Das Bosun's reviews

  • Nikon 135mm f/2D AF DC Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    A compact telephoto lens which is far cheaper than the AF-S 200mm f/2G lens
    The built in sliding lens hood is good, I just wish Nikon had made it longer.

    AF DC-Nikkor 135mm f/2D

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    The Defocus Control (DC) is nothing short of a gimmick if you ask me. I’ve tested it and realistically it just turns what is a reasonable optic into a soft focus lens. For critical sharpness this lens is best operated without Defocus Control

    The built in sliding lens hood is a cool idea, I just wish Nikon had made it longer.

    The 135mm DC lens really shines when set to around f/4 OR f/5.6. Wide open at f/2 images are usable, but lack 'micro contrast'. Micro contrast improves when the lens is stopped down to f/2.8

    Mounted on a D2x the auto focus of the 135mm f/2D is not too far off the quiet and speed offered by an AF-S lens. Mounted on the Nikon D70 the same lens becomes noisier and is more prone to ‘searching’ in low light. Regardless of the camera model precision auto focus can be hit and miss at times. With this lens pay close attention to where the camera actually locks focus.

    Edge sharpness is fantastic, whilst chromatic aberrations and vignetting are very well controlled.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 85mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    A sharp & compact lens that's not all that expensive
    It would be nice to have AF-S auto focus

    AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    This undoubtedly is one of the sharpest lenses I own and it’s not all that expensive. The best results arrive with the 85mm f/1.8D lens when it’s set to around f/4. In fact at f4 it out does the critical sharpness of anything I own.

    The HN-23 screw type lens hood is a welcome addition, that’s permanently affixed to the end of my 85mm f/1.8D. Edge sharpness is fantastic, whilst chromatic aberrations and vignetting are very well controlled.

    Mounted on a D2x the auto focus of the 85mm f/1.8D is not too far off the quiet and speed offered by an AF-S lens. Mounted on the Nikon D70 the same lens becomes noisier and is more prone to ‘searching’ in low light.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Creatively a very flexible portrait lens
    Image quality at f/1.4 & f/2 leaves a lot to be desired

    AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D lens

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    The AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D lens is quite unusable for critical sharpness at f/1.4, as the results look like they have a soft focus filter over the lens. Images created with this 50mm at f/1.4 are useable, but not for critical sharpness.

    The 50mm f/1.4D lens starts to become usable for critical center sharpness around f/2.5. At f/1.4 and f/2 this lens seems to be rather flat/ lacking micro contrast. By the time this lens is stopped down to f/2.8 it starts to exceed the center sharpness of the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G when it is set to 50mm @ f/2.8.

    The best results arrive with the 50mm f/1.4D lens set to around f/5.6. Vignetting is noticeable at f/1.4 and f/2, but is all but gone by the time this lens is used at apertures f/2.8 and smaller.

    I have no doubt that the 50mm f/1.4D lens can be looked upon as a cheap and creative addition to any photographers arsenal, but just don’t expect the wide open results (micro contrast) that the much more expensive AF Nikkor 28mm f/1.4D is capable of.

    Mounted on a D2x the auto focus of the 50mm f/1.4D is not too far off the quiet and speed offered by an AF-S lens. Mounted on the Nikon D70 the same lens becomes noisier and is more prone to ‘searching’ in low light.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 28mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great lens, even wide open this lens can deliver reasonable center sharpness
    Excessive price tag

    AF Nikkor 28mm f/1.4D

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    The best results arrive with this lens set to around f/4. When set to f/2 this lens performs in the center as well as the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G when it’s set to f/4. Conversely, the chromatic aberrations of the 28m f/1.4D lens aren’t as well controlled as those seen on the edges of an image taken with the 17-55mm DX lens.

    Surprisingly, this lens actually delivers quite impressive center sharpness when used wide open (f/1.4). I also own the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D lens. It on the other hand is quite unusable for critical sharpness at f/1.4 and f/2, as the results look like they have a soft focus filter over the lens. The 50mm f/1.4D lens starts to become usable for critical center sharpness around f/2.5.

    This difference is both related to the price and place of manufacture. The 28mm f/1.4D is very expensive to purchase and is made in Japan, whereas the 50mm f/1.4D is very cheap for such a fast lens and is made in Thailand.

    Vignetting is noticeable at f/1.4 and f/2, but is all but gone by the time this lens is used at apertures f/2.8 and smaller.

    Mounted on a D2x the auto focus of the 28mm f/1.4D is not too far off the quiet and speed offered by an AF-S lens. Mounted on the Nikon D70 the same lens becomes noisier and is more prone to ‘searching’ in low light.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 16mm f/2.8D AF Fisheye Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    I really like the modest fisheye FUNK this lens gives when mounted on a 1.5x sensor DSLR.
    I don't really have any Cons

    AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    When I first bought this lens I was using a film SLR, so naturally I found the 180 degree diagonal field of view quirky. However, I’ve gone on to buy a few reduced frame DSLRs. Initially, I only used the fisheye on a reduce frame DSLR a few times, because I felt as though it was like using a wide angle lens without aspherical lens elements to correct barrel distortion.

    Basically I felt like the 16mm fisheye lens produced sloppy wide angle results when mounted on a DSLR. At the time this deterred me. More recently I thought about selling the lens, but in a last ditched effort I took it along to photograph some live music.

    I didn’t end up selling this lens, because I now really appreciate the subtle curvature at the edges of the frame. In fact I now find fully blown fisheye lenses kind of grotesque. Add to this the fact that it’s wide, fast and light to travel with.

    For PC users, you can also take advantage of the free PT Lens plug-in, which allows you to fully correct the barrel distortion and render the final image with a field of view that’s equivalent to approx a 15mm lens with aspherical elements. (The components of PT Lens can be downloaded for FREE from here: http://www.epaperpress.com/ptlens/index.html

    Viewed in these terms, I now see the 16mm fisheye as a great quality and versatile wide-angle lens.

    The best results arrive with this lens set to around f/5.6. Even wide open (f/2.8) this lens performs better than the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G at 12mm OR 15mm when it’s set to f/4. Likewise on a reduced frame SLR I find the chromatic aberrations to be less pronounced on the 16mm fisheye, than those produced by the 12-24mm DX lens.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    It gives you an ultra wide angle of view on a 1.5x reduced frame sensor. AF-S works great
    Shot wide open (f/4) this lens is OK, but not great

    AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    The best results arrive with this lens set to around f/8. When set to f/8 this lens performs in the center as well as the AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D when it’s set to f/5.6.

    Chromatic aberrations are slightly more pronounced with the 12-24mm than those found with the 16mm fisheye lens. However, realistically either lens delivers acceptable levels of chromatic aberrations (especially if you convert your raw files using Nikon Capture with the 'Color Abberation Control' enabled).

    Towards the edges of the frame the fixed focal length 16mm fisheye lens is still streets ahead with its ability to render edge detail.

    However, for a general purpose and practical wide-angle zoom lens, I do find the 12-24mm DX lens to be suitable for most of my needs.

    I’ve previously owned the AF Nikkor 20-35mm f/2.8D lens and therefore know how hopeless wide angle auto focus can be without a built in Silent Wave auto focus motor. Just like the AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D lens the 12-24mm DX lens has AF-S auto focus that is quiet and speedy.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005

  • Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF DX AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great performance from a mid range zoom. If you're serious about flexibility get this lens.
    It would be great to have a 15-70mm version of this lens that performs this well, but I doubt this is possible.

    AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G

    All of my lens test/comparisons were performed on a Nikon D2x (reduced frame, 1.5x 12.2MP CMOS sensor). The camera was set to mirror lock-up, mounted on a tripod and fired with the MC-30 cable release. The test exposures were captured as NEF raw files and compared with no image sharpening.

    The best results arrive with this lens set to around f/5.6. Even wide open (f/2.8) at the 24mm setting this lens performs better than the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G at 24mm when it’s set to f/4.

    However, the 17-55mm DX lens pails in comparative detail when comparing its 28mm zoom setting to the fixed focal length AF Nikkor 28mm f/1.4D lens. Alternatively, the chromatic aberrations of the DX 17-55mm are better controlled than the full frame 28mm f/1.4D lens.

    Even at the 17mm setting with an aperture of f/2.8 the 17-55mm DX lens controls chromatic aberrations slightly better than the 12-24mm DX lens at f/8.

    AF-S auto focus is quiet and speedy. The 17-55mm DX is a hard working lens on my camera.

    Note: these are subjective results that may not reflect your particular sample OR use of this lens.

    Das Bosun

    reviewed November 23rd, 2005