35mm lens to go with F3

[totifoto]

I have my eyes on Nikon F3 and want to find a 35mm lens to go with it.

First I thought I might go with the modern Zeiss 35mm f2 but the price is not wallet friendly at the moment for me.

What 35mm Nikkor can you recomend for me?

After some google search it seems like most people like the 1.4 AI-s.

I´m not a "1.4 have to" kinda guy, I usually don't use lenses lower than f2 but 1.4 would be nice to have sometimes. But what I look for in a lens is sharpness and good contrast.

I shoot 98% b&w film (Kodak Tri-x)

 

[dof]

I have owned and later sold an Ai-S copy of the Nikkor 35mm f2.0 lens. It was (and is) a fine lens. Earlier this year I got an F3 along with an Ai-S 35mm f1.4.

Having shot with both in the same conditions, I'd say that they're comparable in all aspects except size, weight, speed and price. <insert icon denoting snarky comment here>

I've enjoyed using both. In all seriousness, if you're more of an f2.0 shooter, the only thing you'll likely gain by getting the faster lens is the lack of wondering if it's better than the f2.0 version. As for me: were I to start the journey again, I'd get the f2.0 lens and be done with it.

 

[nobbylon]

For 35 I had the 'O' lens and it was fantastic. You need to find one that has been converted to AI.

 

[redisburning]

get the f2.8 for now, then the Zeiss later. it's worth it.

 

[yossarian123]

Do you want a smaller lens? Nikkor only? The Samyang/Rokinon 35/1.4 is AIS compatible, cheap, and has received positive reviews (looks like it easily bests the Nikon 1.4 wide open). The only drawback is size - the Nikon is a lot smaller.

 

[Ljós]

Ah, your situation feels very familiar! For a number of years I used varying Nikon SLRs (FG-20, F2 and F3) with a 35mm lens. I had the 35mm AI-S f2. It is a very capable performer. Not outstanding, in my opinion, but very capable. Sharpness is ok, bokeh (if you care about this) is ok, flare control is good for the most part. At night, with bright light sources, it can and will give you weirdly shaped blobs and artefacts. The above situation is a torture test for any lens, of course.
During these years I yearned for the 1.4 AI-S, of course ;-) Better sharpness at f2, and just generally more magic to go around ;-) Well, more barrel distortion, too. I never had the chance to do a comparison, I changed to rangefinders.

BUT: if I had to do it again, if I were to use Nikon SLRs, I would really want to try out the Voiglander 40mm f2. I know, it is not a 35mm. But I had my share of photography with the 40mm Rokkor for Leica M, even though I ultimately reverted to 35mm (with a lovely 2.8 Summaron), I could make this work for me, too.

The 40mm f2, from what I gather, is optically superior to the 35mm Ai-s. As well it should be, given the difference in design and production date. VERY compact. The 35mm AI-S is not a huge lens, in SLR terms, but makes the camera plus lens package quite noticeably larger than a rangefinder. A manual SLR with the Voigtlander is not that much bigger than a rangefinder setup.

All the best, Ljós

 

[Tom A]

I used the Nikkor 35f1.4's for various F's and F2's. It was an OK lens. One advantage was the slightly brighter view with the 1.4 over the f2 and f2.8. I had a chance to shoot with a ZF Distagon 35mm f2.0 in Japan a couple of years ago - and I must admit that if I was going to get a 35 for the F3's - that would be the one. The suggestion of getting a 35f2 or a f2.8 as an intermediate lens - and save up for the Distagon 35f2 is not a bad one. It is worth the wait and the money.
Arista Premium 400 in Adox MQ developer. Disney Sea in Tokyo.

 

[Tom A]

Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0 at closest focussing distance. You can get even closer with the Proxar lens that screws into the lens hood. Tiny lens (by SLR standards)
Nikon F, Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0, Neopan 400 in Adox MQ developer.

 

[kshapero]

Hoorays for the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0

 

[grainhound]

It might help to check Bjørn Rørslett's site, linked below. Interesting reading on a variety of Nikkor lenses. According to Bjørn, the 35 f1.4 AIS is not so easy to use. I had an AI f 2.0 lens, and liked it well enough, but I prefer a 28 on an SLR, and now have the f 2.0 28mm, which is one of my favourite lenses. I got an AF D f 2.8 35-70 for those times when an AF zoom is helpful, so that's my 35. I've also used it on my F3; it focuses well manually too.

scroll to the bottom of the page:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html#top

 

[35mmdelux]

Years ago I chose the 35/2.0 AIS, much later the 35/1.4 AIS. These are classic reportage lenses and prorably used more than any other lens including Leica.

 

[B-9]

Save yourself some money and buy non-ai.
35/2.0 Nikkor-O is the best band for the buck.

Yes the F3 accepts nai glass, refer to your manual.
All Pro F's can use n/AI up until F5 and F6, which can be modified.

 

[nikon_sam]

Here is my F3's with the Nikkor O 35mm 2.0 lens...beautiful lens & camera...
I had it out with me the other day and was complemented on it from a friendly waitress...
The Nikkor has been converted to Ai which is easy to do yourself if you can find the parts...
The lens hood is the standard HS-9 it's originally for the 50mm but works with the 35mm with no vignetting...

 

[Vics]

For 35 I had the 'O' lens and it was fantastic. You need to find one that has been converted to AI.

I've had the 2.8 and the 2.0 Nikkor-O. I found the 2.8 uninteresting in the way it drew the image. Gave it to my nephew. I haven't used the 1.4, but it's a legend, and where there's that much smoke, there must be SOME fire. Pricey, though.
EDIT: It is true, though, that I recentlty decided to shoot all my wide-angle pics with RFs and real wide-angle lenses, saving the Nikon SLRs for macro and tele.

 

[crsantin]

The Nikon 35mm 2.8 AI doesn't seem to get much love, but I love mine. It's sharp, compact and dirt cheap.

 

[nikon_sam]

The Nikon 35mm 2.8 AI doesn't seem to get much love, but I love mine. It's sharp, compact and dirt cheap.

You're right that the 2.8 may not get the love it deserves...
I also have a 2.8 and it is a very sharp lens...it may not get as much attention as the 2.0 "O" simply because the 2.0 is prettier and has a more classic look to it...

 

[aoresteen]

One of the best 35mm f/2.8 lenses I used in the 70's was a Vivitar 35mm f/2.8. It came in Nikon AI mount. Try it. You will be surprised wiht how sharp it is.

Get one that the serial number stars with 37 (made by Tokina) or 28 (made by Komine).

 

[presspass]

I've only used the 1.4 AIS with F3s and F2s. Mine has been used hard and been refurbished once or twice - according to the Nikon compendiums, it has a thin wall and doesn't take a lot of bashing around. Mine worked just fine for that, it just got old and gummed up. I appreciate the brighter view and do need 1.4 at times. Wouldn't be without it.

 

[hans voralberg]

One of the finest 35mm Nikon made IMO is the Nikkor-O, not pin sharp but beautiful pastel-like rendering.

 

[dbarnes]

Nikkor 35/2 AI or AIS. The 1.4 equivalents aren't a good value unless you really need the extra stop. I shot the 35/2 AI for decades. Fast, sharp and rugged.

An outside-the-box option is the little 35/2.5 Series E, which I also had for years.