens flare with consummate ease, and is perfect for ‘people shots’ and low-light situations.
| Focal Length | 35mm |
| Weight | 200g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Lens Hood | HN-3 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 |
| Min Focus Distance | 45 cm |
| Blades | 7 straight |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f4 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Nice, just be aware of your background |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6.6 – which is ‘very poor’ |
Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 AF-S G VR
This an outstanding AF landscape tele-zoom lens – it’s razor sharp wide open, the VR works beautifully well, and it just produces superb images, in particular compressed, layer-style landscape & urban images.
This has been my go-to ‘modern’ outdoors Nikon tele for the last 5+ years, and best of all there’s great prices to be had for it !
| Focal Length | 70-300mm |
| Weight | 745g |
| Filter Diameter | 67mm |
| Lens Hood | HB-36 |
| Lens Model Type | AF VR with MF ring |
| Auto Focus Type | Motorised Auto-Focus (AF-S) |
| F Stops | None – G model |
| Min Focus Distance | 1.5m |
| Blades | 9 rounded |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Beautiful |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:4 – which is ‘good’ |
Canon 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM
When it comes to bang-for-your-buck Canon tele’s, this ā¬45 cheap-and-cheerful 70-210mm lens is outstanding, the image quality at all focal lengths is phenomenal, and it genuinely puts Nikons equivalent 80-200mm offering below to shame !
Wide open between f3.5-4.5 it’s amazingly tack-sharp in the centre, and has beautiful contrast and colour rendition, capable of producing excellent layer-style landscape & urban images. That extra 0.6 stop of light in particular (f4.5 instead of the usual f5.6) also helps compensate for the fact that it doesn’t have Image Stabilization (IS).
| Focal Length | 70-210mm |
| Weight | 550g |
| Filter Diameter | 58mm |
| Lens Hood | Requires a Canon ET-65II |
| Lens Model Type | AF |
| Auto Focus Type | USM |
| F Stops | NA – EF Mount |
| Min Focus Distance | 1.2m |
| Blades | 8 straight |
| Sharpness | Outstanding |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards |
| Bokeh Quality | Beautiful |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6 – which is ‘poor’ |
Nikkor 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 AF-D
This a very sharp, lightweight (322g), cheap (ā¬30-ā¬50) tele-zoom with one caveat … unfortunately it’s very soft wide open (f5.6) from 165-180mm. I mention this caveat because its sharpness is genuinely excellent in the centre, wide-open, until it finally hits that variable-aperture setting of f5.6 at around 150/165mm, so it comes as a bit of a shock when you see it happen.
However, despite this shortcoming I still get a lot of use out of this lens on my Nikon FE2 & Nikon N80 … but why you may ask … because the alternative is to carry 745-1,275g š² with the other Nikon 80-200mm tele-zooms, which makes them feel like a lead-weight when out & about for more than 2 hours.
In summary, if you need a travel-friendly, outdoors, tele-zoom with an aperture ring, then this lens represents the best practical compromise š
| Focal Length | 80-200mm |
| Weight | 332g |
| Filter Diameter | 52mm |
| Lens Hood | HR-4 or HS-11 |
| Lens Model Type | AF with MF ring (the MF ring is very narrow but useable) |
| Auto Focus Type | Screw Auto-Focus |
| F Stops | 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 |
| Min Focus Distance | 1.5m |
| Blades | 7 Straight |
| Sharpness | It’s excellent wide-open 80-165mm, then from 165-200mm the sharpness wide-open drops dramatically, and you’ll need f8 to get ‘normal’ sharpness š |
| Sharp Edge-to-edge | Sharp edge-to-edge from f8 onwards at 80-165mm, then from 165-200m you’ll genuinely need f16 for sharp edge-to-edge images š. |
| Bokeh Quality | Very nice to beautiful |
| Reproduction Ratio | 1:6 – which is ‘poor’ |
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