Vintage value

Here’s another blast from the past.:)

The very first lens I had on my old Nikon FG-20 after getting into photography in 1985 was a 50mm f1.8 lens. I was sotong about photography back then, but I did learn quickly enough by reading library books about zoom lenses. There were two photography subjects that I was keen to get into as a secondary 2 boy; portraits, and animals. The 50mm prime lens was great for portrait work, but wholly unsuitable for animals.

So, I started saving up pocket money now and then and about 2-3 years later, I finally accumulated enough to buy on my own my first lens (the 50mm prime was purchased with the FG-20 at my parents’ dime), a Nikkor AF 70-210mm f4-5.6 (link points to a slightly newer D version of the lens) in 1988. Back then Nikon was manufacturing all those expensive and huge lenses with tripod collars already, and this Nikkor lens was pretty amateur grade. But I had no clue, and I was happy as a whistle. I remembered swooping off to the Singapore Zoo shortly after getting the lens and taking my first shots of animals. Some of my favorite animal pictures were taken during that period from 1988-1989.

My younger brother kept my two lenses in safekeeping for the next two decades thereafter while I was in NS, then NTU, then teaching for 7 years then PhD during which I moved from the FG-20 to my first digital camera in 1999 to prouser units and finally the KM5D DSLR. So, now that I’ve returned to Nikon DSLRs, I finally got round to trying out my venerable old 20 year zoom lens now.

And guess what; the lens still works! Unlike many of the Nikon consumer grade lenses made these days in China and Thailand, this baby was made in Japan. Metal mount, metal jacket, metal filter thread, metal everywhere. OK so the damn thing is heavy and shows visible wear and tear. And the thing makes a terrific racket while focusing too. But Ling was more than a little amused when I so lovingly caressed the cool metallic lens barrel with all those memories from 20 years gone by.:)

Ironically, the 55-200mm VR lens I’ve bought from Amazon.com (couriered by Matt haha) isn’t superseded by this old lens, but then again, that VR lens is soooo plastic; so there. Here’s a quick test shot I did very early morning at work, with the larger picture here. Oh yeah; the camera-phone picture of the D300+20 year old lens is with the Op/Tech strap that just arrived too.:)