One of my first analog cameras was a Nikon F80 that I paired with a Nikkor 24-85 AF-S zoom lens. That was some 20 years ago, after I realized that I don’t really need a completely mechanical camera to pretend to be a “serious” analog photographer anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I love using different types of cameras (later I got a Nikon FM2n + read my bio for details!) but it’s funny how analog autofocus cameras don’t get the same love as the older manual ones. I mean, when you see the results, it doesn’t matter what camera you used.
Anyway, a few years later, the Nikkor 24-85 AF-S got sold and replaced with the excellent Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 G ED which I mostly used with digital (I was shooting a lot of concerts back then) and the F80 got stuck deep in the closet. I still used it occasionally with the 50 mm f/1.8, but…I actually missed the light and compact 24-85. So last year (that’s 2024) I finally decided to get the Nikkor 24-85 VR version! F80 got replaced, too, because somehow the back door broke. Of course, I had to get the silver one again
I’m sure you can find detailed reviews of the lens elsewhere, so I will just try to explain why I decided to buy and use it again. The 24-85 has (for me) a very useful zoom range and sharp optics. It does have noticable distortions, but frankly, I don’t mind making some corrections in post processing if necessary – mostly when buildings are present. Yes, I do post processing corrections on analog scans, there’s absolutely no reason not to. The lens excellent for street photography, portraits, travel… Film is more forgiving than digital and I think people are nitpicking too much about techical characteristics anyway!
So I loaded my F80 with the new Fuji 200 and decided to have fun! I had paused my photography hobby for a few years, so I was surprised to find out there’s no more Fuji C200 and this Fuji 200 is actually repackaged Kodak Gold 200. It’s really a shame the film choices are becoming scarcer. As analog photographers, I feel we have to show there’s still demand for negative films – by buying and using them!
Most of the time I’m using the camera in aperture priority mode. The 24-85 range is very versatile, I can act fast and frame the scene as I like. Autofocus helps me to quickly take a photo, concentrate on framing and setting the scene. I tested the VR functionality in low light – it can add approximately 2-3 stops of stabilization, but you still need to be conscious about holding the camera as still as possible. It was a long time since I used the non VR version, but I don’t think this one is much heavier or cumbersome.
These photos are all from the same roll. All were taken in the center of Zagreb, Croatia, the city I live in. The last part was taken on sunday afternoon, there was a sort of artisan market in Ilica street – a famous long street that starts from the main sqare, which was closed for traffic. Nice opportunity to make some colorful and candid shots of people. The lens was perfect for the task, and although I don’t usually like the crowded streets, I enjoyed taking photos that day. I really like the lens and I’ll be definitely keeping this one.
