Perry - I've owned and used every lens and body you mention. The 55/3.5 Ai Micro and 105/4 Ai Micro are probably the best macro lenses Nikon has ever produced. Both of these lenses are "true" macros, as compared to the "compromising" glass formulas used in the newer AF versions. The 80-200 zoom (both the 4.5 and later 4 version) were considered the world's first "good-as prime" zooms. The 28/2.8 Ai was a very good lens, but the 3.5 version out-performed it at f5.6-f16. The only "bad" lens in your arsenal is the 43-86 zoom, which even Nikon apologized for back in the 1970's. Other than the 43-86 zoom, I would not be afraid to use any of the other lenses with a modern DSLR. In fact, I still use my two macros (55/3.5 Ai and 105/4 Ai) in a professional capacity for jury images. I believe the only modern macros today that might out-perform these lenses (in close range) would be from the Leica R or Zeiss stables.
The downside is finding a newer body that will accept your vintage lenses. Plus the fact that these lenses, even if mounted, may not activate many of the camera's electronics. Check the specs on your choice of bodies to see what can be mounted, and what will be activated. If these old Nikkors fit your shooting needs, you won't find anything better on the market today, But! you will find lenses much more convenient - particularly modern zooms coupled with "auto-everything.".
Michael H. Cothran
--- In artshow_photo@yahoogroups.com, Perry Conley <pconley311@...> wrote:
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> that's great help Kevin, on closer inspection my 43-86 and 28 are pre AI and my 80-200 and 55 micro are AI. I was looking at the D300 or 7000. I would able to use 80 to 200 which would love the birds and the 55.
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