Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #678031 in Books
• Published on: 1996-06-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

Good overview over AF Nikkors, though a little subjective
This book lists all AF Nikkors that were in production in 1996/97 (and most still are) and gives some useful information about them. For each lens there is a short introduction with information on the purpose of the lens in the range and/or its pedigree, then there is a section on General Characteristics (telling you whether the focus ring is convenient to use or whether the aperture ring has half steps), then one entitled "In use" with comments on the lens performance, and finally short listings of accessories and main specs. Typically, there are two to three pages of information about each lens, and a small picture. There are also sections on teleconverters and Nikon filters. In addition, five pros who use Nikons have been "interviewed" on what they use and why. To be honest, I think the format of these interviews is a bit boring because all five have been asked the same standard questions and the completed questionnaires have been printed, but on the other hand they provide you with some reassurance that the book doesn't just reflect a single man's personal opinion. The latter point is my only quibble with this book: there is no "hard information" (e.g. MTF graphs) but just subjective comments by the author. As I went through the book and matched the text with my own experience and with what I know from magazines and hear-say, I learnt to read between the lines. (And I compared extensively with MTF graphs provided by the Photodo website.) It helped that the author was quite frank in writing about some of the less good Nikkors (those plastic toys introduced with the F50), but with some other lenses I wasn't so sure I got a clear message. But overall, this book provides a wealth of useful information for every serious Nikon user. Given that good Nikkors are quite expensive, it is well worth to buy this book first (and not try them all out yourself). :-) It has definitely helped me to make up my mind which two lenses to save for, the 300 f4 IFED and the 80/200 f2.8. One thing that is quite funny about this book is that it's called "Volume 1", because the original intention was to update it approximately annually and call the updated edition "Volume 2" etc. That has obviously not quite worked out; this is 2001 and we still have only "Volume 1". Nevertheless, it's a useful book.