35mm lens to go with F3

[totifoto]

Thank you all for the reply 😉

The 35mm "O" looks kinda cool, gonna give that lens some goggling. Never thought about the Voightlander, gonna check her out as well. 😉

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Nikon F, Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0, Neopan 400 in Adox MQ developer.

Where was this Tom?
A well known in the UK strip cartoon character: Andy Capp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Capp

 

[jschrader]

I have a Nikon 35/2.0 Ai and it flares awfully. Did I just get a bad one? Nobody here complained about flare.

Would be happy about comments.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

I have a heavily abused/used/modified Nikkor-N 35mm f1.4 that has been around the world with me and was my primary lens on my Nikon F for years. Been serviced a few times and just keeps on going. Have no idea how sharp or not sharp it is, just works well enough and gets the job done. It will soon become glued to my Nikon Df after my love affair with the 5.8cm f1.4 wanes.

The most intriguing 35mm I have ever used was a very early 3.5cm f2.8, which flared badly and was less average in the resolution department with low contrast, but it drew the most beautiful photographs, especially with color negative film.

 

[jwicaksana]

If you don't mind plastic, 35 AF-D is sharper and more flare resistant than older lenses. Some say Nikon never made a really good 35, but some really good 28. I use 35 AF-D on my F3 all the time and I love it.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Seems silly to spend a lot of money on a 35mm lens so I'd get a plain vanilla 35/2 AIS that is the same vintage (and build quality) as the camera and accept its quirks just like any other lens, while avoiding the hassles of messing with meter couplings or gummed up old beaters ~ or affording a Zeiss. I shot double truck spreads with one professionally for 15 years or so and never noticed that it flared or was soft until I started reading about its inadequacies from the experts here at RFF.

It was quite traumatic to realize how poorly I had been doing ;-p

 

[Montag006]

I've only had one 35mm Nikkor, a 35mm f2.0 Nikkor O.

I was very happy with that lens.

So I'd cast my vote for the 35mm f 2.0

 

[Tom A]

Where was this Tom?
A well known in the UK strip cartoon character: Andy Capp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Capp[/QUOTE

Chris, this is Andy's lesser known brother - Radiator Capp! This was one of the All British Field Meet here in Vancouver. Every year on the May long weekend - 600 to 700 Lucas ignition fanatics gather in the Van Dusen Garden. Anything from Austin 7's to Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts. They even provide a group of burly men to push start cars that "conk" out at the gates. Radiator Capp Andy was on a MG TD.

 

[kkdanamatt]

The 35mm f/2.0 Ai-S Nikkor is a classic lens, comparable to anything on the planet. The build is superb, the optics are first-rate, and the mechanics are typical Nippon Kogaku Japanese quality.
I've had variations of this lens for decades and they always perform without a problem.
Why bother searching for anything else?

 

[totifoto]

Some say Nikon never made a really good 35, but some really good 28.

I have heard that quote before. I have also thought about getting a 28mm. Maybe I will check them out as well.

 

[Robert Lai]

Nikkor 35mm that I've known

Nikkor 35mm that I've known

My F3 was purchased with a 35mm f/2.8 AIS lens. It seemed adequate until I bought a 50mm 1.8 and 105 2.5 lens to go with the camera. At that point, the lack of sharpness from the 35mm lens compared to the others, became obvious.

Next was a 35mm f/2 AIS. Very nice lens, and I had no complaints.
But, I got lured by the 1.4 bug, and I sold it.

I have the 35 1.4 AIS now. Great lens at f/2.8 to f/8 or thereabouts. Soft veiling from spherical aberration at f/1.4. Very visible barrel distortion. Women hate it, because it makes them look obese. I will probably sell this and just stick to RF 35mm lenses.

 

[E.M]

I 've used a 35 2.0 ais on an F2s for 7 years as my sole lens , really liked it . I 'd only buy a 1.4 for the brighter view and quicker focussing because of that .

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Chris, this is Andy's lesser known brother - Radiator Capp!

Brilliant!! I missed that, too busy thinking about where the other leg had gone!!
Thanks Tom

 

[Montag006]

Radiator Capp!! too funny - I missed that too

Thanks for the laugh Tom.

 

[p956lh]

^ I second that one. the 35/2 AF is lighter than even the 35/2.8 Nikkors, and sharper too. The manual focus ring's feel is decent.

I find that my F3 (used without grip) doesn't balance that well with my 35/2 AIS. I end up using it with the 35/2 AF most of the time.

The AIS has a nicer rendering but ghosts oddly when point light sources are in the frame.

 

[Flat Twin]

This thread seems to have turned into a 35/2 AiS bashing board! I thought I'd post some pics that hopefully show that its a great lens. So what if Ken Rockwell told everybody that its not good at night with point light sources... Just get one and use it...

Wells, Somerset. England.
Nikkor 35mm f2.0 AiS

 

[Flat Twin]

Same lens at f2.0, Nikon D700


Cornwall. England.

 

[Ljós]

Flat Twin, that is a great photo! Well done! I am sure this looks great on the wall printed a bit larger than usual.

As for making a case for the lens though - this is the sort of picture which is hard to mess up (just optically) with almost any halfway modern lens. At least f5.6 or more...

Edit: ok, Flat Twin beat me to it, posting the picture taken with D700 at f2 🙂
I think that one shows one of the virtues of this lens, as compared to a some Nikkors in the 35 and 50mm range: the bokeh is really decent.

The blobs of light under certain circumstances: well, they were there and noticed by users even before Mr. Rockwell chimed in. But I sort of agree with you, too, because I also think that hunting "perfection" in photographic gear is a road that leads to frustration. I do have some pictures I took over the years with the 35 AI-s where i wish I had had a more capable lens. But it is really a small handfull.
That's why I mainly pointed out the Voigtlander 40mm: because it manages to be very good in a really small package. If 35mm photography ALSO is about having a small rig, than that's a great lens to have. Otherwise, a Nikon F3 with the 35mm AI-s mounted takes as much space as a Rolleicord or Rolleiflex. Makes you think...

Greetings, Ljós

 

[hamradio]

The 35mm Nikkor-O f/2 is a great lens, but has risen drastically in price over the past few years. I paid about $80 for my factory ai-converted copy, but now they fetch around $150-$175.

The 35mm Nikkor f/1.4 ai-s is a complete gem, however, IMO. Copies can be had for about $375 on the low end. I've been borrowing one on and off, and am thinking about selling my Nikkor-O 35/2 to help fund one–the 35/1.4 is hardly larger, and a little heavier than the 35/2.

My go-to for the past 6 months or so has been the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 SL. It's absolutely tiny and pretty sharp wide open (gets great to the edges around f/4). However, for as much as one of these things typically fetches, I'd be tempted to spring for the 35mm 1.4 ai-s, especially if size/weight isn't a concern.

 

[Flat Twin]

Hi Ljos,

Thanks for the comments and I also agree with you.. The 35/2 AiS isn't perfect but its pretty damned good most of the time... I've never tried the 40 Voigtlander but I would really like to. Its a lens that has intrigued me for both image quality and size, I've just never seen one at the right price...

Here is an interesting thought and somebody please correct me if I'm wrong but I think the the Nikkor O 35/2 and the AiS 35/2 share the exact same optics... If you look at Roland Vinks excellent site then he lists the specs for both lenses and they are identical. There is no mention of a new optical formula with the Ai & AiS versions...

Its interesting that everybody raves at how good the 35/2 O lens is (great lens, I have one) but they appear to be identical in formula, with the AiS probably having a more modern coating... Please let me know if there is info to the contrary but I have never seen anything saying that the Ai/AiS were new designs...

Thoughts anyone...?!😉