Small 35's for F mount?

[semilog]

On a DSLR, the closest you'll get to your ideal is the Pentax 21/3.2 Limited. I had a K10 with that lens for a short while. LOVED the look of the lens, especially with the included hood, and it had adequate IQ (more than adequate by f/5.6), but I ditched it because the lens has pretty pronounced barrel distortion, and I was annoyed by the screw-drive focus motor, loud shutter, and bulk of the K20D. On the K-x or K-7 that lens would be a rather sweet setup. Probably the K-x, with its much lower weight and better low-light performance, would be preferred. Note that on all of these bodies, the lens has sensor-based IS.

I do find it perplexing that this obvious market segment is so barren. It's a niche, but it's a pretty solid niche.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Perhaps it happened that way because of the superfast lenses race SLRs suffered from the 60s... I've been shooting with my 28 3.5 everyday and everywhere, and more speed is not a real need almost anytime... Now we have great fast film to be used even at 6400... I would even by a very small 35 5.6 without any doubt...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Ronald M]

I have a single coated 35 2.8 Nikor F mount. Think it was $50. Sticks out 2" from flange.
All metal construction.

I have never noticed it to be unsharp, just typical 1960 Nikkor.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I have a single coated 35 2.8 Nikor F mount. Think it was $50. Sticks out 2" from flange.
All metal construction.

I have never noticed it to be unsharp, just typical 1960 Nikkor.

Hi Ronald,

That's what I mean: that lens is three times longer than the 45 2.8, and there's no 35 that short (or close) from Nikon or any other brand for F mount... The E series 35 may be the shortest, but yet it makes an SLR twice as thick as a RF with a pancake... Looks like one day I'll end up buying a second CV 28 3.5 for using both at the same time on two bodies for sun and shadow...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[semilog]

Perhaps it happened that way because of the superfast lenses race SLRs suffered from the 60s... I've been shooting with my 28 3.5 everyday and everywhere, and more speed is not a real need almost anytime... Now we have great fast film to be used even at 6400... I would even by a very small 35 5.6 without any doubt...

I agree with that sentiment so strenuously that I just bought a Zeiss ZM 35/2.8 Biogon-C for my M6. It's a wonderful, tiny lens. It's a pity that Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony don't see the need for a DSLR equivalent (especially in APS-C). At least Pentax (21 Limited), Olympus (17mm in m4/3) and Panasonic (20/1.7 in m4/3) seem to understand.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I'd second JSU's remarks. The 40mm Ultron is an outstanding lens. I use it on a Nikon FG... tiny compact package and superb images! The images are so nice, and the kit is so small and light that I don't I'll miss my Leica M bodies at all now.

 

[sevo]

I have a very tiny 35/3.5 with excellent performance by Kyoei Acall, in Exakta mount. Very common in Exakta/Topcon and M42 mount. I've only once seen one auctioned in F mount, so that is either extremely rare or one of a kind after-market conversion. But even if so, such a uncoupled lens would not be hard to convert, and the lens plus conversion would still be more affordable than the Nikkor 45/2.8 at recent prices.

 

[David Murphy]

I agree that the 35/2.8 is a great lens especially for its low price these days. It is about as small and light as an F mount lens in the focal length gets and it's beautifully made (at least the earlier versions). It's a real classic in my opinion.

Juan,

I have used the Nikkor 35/2.8 in a various versions, great lens and small enough in my opinion. I have negatives that I have wet printed full-frame on 16x20 fiber paper with very good results. At the print size there is some fall-off in edge sharpness even at f8 in extreme corners.

I used a Nikkor-S 35mm f2.8 and Tri-X to expose these negatives...

I printed this negative on 16x20 paper the detail is impressive...

The Series-E is very small, but I have never used it. There are plenty of old 3rd party 35's that could be had for a song and dance from brands such as Soligor, Vivitar, Sigma, Tokina... just to name a few. Best way to find a showcase would be do an eBay search for Nikon-mount 35's for film cameras.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Juan--
I'll add one more vote for the CV 40/2.0, it is a true pancake and it is also a "P" lens, that is, it has an aperture ring but is also chipped to interface with the newest Nikons with both a shutter speed wheel and an aperture wheel. It is very small, balances wonderfully on a FM2/FM3A and even a D700, it is a bit tiny on a D3. The F-2.0 aperture provides a bright image for manual focussing, which is very smooth on my example. There is a definite light fall-off wide open on the D700, but it easily corrects in post and offers a nice look for film. I should mention I typically burn corners a bit so this lens fits my image style perfectly. At 2.8 there is still a hint of corner fall-off, at 4.0 it exhibits even illumination corner to corner. I use it as a bridge between a 24/2.0 and a 105/2.5. It is smaller than any 35 or 50 Nikkor I have ever had, but I have never had the 35mm "E" lens.
--JSU

Hi JSU,

You're right... The ultron is small, aspherical and fast... Looks like the best option...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Juan,

How do did your search for a small 35mm end?

I just acquired a Nikkor-S 3.5cm f2.8 'Tick-Mark' for my 1959 Nikon F... while it is not small, it feels like it is filled with helium. So very, very light, disappears in the hand. Looking forward to seeing the negatives from this lens, especially since it is an early version with a nine-blade aperture.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That Tick-Mark lens is rare. It is light.

Be sure to post some shots with it, I would like to see what the high-count aperture does.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Brian,

I have had some interesting luck in my photographic acquisitions of late...

I got a 4-digit Nikon F in a box lot on the local eBay, I bought the lot for the eye-level prism... now I am keeping the body as well.

I just landed an early 5.8cm f1.4 for a song... WOW!!! what a ripper of a lens... completely blows any 'normal' lens I have ever used out of the water... the negatives and resulting prints are nothing short of spectacular.

Now I have just picked up the 3.5cm f2.8 'Tick-Mark' for what I would call a bargain... used with perfect glass...

It looks like I am putting together a vintage Nikon F user kit at the moment.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi Lynn,

As I wanted a 35 exclusively for direct sun in fast street shooting, I bought the 36-72 f/3.5 Series E (manual) zoom and use it with Tri-X at 1/500 f/11 only, for easy and fast (pre)focus... That zoom has one ring only for zooming and focusing... That was the main reason... I've found it very fast... I'm shooting my first roll yet: I have seven cameras loaded with black and white, and I'm using them all... As soon as I have some shots from the zoom printed, I'll post here to show if the lens can be trusted... I guess it can at that aperture... Wide open it must be another lens for sure... I won't even test it or shoot it there, ever...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[rbsinto]

Just to muddy the waters, I suggest you might consider the Nikkor 45mm 2.8 GN lens which appeared in about 1968. While the focal length is close to 50mm rather than the 35mm that you specifically want, it is quite a small lens, which seems to be your primary consideration.

Hi,

I want a manual 35mm lens for my Nikon bodies, and my only priority is small size.

I don't want the 45 2.8 P because I already have, carry, use, and love my 50 1.4 Ai. For the gap between my 50 and my 20 2.8 Ai-S, I want exactly a 35.

I'll use it well stopped down, around f/8-f/11 only. I don't care if it's slow, or if others have better build or image quality... I wouldn't mind if it's another brand, as long as it's very small and short... By those f-stops, I guess any 35 will be sharp enough for street shooting.

After a couple of days of web search, I feel I haven't found the right information including several brands or especially caring about small size.

Thanks a lot!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[dbarnes]

FWIW I had the early plastic-body 35/2.5 Series E lens on a Nikon EM for years, with the MD-E winder on the camera. It was a great little outfit! Small, light, inexpensive and really pretty sharp. No problems at all with durability, and the EM's aperture priority AE made it easy to go hyperfocal.