Manual Focus Lust

[TriggerHappy]

I've got a bit of a lust thing going for a dedicated manual focus lens at the moment. Obviously it's not as reliable as AF but it's nice to rely on my own skill sometimes rather than just hitting the AF button and knowing that's that part over. This leads me to wanting a lens that's only manual focus because I've read great things about how much nicer focussing is with proper manual lenses compared to AF lenses.

Looking for an MF lens in the 50 - 100mm range for photographing people primarily, to fit the Nikon D200 and F5. I have the split prism in the F5 already and don't struggle to see when things are in focus through the D200. Probably thinking the older AIS Nikon or maybe an old Zeiss lens but I know nothing about which I should avoid, which are OK and which are great. If I can maintain metering with both cameras that'd be nice (I don't know whether this is possible) but I'm not fussed about setting aperture on the ring etc. So what would you recommend?

I've had my eye on the voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 and then oggled the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 (which has off putting focus shift issues) but the Zeiss is way too expensive and the Voigtlander does seem steep when the AF Nikon/Sigma can be had for the same money. Perhaps a £100 budget as a trial. Preferably resalable at little loss if I hate/love it and decide to sell it either to get it out of my sight or fund a Zeiss

 

[loplyg]

Uhhh one thing to bear in mind with a normal 1.4 lens... You are really, realllly, realllly going to fail to focus that thing.

The F5 may be better but as I understand it something about the prism & viewfinder on modern SLR's is no conducive to accuerate manual focusing.

What I do know is that I can not for the life of me accurately and reliably focus the 85/1.4 and 50/1.4 manually, I have to use Live View every time, and you won't have that on your cameras.

Having said that, I always shoot wide open at close range, so my DOF is minimal. But when you're talking about the iris being in focus and the eyelashes out, good luck seeing that by eye. I would think carefully about this.

No point having a good lens if all your shots are OOF.

If you're shooting on a tripod in a studio and can spend 5 seconds checking each shot then go for it though.

 

[grum]

I have a 50mm 1.4 and find I can focus it ok - but that is with a magnified live view on my GF1/G1. It's a Canon FD 50mm 1.4 - I really like it. To try something really cheap you could get a Helios 58mm f2 - very sharp and very cheap.

 

[Davec223]

I have a Zeiss 50mm 1.4 which I love, but at 1.4 it is a pig to focus on my D300 if I do not use live view.

 

[photon]

Tamron Adaptall-2 ƒ/2.5 90mm could be within the £100 budget, with an N-AI mount.

 

[Cistron]

You could exchange the focusing screen with a split prism version and a coarser finish. Not sure what brand to buy, as I've only heard of KatzEye so far. Does anyone have experience with focusing screens bought of eBay?

 

[Andysnap]

Can I suggest that you ask this question in the film and conventional section as there are many people in there (possibly trapped in there?) who use manual focus lenses all the time on all kinds of equipment.

Andy

 

[The23rdman]

Have a look for a Tamron 28-70 SP f2.8-3.5. Awesome lens with great colours and as sharp as the 90mm.

 

[stu_the_flat]

I have the Voigtlander 58mm Nokton and the 40mm Ultron, you think they are expensive and I think they are superb value for money. The Nokton has the ability to exceed the resolution of the |D200s sensor in the centre between f4-5.6! You won’t get image quality like that from sigma of Nikon, Not that I’ve seen,

With a katzeye and a bit of patience you should not have a problem focusing at f1.4 alougth I only use the Nokton from f2 and only go down to f1.4 when I need to, between f1.4 and f2 there isn’t much between the Nikon, Sigma, Voigtlander or Zeiss!

They are also a joy to handle I just recently got a Nikon 85mm f1.8 and its nice but just not in the same league as the Voigtlanders,

Contact Kerso he can get you them at a very reasonable price (He is some times cheaper than the Hong kong eBay sellers!) I also have bought from Fotoskoda in Prague.

Stuart