This is the new Nikkor 16mm-85mm f3.5-5.6 AF-S VRII DX lens for cropped sensor Nikon and Fuji digital cameras. I guess you could view it as an upgrade to the 18mm-70mm “kit” lens which came along with the D70 bodies. This glass has a longer range and anti shake in the VRII mode. This shot of a private train leaving the Beavertail Tunnel at Bonita, MT shows how free of distortion this lens can be at the 18mm setting. I think I am going to be very happy with it while out railfanning.
I recently added the very same lens to my collection. And after a few test shots, it quickly became the only lens I use. As you mentioned, the clarity is incredible, the distortion negligible, and it’s so versatile. So much better than my old 24-120, and it blows a way my 70-300. In fact, I’d rather use this lens at 85mm and digitally crop it, rather than use my 70-300.
I also just got the D300, which, of course, blows away my D70. Indeed, I like the D300 so much, I’m also getting rid of my F100 film camera as well.
So I now have a D70 and F-100 camera bodies for sale, as well as my 24-120 and my 70-300 zoom lenses. I might even get rid of my prime lenses, although I haven’t quite decided on that yet. I guess it’s time to call B&H Photo.
Really nice… I’ve been considering upgrading the lens on my camera but they’re just so dang expensive. If you don’t mind answering… How much did it set you back?
If this is a digital shot, it certainly is very nice!
I’m still shooting with the old Nikon SLR FE’s, and I am not quite ready to make the switch to a digital format. The question that I have is, does anyone publish a book or anything that more or less spells out the basics of digital photography??
Same basics… When set to “Manual” you select your ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture and focal length like with any conventional camera. You can even change out lenses on digital SLR models just like with a conventional SLR. The biggest difference between the two is that a digital camera allows you to review your photo and save them to a memory card. Most shoot video also, very cool. Digital cameras also many have numerous features that allows you to adjust, edit and organize your photos.
Each camera comes with a thorough user’s manual. I’m sure once you go to your favorite camera retailer and play around with a few floor models you’ll get it on your own. Trust me… If I can do it anyone can.
Yes, this is a digital photo from a Fujifilm S3 camera. I have not bought a roll of film since I bought the body which would accept all of my Nikon glass from the film days. I started with a prosumer advanced P&S body, the Minolta DiMage 7 which I shot next to the Nikon F4 loaded with Provia for a couple of years just to see how the digital worked. Once I discovered the potential, film was past tense for me. I have had more fun with photography since going digital than I have had in years. One camera shoots color AND B&W and I can have a nice 13"x19" print in hand in about an hour after making the exposure. I am a more advanced photographer than I ever would have been if I had stayed with film. I like darkroom work but digital darkrooms are cleaner and always ready to go unlike a chemical set up.
The lens sells in the sub $700 range account it has the Vibration Reduction feature. Without that it probably would sell in the mid $400 range. I paid under $700 account I made the purchase locally rather than through B&H.
I do not know of any all encompasing book about digital photography. Michael Freeman does have a very good intro digital book which would probably fit the bill though I have not read it. His other books on Pro Digital and Digital B&W are some of the best I have purchased. His new one on Light and Lighting is a wonderful explanation of some difficult topics. His books are commonly found at Barnes & Noble and I think Lark is the publisher. The National Geographic folks have a thick pamphlet size book which is also a good intro book though I think it is a bit spendy for the size. You just sort of jump in and take a spin. Almost all of the useful digital cameras have both fully manual settings and totally automatic. This allows you to take basic photos without much thought beyond composition and the ability to fully control the image making process when n
Are you saying that an old Nikon lens will fit on a new digital camera body? Oh my gosh, I just sold my Nikon FE with a zoom lens because I thought it was obsolete. I guess a little research on my part would have been appropriate…
Anyway, your posted photo was excellent and I’m looking forward to seeing some more of your work,
Yes, Nikon has been very good about keeping their lens mount current and heritage compatible at the same time. Pentax has done so as well. Nearly every bayonet mount Nikkor lens from manual focus to auto focus will mount on all the Nikon digital bodies. You must check the specifications for each body to see how many body features and functions are lost or compromised. With few exceptions, all lenses will manually focus and take a photo. Many lens body combinations will not meter when a heritage lens is mounted. The Nikon D200, D300 and D2 or D3 bodies allow the most complete functionality with older lenses.
The newest Nikkor lenses are an improvement over most of the older glass though sometimes it is barely noticeable. This is due to improvements in design and CAD systems as well as new lens coatings. I bought the 18mm-70mm lens for the D70 to allow me some wide angle capabilities and used the film lenses for most other photography. The Nikkor 35mm-135mm f3.5-4.8 zoom became the most used lens in the bag and all of the old primes were around for low light. I have since added a Sigma 10mm-20mm zoom and upgraded the 80mm-200mm to a 70mm-200mm f2.8 VR. I have a couple of manual lenses left from the F2a and F4 days which I still use now and then like the Nikkor 500mm f8 reflex (mirror). By choosing a body with a Nikon mount, I was able to reduce the change over costs considerably.
Thanks for the info, I’m always learning something new and I appreciate your expertise in this area. Now I wish I hadn’t sold my old Nikon FE, but now I know.[%-)]
I went digital 5 years ago, and haven’t looked back. While I can’t afford the Nikons, or Canons, yet, I found the FujiFilm line of “prosumer” cameras to be just perfect for what I am doing. I think, that if I were still using my old Minolta X-GM that I started with 15 years ago, I would have taken alot longer to learn what I have over the last 5 years. Since going digital, I have taken over 12,000 photos. I have always liked photography, and going digital has made me like it even more. I like the “grab and go” convenience of digital, where all I have to worry about is making sure I have a spare set of batteries in the camera bag. My camera, a Fuji S8000fd has 18x optical zoom (27mm-486mm 35mm equivalent) which is something I like. I would love a Nikon or a Canon SLR, but money, being the issue that it is…well, you know how it goes. Also, the great thing about digital is being able to review my photos after I am done shooting, and discard right there what I don’t like. It acclerates the learning curve in a way that film could never approach. I haven’t touched my film SLR’s since going digital, and I probably will never buy another roll of film.
Some photography “purists” say that digital is an aberration, and isn’t “real” photography. My camera has auto, and manual settings, and I use the manual ones, because in the auto modes, the images are good, but I get better results in full manual mode. Knowledge of photography is still required, in my opinion, but, digital has just speeded that knowledge up.
Hmmm… 12,000 photos is five years… I wonder what that would cost in film???
About the only thing I would recommend to anyone who likes photography, is to join a photo forum, or something similar. I think a couple of the camera manufacturers have forums where the users of their cameras can post and critique images… There are many sites ou
