If the moderators feel this thread should be combined with one already existing they can move it. I made a separate thread because the focus is on finding older AF lenses which would work good with the D600 instead of having to buy the "latest and greatest" FX lenses for thousands of dollars. You see, older 35mm film AF lenses do work with the FX sensor. For example, I am going to post photos and information on 5 lenses which I think work well with the D600 and I only paid from $35 to $120 for them, quite a bargain. But are they sharp enough for you? If so, starting with lenses like these it becomes much less expensive to enter the FX world.
All images were shot in JPEG on Picture Controls Landscape setting, matrix metering, ISO 100 and no post processing. The white flowers could have been lightened by using exposure compensation or post processing but I did neither. The point of the exercise was to see what the lenses could do on a D600 body, not what I could do.
1. First up is the plastic mount 28-80 f3.3-5.6G which cost me just $35 a few years ago. It comes in silver and black. The silver version is cheaper since people want black (which costs about $50).
Here it is at 28mm f8 ISO 100.
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/8023880960_6efdbd40c8_k.jpg
Here it is in Macro at f16 ISO 100 (focus point is on second flower from the left):
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8023863655_ee6880968e_k.jpg
Here it is in portrait at 80mm and f5.6:
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8023854699_9fc1f8ba67_k.jpg
This is a link to a review of this old lens (search the internet for others):
review http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm
2. Second up is the plastic mount 28-80 f3.5-5.6D which I purchased for $65.
Here it is at 28mm and f8: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/8023878189_f17440331d_k.jpg
Here it is in Macro and f16: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8023861823_5529820664_k.jpg
Here it is in portrait at 80mm and f5.6: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8023852063_a4a9a796f2_k.jpg
Link to a review of this old lens: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/2880.htm
3. The third lens is a metal mount 28-70 f3.5-4.5D which cost me $85.
Here it is at 28mm and f8: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8023871948_91d5813ab7_k.jpg
Here it is in Macro at f16: 
Link to larger image for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8023860181_9721d93298_k.jpg
Here it is in portrait at 70mm and f5.6: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8023848686_e09dfd4eb8_k.jpg
link to review: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/287035af.htm
4. The fourth lens is a metal mount 28-85 f3.5-4.5 which cost me $120.
Here it is at 28mm and f8: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/8023888185_de703e1061_k.jpg
Here it is in Macro at f16: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8023858579_cb8fb3299f_k.jpg
Here it is in 85mm portrait at f5.6: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8023846182_b5cee28ae3_k.jpg
Link to review of this lens: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/2885af.htm
5. The fifth lens is the metal mount 35-135mm f3.5-4.5 which also cost me $120.
Here it is at 35mm at f8: 
Link to larger image for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8023868633_bd67e4dfd8_k.jpg
Here it is in Macro at f16: 
Link to larger size for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8023855296_5f86907d88_k.jpg
Here it is in portrait at f5.6 (I did not back away so the image is much larger since 135mm is quite different than 80mm): 
Link to larger image for closer examination: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8023890377_e9a4823a9c_k.jpg
Link to a review of this lens: http://www.phototestcenter.com/html/nikon_35-135.html
Link to another review of this lens: http://www.jonparsonsphotography.com/nikon-af-35-135mm-f35-45.html
There is much talk on NR about how expensive FX lenses are. True for the "latest and greates" but here you have five FX lenses you can purchase (if you can find them) for under $150. You can see above how they perform at different mm and different f-stops on different types of subjects and you can download the photos to see how they post process. It doesn't have to be expensive to start shooting FX. I have not even discussed the primes such as the 50mm 1.8D for low light (about $85), the 85mm 1.8D for low light(about $325), the 24mm 2.8D (about $300), the 60mm 2.8 macro (about $235), the 70-300 VR (about $375) or the 35-70 2.8D (about $450).
Perhaps other NR members who have these lenses and a D600 can post photos and comment or suggest other inexpensive lenses to use with a D600.
The basic point is that the D600 makes entry into FX shooting quite affordable. For less than $2,500 you can get the body and some lenses as long as you are willing to search out and use older AF lenses designed years ago for Nikon film cameras. You can be shooting while you are saving for more expensive FX lenses.
