Buying second hand manual lenses (Nikkor)

Thirdfox

Hi guys,

Do you know where would be the best place to buy manual focus lenses (AIS Nikkors)? Second hand would be fine (most likely new ones aren't being made anymore).

I don't have a credit card so on-line isn't an option for me (and buying second hand I would want to inspect the merchandise beforehand anyway).

The 50mm f1.8 ais in particular is what I'm looking for.

Thanks for your help!

melekalikimaka

50mm 1.8s in any form are hard to find, most camera shops like conns or camera exchange should have a few manual lens for next to nothing. tho with this d40 business i'm gonna bank than manual lens will make a comeback

Thirdfox

What would you think "next to nothing" is around? I got quoted E130 for a new AFS 50mm f1.8 from the big camera stores but got a quote of "between 100-200 euro" for a second-hand AIS f1.8 - surely that is overpriced?

I would have thought these second hand lenses would be around 50-70 euro.

Thirdfox

Anyone else with any suggestions?

DaireQuinlan

AFAIK you can set up Paypal to link to your bank account or debit card ? Or actually transfer money into a paypal account for payments online, not too sure, never looked into it. Needless to say EBay is the way to go, I've gotten all my AIS nikkors from EBay, all of them flawless, and all of them reasonably cheap, I think my 50mm 1.8 AIS cost 50 euros. Pick the right vendors and you won't have any difficulty in my experience.

davmigil

What camera are you using? You might be able to use a AF 50mm 1.8 set to manual.

Hugh_C

Thirdfox wrote:

The 50mm f1.8 ais in particular is what I'm looking for.

Great lens - I have the more recent AF-D version of it.

Just saw a 50mm f/1.2 AIS on an auction site which takes shots like these. Hmm, tempted. But apparently you need very acute eyesight to focus the damn things because the vf is so small and dim (on a D70). What camera body?

FinoBlad

Thirdfox wrote:

Hi guys,

Do you know where would be the best place to buy manual focus lenses (AIS Nikkors)? Second hand would be fine (most likely new ones aren't being made anymore).

I don't have a credit card so on-line isn't an option for me (and buying second hand I would want to inspect the merchandise beforehand anyway).

The 50mm f1.8 ais in particular is what I'm looking for.

Thanks for your help!

I've often posted a sterling bankers draft to www.ffordes.com and you can be 100% sure of their ratings and guarantee.

Thirdfox

davmigil:
well melekalikimaka hit it on the head - I use a D40...but am most emphatically not just a soccer mom

I was thinking of getting a Katzeye (or similar) focus screen installed too to help with manual focusing.

I just prefer going into a shop and seeing the quality for myself - but definitely I'll give your recommendations a look. Thanks guys!