Photography Equipment - Lenses
I take the time to use each lens I review. Some sites feel it is okay to review a lens based solely on the specifications and sample photos provided by the lens manufacturer. I feel this is a guess not a review.
Each lens listed is one I own or owned, spending my own personal money to obtain. If a company provides a sample lens to me for review I will state that in a review. Other than the ads that appear I make no money from anyone for these reviews so I can keep away from any appearance of bias.
I am primarily a Nikon shooter so I will admit a bias towards lenses that work, either directly or through adaptation, on an Nikon F-mount camera. I have Pentax film and digital cameras as well as medium format, but the majority of these reviews are written from a Nikon standpoint. If you shoot something else, Canon for example, the basic lens concept should apply to you as well, but your mileage my vary.
Primes are logically grouped by their origin or manufacturer.Nikkor Lenses
The Nikon-made lenses are an excellent option to use with your Nikon camera.
As an overall brand of lenses I have found Nikon/Nikkor to be the best quality glass that is available. That doesn't mean every Nikkor is a hit, there have been some terrible things. But generally speaking, using a Nikkor will likely result in great photos.
- Nikkor-UD 20mm f/3.5
- Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF D
- Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIs
- Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 Ai
- Nikon 35mm f1.8 G AFS Dx
- Nikkor-O 35mm f/2 AI'd
- PC-Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 (Perspective Control)
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIs
- Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 AI
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AIS
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4 D AF Nikkor
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D AF Nikkor
- Nikkor 50mm f/2 AIS
- Nikkor 55mm f/1.2 AIs
- Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AIs Micro
- Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 AI'd
- Nikon 60mm f/2.8 AF Micro
- Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AIs
- Nikon 85mm f/1.8 D AF Nikkor
- Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5 AI'd Silver
- Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5 AI'd Black
- Nikkor-PC 105mm f/2.5 AI'd
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8 D-AF Micro
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AFS VR Micro
- Nikkor 135mm f/2 AF DC
- Nikkor-Q C 135mm f/2.8 Ai'd
- Nikkor-Q 135mm f/2.8 Ai'd + Chip
- Nikkor-Q 135mm f/3.5 Ai'd
- Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 AIS
- Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI Micro
- Nikkor-Q 200mm f/4 AI
- Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 AIs IF ED
- Nikkor 1000mm f/11 Reflex
Macro Lenses
Pulling together a list of lenses listed as being macro, or dur to their back focal distance they ended up being close-focus, without regard to brand.
- Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AFD Micro
- Bausch And Lomb Animar 25mm f/2.7 C Mount
- Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 AF-D
- Volna-9 50mm f/2.8 Macro MC
- Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AIs Micro
- Nikon 60mm f/2.8 AF Micro
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8 D-AF Micro
- Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AFS VR Micro
- Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI Micro
Russian Lenses
The Soviets copied many lenses and adapted others to their manufacturing capabilities. Sometimes they even created original lenses. Although usually lacking things like auto-focus, the Russian lenses offer a great deal of quality for a low price.
- Mir 24-N 35mm f/2 MC
- Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7
- Volna-9 50mm f/2.8 Macro MC
- Helios-81N 50mm f/2
- Helios 103 53mm f/1.8 Contax Keiv Mount
- Helios 44M-2 58mm f/2 M42
- Helios 44M-6 58mm f/2 M42
- Helios 44M-7 58mm f/2 (Nikon Mount)
- Jupiter 9 85mm f/2 Black
- Jupiter 9 85mm f/2 Silver
- F-92 Zenit Leti 90mm f/2-fixed M42
- Arsat-N 100mm f/2.8
- MC Kaleinar 5H 100mm f/2.8
- Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5 M42
- Maksutov 500mm f/8 3M-5A
German Lenses
German engineering and manufacturing has lead to many outstanding optical wonders.
Often copied by the Russians, many German lens designs set the standard for photography a century ago that are still in use today.
It should be noted that these items are not desired just for their optical capabilities, but lens collectors often look for a specific brand just to own it. I am more focused on the usability of a lens, not its collector value, so that is what I review: the functionality and practicality of a lens.
- Zeiss 35mm f/2 Milvus ZF.2
- Voigtländer 40mm f/2
- Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Milvus ZF.2
- Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar
- Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.7 T* AEJ Contax Mount
- Zeiss Jenna DDR 50mm f/2.8 M42
- Voigtländer 58mm f/1.4
- Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2 Exakta mount (black)
- Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2 Exakta mount (aluminum)
Sigma Lenses
Previously seen as a third-party, soft of an off-brand, lens maker Sigma has worked hard over the past few years to recreate themselves as being a high-end lens maker.
Pentax Lenses
Previously seen as a third-party, soft of an off-brand, lens maker Sigma has worked hard over the past few years to recreate themselves as being a high-end lens maker.
- Pentax-A 50mm f/2.0 K mount
- Pentax-M 50mm f/2.8 K mount
Projector, Enlarger, or Other Non-Camera Lenses
These lenses started off life with a use other than being a camera lens. It may take some work to get these to work on your camera but often it is worth it. Sometimes the original lens itself is quite cheap, resulting in an overall low investment. Many times the look that is achieved is unique.
Regardless of the reason to do so, taking a lens and making it work can be very rewarding to accomplish and to enjoy the resulting photos.
- Meopta 50mm f/1
- ELMO 50mm f/2.8
- Vega-11U 50mm f/2.8 M42
- Meopta 50mm f/4.5 (square aperture)
- Optikotechna 75mm f/4.5 23.5 (M23.6)
- F-92 Zenit Leti 90mm f/2-fixed M42
- Meopta 90mm f/4.5 (square aperture)
- Kodak 4-inch (101mm) f/2.8
- ELMO 70-125mm f/2.8 Projector Lens
- S.V.E. ANASTIGMAT SERIES 127mm f/???
- Optikotechna 210mm f/4.5 M53 (M52.56) - Older, all-black version
- Optikotechna 210mm f/4.5 M53 (M52.56) - Later version, more silver
Third-Party Lenses
Although these may not be high-end brands, often quality lenses can be found among this bunch, if you shop around.
- Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 ED AS IF NCS UMC
- Cosina 20mm f/3.5 MC AI'd
- Tamron 24mm f/2.5
- Bausch And Lomb Animar 25mm f/2.7 C Mount
- Sears 28mm f/2.8 M42
- Lomogon 32mm f/2.5
- Lensbabies Lensbaby 3G
- Mamiya Sekor 55mm f/1.4 M42 (Throium Coating)
- Chinon 50mm f/1.9 K mount
- Bronica 75mm f/2.8 PE (medium format)
- Petzval 68mm f/2.9 (Lomo)
- Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 UMC
- Sears 135mm f/2.8 M42
- JC Penny 135mm f/2.8 MC KR PK
Unsorted Lenses
These are lenses I own but I need to research them further to know better how to classify them into one of the above groups.
- Unknown Brand ???? 35mm f/1.7 C Mount
- Unknown brand 50mm f/1.4 C Mount
Zooms Listed from widest to longest
- Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
- Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 G DX
- Nikon 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 G DX
- Nikon 18-135mm
- Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
- Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 AFS
- Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AFD Micro
- ProMaster Aspherical 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6
- Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 AF (this is the non-D type lens)
- Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 AF-D
- Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
- Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Dx AFD VR
- ProMaster 70-300mm f/4-5.6
- Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 AFS
- Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 AF D Nikkor (Seen on the right)
- ProMaster 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
- Opteka 650-1300mm f/8 AI - cheap, slow, but a ton of fun
The following list are lenses I would like more time with before I'd feel comfortable reviewing them. These are lenses I don't own, but maybe have borrowed or had a student show up with one. A listing here doesn't mean a recommendation, just an interest from me in knowing more. If you have one you'd like to let me borrow, please contact me. Thanks.
- Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF AF-S DX Nikkor
- Nikon 18-105mm - this is a new kit lens that is shipping with the D90 (the upgraded D80 which is the D300 in sheep's clothing).
- Nikon 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6 D Macro
- Nikon 200mm f/4 AF-D Macro - dedicated and expensive macro with excellent optics that I hope to review soon as I have reviewed the earlier AI version.
Confused by all of the lenses above? Not sure what is the right lens for the situation you're going to photograph? Then check out this article that I wrote on the main types of photography and the lens I choose for the job.