Nikkor 35mm f/1.8....your opinion please -

[35mmdelux]

I've seen some Nikkor RF 35mm f/1.8 while surfing the net and am impressed with the quality build. How do they stack up image wise? Which is the best series? Pricing?

Do you know of any common "semi" wide-angle Nikkor RF-to-Leica adapters? I have the Amedeo adapter for the Nikon RF-to-Leica (50/85) but I understand it will not couple wide angles to Leica camera.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, P.

 

[ferider]

The Amedeo adapter will couple the 35/2.5 just not the 35/1.8 due to large back element.

The 35/1.8 produces phantastic pictures. Technically better than the pre-asph Summicrons, IMO. And faster. But I recommend to go all the way and get an LTM copy, more fun in use due to focus direction, aperture ring not moving, etc. If you want more modern coating, get a UC Hexanon, it's the same formula.

Roland.

 

[35mmdelux]

Thanks Roland.

 

[Calzone]

The LTM version of the 35/1.8 Nikkor is the way to go. Focus throw is a long 180 degrees and close focus is only three feet is the bad that makes me still keep my 35 Cron V.4; otherwise I love the compact size and that the distance scale is only in feet making it uncluttered.

Image wise it is amazing for the B&W shooting I do. Wide open at 1.8 there is this veiling flare, but by F 2.0 its gone. I say as sharp as a modern Leica ASPH lens, and the rendering is mucho detailed. Negatives seem to have more texture, appear more 3-D than my 35 Cron V.4 and then there's a level of detail in the contrast (mucho range of midtones). If it had the handling of my 35 Cron it would be a perfect lens.

BTW the front element is pretty deeply recessed, and I shoot without a hood. Good luck in finding a LTM version; I think only about fifteen hundred 35/1.8 Nikkors were ever made.

Cal

 

[f16sunshine]

I have an LTM version that Came from a gracious member here ^
Fabulous lens. Has imo a special character at wide open that I quite like.
Stopped down a bit it's very sharp. Images exposed well with HP5+ seem to sparkle.
It's a super lens.

I've posted this before

 

[ferider]

BTW, KEH currently has an EX LTM copy: http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-35...h-Lenses?s=1&bcode=LS&ccode=8&cc=55945&r=WG&f

Unfortunately, like everything else Leica, they have more than doubled in price recently ...

 

[Vics]

I have the 2.5 on my Contax IIIa and it's very sharp and contrasty (sometimes too much so in the sunshine.) I like my Summaron 2.8 a bit better, I think.

 

[splitimageview]

That's a good deal if it has original caps too...

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I guess I will receive my Nikkor 35mm f1.8 in Leica mount next week. But my Konica UC-Hexanon 35 2 is stay in my hometown.... Really want to do some comparison test between them. Because I have heard that Konica UC-Hexnon 35 2 's formula is very similar with Nikkor 35 1.8.

 

[splitimageview]

I have had this lens 2 or 3 times in both Nikon RF and LTM but finally ended up with a 35/2 cron v1, as the 0.7m close focus is important to me.

 

[35mmdelux]

After years of shooting with lots of Nikon manual and Leica lenses its not difficult to infer some judgment. Its like assessing the quality of a good suit. Some suits look like a million bucks, while others look cheap. Its all in the details.

 

[MikeL]

I'm hoping to get another 35mm f1.8 for a Nikon body to go with my 50 Millenium, and I'm glad the S-mount version don't cost the same as the LTM version.
I saw the CV 35mm skopar next to the Nikkor in KEH, and after having used both on S-mount, I'd have a hard time paying $1400 more for the Nikkor LTM over the Skopar.

 

[Highway 61]

The Amedeo adapter will couple the 35/2.5 just not the 35/1.8 due to large back element.

The 35/1.8 produces phantastic pictures. Technically better than the pre-asph Summicrons, IMO. And faster. But I recommend to go all the way and get an LTM copy, more fun in use due to focus direction, aperture ring not moving, etc. If you want more modern coating, get a UC Hexanon, it's the same formula.

Roland.

The W-Nikkor-C 35/1.8 is the actual ancestor of the phantastic so-called "King of bokeh" Summicron IV 35/2 (very similar formula) so it's quite normal that it produces phantastic pictures doesn't it ? 😀

Actually the lens installed in the Hexar AF is almost the same as the original Nikon lens.

As for using it on a Leica M with the standard Amedeo adapter : it can be rangefinder coupled but the rear element casting must be filed down a bit so that the rangefinder pullet remains free.

IIRC Jonmanjiro had posted some photos displaying this a while ago, this seemed quite easy to do for somebody reasonably skilled.

 

[Alex Shishin]

Mine is for Nikon S and is a bit rare as its distance scale is in meters rather than feet. I find it an extraordinarily good lens, able to accomodate contrast extremes very well. I am told that the limited edition on the new SP is even better. But this oldlie is fine with me. For clinical sharpness I have my Summicron 35/2 Asph. Get it by all means. But be careful. There are a lot of beat up lenses out there. At Lemon Camera I could have had the one for 60,000 yen and 80,000 yen. The former was a mechanical mess while the other one was pristine. Three guesses which one I bought.

 

[sanmich]

Thinking of it, why isn't Nikon selling new RF lenses in Leica M mount?
They seem to have some really cracking lens design in their drawers (50 1.4, 35 1.8..)

 

[ferider]

The W-Nikkor-C 35/1.8 is the actual ancestor of the phantastic so-called "King of bokeh" Summicron IV 35/2 (very similar formula) so it's quite normal that it produces phantastic pictures doesn't it ? 😀

Thanks for playing spelling police, H61, and welcome to my ignore list 🙂

The Nikkor formula has nothing to do with any of the Summicrons. Spreading BS wider doesn't make it right.

Summicron v4:

UC Hex / Hexar AF on the left and Nikkor 35/1.8 on the right:

A couple of 35/1.8 photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferider/tags/nikon35mmf18ltm

Roland.

 

[Highway 61]

Thanks for confirming that you have no sense of humour at all. 😀

As for the lenses formula : of course lenses made in the 1990's can't be 100% similar to ones made back in the 1950's but when one compares the Nikon with the Hexar AF lens (or the Cron V4) this is a matter of some evolution and derivation off an original formula, not a matter of copying or faking.

And YES the Hexar AF and Cron V4 lenses are direct derivations of the original Nikkor.

Now call it BS if you wish - who cares ? 😛

 

[Calzone]

I have had this lens 2 or 3 times in both Nikon RF and LTM but finally ended up with a 35/2 cron v1, as the 0.7m close focus is important to me.

I was considering getting a 35 Cron V.1, but the prices put me off.

When I bought my 35/1.8 in LTM about a year ago I payed a premium for a real clean example that had been just serviced, but it was still a lot less money than a 35 Cron V.1.

The hard part is finding a clean one. The "E" condition 35/1.8 offered at KEH isn't really priced badly when compared to the prices for a clean 35 Cron V.1 IMHO.

The look wide open is also very pretty in a retro kinda way. For me, the 35/1.8 was a faster alternitive that only close focused to three feet. Not a bad trade-off.

Cal

 

[splitimageview]

I sold an very close to perfect 35/1.8 a month or so ago for $2300 on ebay (not an original front cap and no shade.)

An equivalent condition 35/2 v1 with original caps goes for about that, or a little more; if it has the original box/bubble, they can get over $3k sometimes. So the one at KEH is priced pretty well if it has an original cap.

Luckily I got my 35/2 v1 cheap. It's not perfect cosmetically (it has an engraving) but I would rather shoot with it than a cosmetically perfect collector.

 

[35mmdelux]

Found this: http://imaging.nikon.com/history/nikkor/3/index.htm

and: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/rangefinder/35mm-f18.htm