Your Favorite Old AF-D Lens?

[snegron]

Curious to know what everyone's favorite AF-D lens is.

There seem to be several old AF-D lenses with mixed reviews. For example, one of my favorites is the 35mm f2.0 AF-D. For me it performed amazingly well on my old F100 and is stipp popping out great inages on my D750! However, there are many reviews I've read where the 35mm f2.0 AF-D is a soft lens incapable of producing sharp images.

So, the questions are then which is your all time favorite AF-D lens and do you still use it on your current DSLR?

 

[Randy]

85/1.4

 

[nuclearjock]

Yep 85 1.4 and 28 1.4. Still own them and shoot them.

Edit: add to this the 200mm f4 micro.

 

[Luke_Miller]

85 f1.4 & 20-35 f2.8

 

[Mitchell]

85/1.4

Same here. First dedicated portrait lens I bought. Truly the "cream machine" as labeled by one of our former members. Started my crazy bokeh journey. I still love using that lens though it lacks a bit of contrast found in newer glass.

 

[Pa]

My favorite would have to be my old 28-105 f/3.5-4.5.

Uncle Frank promoted this lens way back in 2008. It doesn't quite reach the heights of sharpness and contrast of the modern lenses, but it is quite sharp and so danged convenient with its macro mode.

 

[Mitchell]

Uncle Frank promoted this lens way back in 2008. It doesn't quite reach the heights of sharpness and contrast of the modern lenses, but it is quite sharp and so danged convenient with its macro mode.

Jim, I think those qualities is what makes it such a wonderful portrait lens. Sharpness and contrast can be overrated for portraits. Uncle Frank loved that lens and created many converts.

When you got the slim focus of that lens right, it was magical.

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[nuclearjock]

Ah the good old days when lens autofocus was driven mechanically, AND WE LIKED IT!

 

[Mitchell]

Ah the good old days when lens autofocus was driven mechanically, AND WE LIKED IT!

Yes, that sweet grinding noise!

 

[Pa]

Ah the good old days when lens autofocus was driven mechanically, AND WE LIKED IT!

Yep, but today my hand provides the mechanics, guided by focus peaking on my Z6.

 

[Pa]

Jim, I think those qualities is what makes it such a wonderful portrait lens. Sharpness and contrast can be overrated for portraits. Uncle Frank loved that lens and created many converts.

When you got the slim focus of that lens right, it was magical.
View attachment 1667725

Excellent portrait, Mitch. Reminds me of UF's best.

 

[nuclearjock]

Yep, but today my hand provides the mechanics, guided by focus peaking on my Z6.

Focus peaking rocks Jim. Agreed

 

[kilofoxtrott]

85mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/2.0 DC.

Kind regards
Klaus

 

[Jonathan F/2]

My recently minty used purchase of the 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 AF has become my recent favorite! This lens never received an AF-D update, despite being manufactured up to 1999 (I believe it was replaced by the 28-105mm AF-D). It's sharp, but renders in a classic "analog" way. Also stopped down it's as good as any modern zoom for flash and strobe work. Not a bad purchase for $40 USD! I've been itching for a 50mm f/1.4 AF-D or 35mm f/2 AF-D to pair it up!

Samples with the D750:

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Test samples with the Nikon Nikkor 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 AF Lens (Late Model). During the 2020 COVID-19 Global Pandemic. by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

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Test samples with the Nikon Nikkor 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 AF Lens (Late Model). During the 2020 COVID-19 Global Pandemic. by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

Lens mounted on the D750:

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200803_NIKON_28_85_FRIOLO_004 by Jonathan Friolo, on Flickr

 

[Terri French]

I recently sold my 85 f1.4 D and am still having some remorse about that. I'm seriously thinking about upgrading to the 85 f1.8 S lens. I also had a used 35 f2 D lens that I loved, but it broke and I never got it fixed. So I am currently without a D lens.

PS When I was getting started in photography, members here helped me out so much. Wade contacted me and offered to send me his 85 f1.4 D to try out. I was so surprised that he would make such a generous offer. I took him up on it and loved the lens, so I bought my own.

 

[Terri French]

Jim, I think those qualities is what makes it such a wonderful portrait lens. Sharpness and contrast can be overrated for portraits. Uncle Frank loved that lens and created many converts.

When you got the slim focus of that lens right, it was magical.
View attachment 1667725

I have always loved that photo. It is absolute perfection in my opinion!

 

[PhotogWannabe]

85/1.4 It's just magical. I used it recently when photographing a secondary school graduate. Those were some of the best photos I feel I've ever taken.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

I liked my 28-105! It broke after many years and cameras...focus ring fell off...I had it refurbed, used it till NAS struck, and I replaced it with the 24-85 and 18-140...fully the equivalent of the older lens, and better in some ways, but somehow not the same. The only thing It needed was to replace the factory beast of a lens hood with something a bit more compact.

 

[dburanich]

85mm f/1.4 and 135mm f/2.0 DC.

Kind regards
Klaus

The Defocus Control on the 135mm is sweet.
Talk about magic.

 

[jbailey930]

Never had the legendary 85 1.4. My favorite(s) were two of first telephotos I bought for my D300/700 - the 80-200 2.8 AF-D and the 300 AF-ED. Bought both used from Ace Photo. When I traded up to 70-200 2.8 and 300 AF-S some years later, Mo gave me trade-in value what I paid. Many great images from HS Graduations, soccer, volleyball, beaches, Alligator Farm and local wildlife.

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