Got a Nikon? Share your thoughts and photos here or ask a question! (II)

K6AZ wrote in post #15144866
Nano smano, I think that's just a gimmick to sell more lenses. Some of the best IQ I've seen from Nikon lenses has been without the N. Not a selling point IMO, either the lens is good or it's not and I suspect the 70-200 f/4 will be very good.

I hafta disagree, strongly. Nano coat really does do something...I know KR thinks it's marketing and maybe I've fallen for it but hey ;-0. I agree that lenses can be great without it though, of course.

Now, perhaps there is something "else" that is the cause--perhaps lenses with Nano also get better regular coatings as well. I do not know. However, the lenses I've used with Nano have a certain "pop" to them... For example the 50mm 1.8G is a good lens, but the 24-70mm 2.8 despite having a ton of elements has way more of a pop to the images. You'll see it if you compare the 16-35mm vs the 17-35mm outdoors with saturated colors in the frame I promise! ;-0

And gqtuazon: Nano coat doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the golden ring, but a lot (maybe all? not sure) of the newer gold ring lenses have it.

I bet that the 70-200 f4 VR will have nano and a gold ring. Even the 24-120mm f4 has it.

woos wrote in post #15145411
I hafta disagree, strongly. Nano coat really does do something...I know KR thinks it's marketing and maybe I've fallen for it but hey ;-0. I agree that lenses can be great without it though, of course.

Now, perhaps there is something "else" that is the cause--perhaps lenses with Nano also get better regular coatings as well. I do not know. However, the lenses I've used with Nano have a certain "pop" to them... For example the 50mm 1.8G is a good lens, but the 24-70mm 2.8 despite having a ton of elements has way more of a pop to the images. You'll see it if you compare the 16-35mm vs the 17-35mm outdoors with saturated colors in the frame I promise! ;-0

And gqtuazon: Nano coat doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the golden ring, but a lot (maybe all? not sure) of the newer gold ring lenses have it.

I bet that the 70-200 f4 VR will have nano and a gold ring. Even the 24-120mm f4 has it.

There is a reason the 28/1.8D, 28-70, and 58 Noct sell for what they do without the N. Nikon has always provided good coatings on their glass and for me the presence or absence of the N means little. Of course, this reminds me of some of the lenses that started to be dumped for peanuts around the time the D200/D2x was released and it appeared as if Nikon would never go full frame. I made a killing on Ai/Ai-S lenses. If the N lenses become the most sought after I'll be happy to pick up older non-N lenses cheap.

whmeltonjr wrote in post #15145402
Just don't get the 17-35 I'm looking at trading for.

You're in the clear, I'm not going to buy anything until the rest of what I have sells. Tokina 80-400mm, the Tokina 16-28, and an AF 24mm f/2.8.

K6AZ wrote in post #15145440
There is a reason the 28/1.8D, 28-70, and 58 Noct sell for what they do without the N. Nikon has always provided good coatings on their glass and for me the presence or absence of the N means little. Of course, this reminds me of some of the lenses that started to be dumped for peanuts around the time the D200/D2x was released and it appeared as if Nikon would never go full frame. I made a killing on Ai/Ai-S lenses. If the N lenses become the most sought after I'll be happy to pick up older non-N lenses cheap.

Eesh! That 58 Noct is something else. It's rare with a high price.

jdizzle wrote in post #15145453
Eesh! That 58 Noct is something else. It's rare with a high price.

I went with the 50/1.2 Ai-S around the time I got an F75 (import). The Noct was nice but I got the 50/1.2 for $400 and just didn't see a lot of difference especially since I don't like shooting larger than f/4 if I can help it.

K6AZ wrote in post #15145462
I went with the 50/1.2 Ai-S around the time I got an F75 (import). The Noct was nice but I got the 50/1.2 for $400 and just didn't see a lot of difference especially since I don't like shooting larger than f/4 if I can help it.

I see. The 50 1.2 is definitely on my list. You still have it?

I would love a 50 1.2 at some point. I've got some other stuff on the list first, but if one pops up cheap enought I'll snag it.

jdizzle wrote in post #15145477
I see. The 50 1.2 is definitely on my list. You still have it?

No, I sold it along with all my other Ai/Ai-S lenses when I switched to Canon four years ago. I like the 50/1.8G but it just doesn't render the same crispness and contrast. I plan on grabbing one sooner or later, I think they're still sold new.

whmeltonjr wrote in post #15145482
I would love a 50 1.2 at some point. I've got some other stuff on the list first, but if one pops up cheap enought I'll snag it.

The samples I've seen wide open are drawing me to it.

K6AZ wrote in post #15145493
No, I sold it along with all my other Ai/Ai-S lenses when I switched to Canon four years ago. I like the 50/1.8G but it just doesn't render the same crispness and contrast. I plan on grabbing one sooner or later, I think they're still sold new.

Darn! Too bad you didn't keep it. Did you ever try the 35 1.4 AI-S?

jdizzle wrote in post #15145512
The samples I've seen wide open are drawing me to it.


Darn! Too bad you didn't keep it. Did you ever try the 35 1.4 AI-S?

Yes, I owned one and sold it with the others. I really wish I had that one back. IQ is tremendous.

K6AZ wrote in post #15145527
Yes, I owned one and sold it with the others. I really wish I had that one back. IQ is tremendous.

Gah! Another one to add to the list.

Another Ai-S lens in this class is the 28mm f/2 though they're a little harder to find. Of the 28/35/50 the best creamy bokeh of the three if you're into bokeh.

woos wrote in post #15145411
And gqtuazon: Nano coat doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the golden ring, but a lot (maybe all? not sure) of the newer gold ring lenses have it.

I bet that the 70-200 f4 VR will have nano and a gold ring. Even the 24-120mm f4 has it.

I don't have the right answer. It seems that lenses with ED had the golden ring before but that seems to have changed with the introduction of nano coating instead of just the SIC coating.

For example the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VRI did not have N coating and golden ring but the VRII with nano coating has a golden ring.

Nikon 28mm f1.8G has nano coating has a golden ring. The Nikon 60mm f2.8G have nano coating but does not have the goldeng ring.

The new NIkon 24-85mm f3.5-4.5G does not have N and golden ring.

Oh well, this is just confusing and it doesn't really matter since people will keep these lenses as long as they can perform very well.

jdizzle wrote in post #15145477
I see. The 50 1.2 is definitely on my list. You still have it?

If I have time this weekend I was going to list my 50mm f/1.2 AI-s for sale.

K6AZ wrote in post #15145493
No, I sold it along with all my other Ai/Ai-S lenses when I switched to Canon four years ago. I like the 50/1.8G but it just doesn't render the same crispness and contrast. I plan on grabbing one sooner or later, I think they're still sold new.

They are still sold new, yeah, as far as I know. Check camera shops around your area for 'em too. There was one at camera solutions inc here in portland for a long time but it seems to be gone now. I don't think the AIS contrast compares well to the contrast on the 1.8g, but it does have a diff dreamier look. At f/8 though I bet no one could tell the diff.