[twilight_samurai]

Sorry to to interrupt, but can you tell me your opinion on the 35mm f2 Nikkor?
How would you rate it as a landscape prime?
Could you form an opinion of it in contrast to a K 35/3.5 at say f11?

I've been trying to find suitable replacements for some of my legacy glass and the 35mm remains an issues for me.

I was renting the primes for the weekend to test them during a couple of shoots but the 35 didn't get much use from me. Due to the type of photos I was taking, I preferred the 50 and 85.. the 35 was just part of the 4 prime lens rental kit. Also, I haven't used the K35/3.5 before so I can't compare them first hand. Sorry I can't be of more help!

The 35 did seem pretty sharp the few times I used it @ f3.5..

[JohnBee]

Alright, well thanks for responding.
I wish I could rent lenses in my area or surroundings.
But when I ask, most workers in camera shops just look at me as though I'm joking
Guess that's the price to pay for living out in the middle of nowhere

FTR. the K 35/3.5 is somewhat of a legend among landscape photographers for it's: colors, flair resistance, low(near none existent) distortion and renown sharpness at higher f/stops(11-16). Which has kept it in the "one to beat" class across systems.

TBH. I've was contemplating asking someone to convert it for the D700 if I can find someone qualified to take on the task. However... having recently received some official K-5 full resolution samples, I think I'm going to wait a bit before doing something I might regret

[Peter Zack]

Everything I read about the 35mm f2 D is very positive. Excellent value for the money, sharp and nice bokeh. Sample images all look very good. It's the next lens on my list.

John, for my needs and shooters like coffee who do a lot of people photography, the move to the D700 makes a lot of sense. Great skin tone rendering and excellent AF tracking etc. For the landscape shooter, I'm not sure there's a convincing reason to look in this direction. Not with what we've seen/heard about the K-5.

If that were my primary shooting style, I don't think I'd go to the Nikon. To me it's like choosing film. You picked a certain film to render a certain subject and look. The sensors may all be Sony but the way they render an image is different. I find if I shoot something like a sunset, I add more colour to the image in PP on Nikon to get it closer to what I saw. As Coffee says, when I shoot people I don;t have to do much to see accurate skin tones.

So it really depends on what you want and like. If you're happy with the Pentax look. Then wait. if the K-5 can produce clean 3200-6400 shots, Give you much improved metering and AF, then there may not be a complelling reason to switch.

[deadwolfbones]

I had the 35/2D. It's a nice lens, but something about it just didn't do it for me. Didn't spare a second thought in getting rid of it when I decided to switch to a majority zoom setup.

[twilight_samurai]

.

My $109 50 f/1.8D gets new life on the D700 as an indoor kid-shooter (duty previously carried out by my FA 35 f/2 on aps-c)

Jay, I haven't been following the going ons in the regular Pentax sections of the forum lately but I recall you use to post a lot of wonderful images in the threads dedicated to Limited lens and such.. and now I see your images appearing here in this FF thread. Did you make the complete switch to the D700 or are you shooting dual systems now?

Have you had a change to try the 50/1.4D? I'm curious as to how it compares to the 50/1.8D and if it's worth 3x the price of the 1.8. My limited experience with 1.4D was that it's quite sharp and gives nice bokeh but I didn't have a chance to shoot it wide open. So I really like the 50mm FOV.. just debating which 50 to get as that'll probably be my next lens. The DA35Ltd was one of my favourite lenses, partly due to it's FOV.

[deadwolfbones]

Jay is dual system.

[jsherman999]

Jay, I haven't been following the going ons in the regular Pentax sections of the forum lately but I recall you use to post a lot of wonderful images in the threads dedicated to Limited lens and such.. and now I see your images appearing here in this FF thread. Did you make the complete switch to the D700 or are you shooting dual systems now?

Have you had a change to try the 50/1.4D? I'm curious as to how it compares to the 50/1.8D and if it's worth 3x the price of the 1.8. My limited experience with 1.4D was that it's quite sharp and gives nice bokeh but I didn't have a chance to shoot it wide open. So I really like the 50mm FOV.. just debating which 50 to get as that'll probably be my next lens. The DA35Ltd was one of my favourite lenses, partly due to it's FOV.

I've played around with the 50 1.4D, not enough to form a real opinion. The 50 1.4G is supposed to be better, and match the Sigma 50 1.4, but hat's just what I've read. My 50 1.8D will probably not be upgraded, though, more than good enough at that FL for my purposes.

And yes, dual-system, and drooling over the K-5. I'm trying to be devil's advocate with myself about it for now, though

Here's my current Pentax kit:




Pentax K20D
------------------
DA 15mm f/4 Limited
DA 35mm f/2.8 Limited Macro
FA 77mm 1.8 Limited
FA 50 1.7
Takumars 24 3.5, 50 1.4, 55 2, 135 3.5
M's 85 f/2
K's 135 f/3.5
A's 50 1.7
Vivitar (Komine) 28 f/2.8 WA Close Focus
Helios Biotar 44-M-4 58 f/2
Cosina 55 f/1.2
Lester Dine (Kiron) 105 f/2.5 Macro


.

[hinman]

Jay, this is a small world. I am about to step into Nikon on D7000. I have sold as much as possible on my Pentax digital. I still have more to go. And I aim to end up with a smaller lens list

• K20D
• Ltd primes with 15, 35, 43, 77
• cosina 55mm f/1.2
• F* 300mm f/4.5, 1.7x AFA
• Kiron 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro -- the lester A dine's sister
• bunch of Tamron adaptall-2 in 17,24,24-48,35-80,70-150,80-200,500

On Nikon, I am thinking of initial kit

• Nikon D7000
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0 OS HSM -- not sure yet
• Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, SWM
• A long zoom from 100 to 400 for birding, sports, air shows -- not sure yet

I have my fair share of doubts along with Pentax friends booing on my way out. I see much more lens supply in Nikon. I am trying to go primes with Pentax for lightweight, compact in traveling while using Nikon for zoom, long end needs, and more choices as I go. I am seeking advice and I can really take some comforts in this thread.

Thanks,
Hin

[Peter Zack]

I'm looking at the K-5 as well. For some different reasons but I'm looking forward to some results from it.

As for the 50mm f1.4G I have one. It's a very nice lens and sharp even from wide open. It's a bit slow to focus compared to my 85mm and other lenses but compared to using a K20D nothing is slow to focus

[JohnBee]

I'm looking at the K-5 as well. For some different reasons but I'm looking forward to some results from it.

As for the 50mm f1.4G I have one. It's a very nice lens and sharp even from wide open. It's a bit slow to focus compared to my 85mm and other lenses but compared to using a K20D nothing is slow to focus

In about two weeks I'm going to attempt a comprehensive comparison with a K-5 and D700. I'm just trying to work out a lens system so that the tests are fair and useful.

I'm thinking if covering:
Low light performance AF/IQ
AF Performance low light and tracking.
FPS in the field(wild-life shoot) and a minor sports.

I'll finish off with some resolution charts and some studio shooting.

If you have any ideas or suggestions I'd be more than happy to consider them.

[twilight_samurai]

As for the 50mm f1.4G I have one. It's a very nice lens and sharp even from wide open. It's a bit slow to focus compared to my 85mm and other lenses but compared to using a K20D nothing is slow to focus

Peter, why did you choose the 1.4G over the D version? It's a couple hundred dollars more expensive and yes I heard it's a little slower to focus compared to the D's screw drive. The main advantage I see with the G is that it allows the quickshift-like focus adjustment (not sure what Nikon's terminology is..) so that you don't have to switch the camera and lens over to manual focus. Plus the weather sealing..

I can't decide whether I should get the 85 f1.4D or 50 f1.4D/G first.. argh, they both produce such nice images! 85 f1.4G is out of the question as that's much too expensive right now.

[deadwolfbones]

Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 on the D700 (most @ f/1.4):
















I think I'm gonna sell my Nikon 85/1.8.

[deadwolfbones]

100% crop from above:

[deadwolfbones]

And one more:

[happyant]

very nice! so did you sell your 85 1.8 ?

I am making the switch to Nikon trying to decide to go crop or full frame, decisions decisions but the shots in this thread really make me lean towards the D700