Got a Nikon F - now what lenses?

[Austerby]

In the same way that, say, a DR Summicron is the period lens for a Leica M3, what are the typical period lenses for a Nikon F?

I have the 50mm f1.8 Nikkor and 28mm f2.8 series E lenses that I've had for thirty years, plus some dodgy old zooms from the 1980's but I'd like to look into some of the early 1960's Nikkors.

 

[rodinal]

I think it must be the Nikkor-S Auto 1:1.4 f=5.8cm

 

[bobkonos]

Also the 50mm f1.4 Nikkor-S and 105mm f2.5. I just scored a lot of these period correct non-Ai lenses in nice condition; pm me if you like.

 

[Jack Conrad]

This is a nice lens.

 

[KoNickon]

Also the 200/4 -- the non-AI version of this is a thing of beauty. And the 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Nikon F: 50mm f1.4 105 f2.5 As for what was used in the 60s. The 24mm f2.8 and the 135mm were very popular. The 135mm has since gone out of style and has been replaced with the 180mm which was also available. Another lens is the 35mm f2.8. The E series lens I believe were for later models and are not as well built. The Zoom lenses of the 1960s were not as good as later models.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

This is a nice lens.

Agree 100%

Todd

 

[BobYIL]

A few affordable quality lenses with character: The original 50/2 or pre-AI 50/1.4, 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor, 24/2.8, 35/2 and 105/2.5..

 

[KoNickon]

To be clear, the Series E lenses won't couple with Nikon F meters. You didn't say whether you had one of the metered finders or not.

 

[MaxElmar]

The 85/1.8 "H" is delightful. Just super - really. The 35/2 "O" is another beauty. Both of these hold their own quite well on any modern film or digital camera against ANY modern SLR lens. Use on some cameras will require minor modification.

Here's one of my favorite websites to help me figure out which Nikkor is which.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#500

Enjoy.

 

[jarski]

E-series was the cheapo series of Nikkors if am not mistaken? yes, they too can take great pics 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

In the same way that, say, a DR Summicron is the period lens for a Leica M3, what are the typical period lenses for a Nikon F?

I have the 50mm f1.8 Nikkor and 28mm f2.8 series E lenses that I've had for thirty years, plus some dodgy old zooms from the 1980's but I'd like to look into some of the early 1960's Nikkors.

These were the pre-AI lenses I had when I had my original Nikon F Photomic FTn (bought new in 1969-1970):

Nikkor-N 24mm f/2.8
Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4
Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5
Nikkor-H 85mm f/1.8
Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5
Nikkor-H 300mm f/4.5

All were brilliant, wonderful lenses. Tho many many years and much equipment has streamed past since then, I still prefer this version of the 85mm f/1.8 and 55mm f/3.5 macro over later versions and recently acquired nice examples of them to use again.

A friend acquired a similar vintage Nikon F Photomic FTn for me recently, so I added a mid-1970s Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI to my kit for a fast normal (I preferred this over the earlier 58mm due to the larger number of blades in the iris ... smoother bokeh). I've also refreshed the Nikon kit with another mint Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI-S, a TC-300 teleconverter, and a very nice Nikon Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D AF-D.

(I'm not interested in re-acquiring any wides as I use RF cameras for wide angle lenses ... easier to focus. ;-)

 

[Vics]

I have and use (occasionally) 24/2.8, 35/2, 50/2 (H), 55mm micro-nikkor 3.5, 85/1.8, 105/2.5, (all NAI) and 200/4 AiS (I tried two of the older ones of this last, but they were both very poor image quality. If you can pay the price, the 180/2.8 ED is a gorgeous lens.I stayed with the ones I have because they all use the same 52mm filters. Most of them have been ai'd, but my Fs both have plain prisms. I don't use them much anymore because my eyes don't focus them very well these days.

 

[nobbylon]

3 lenses from the old series, 35 Nikkor 'O' f2 is superb with nice bokeh, 50 nikkor 'H' or 'HC' f2 super sharp, 50 Nikkor 'S' or 'SC' wide open dreamy gritty look or is that low contrast slightly unsharp!?
2 from the later series, 28 f2.8 AIS terrific lens with close focus ability and super sharp and of course the 105 2.5 AI or AIS. I prefer the AIS version for it's longer focus throw. Elements are identical.
The K and AI series 50 f2 is also superb as is the 50 1.8 AI and AIS. I still have all apart from the K, AI and AIS 50's.

 

[Tom A]

A good F kit would be a non AI 28f3.5, 35f2, 50f1.4 (great lens) and the Micro Nikkor 55f3.5 and a must is the 105f2.5. You can also get the 200f4's for very little money (usually sub $100 - and if it was good enough for Larry Burrows - it is probably good enough for us.
The good news is that non AI Nikkors are usually cheap - and they are good, really good.
Another benefit of the 200f4 is that in somebody tries to mug you - grab the camera by the lens and use as a hammer. Discourages most muggers if you go for the nose!

 

[kshapero]

If you can find this version 1 of this lens.

 

[ronnies]

I can only second (or more in some cases) the 28 f/3.5, 55 f/3.5 Micro and the 85 f/1.8 recommendations. That 85 is pretty good on the F4 !


Nikon F4s with Nikkor-H 85mm f/1.8 by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Ronnie

 

[ampguy]

105/2.5 P*C version, great one in the classifieds now.

For wide, 28/2.8 .3m focus version non-AI. A real sleeper. As good or better than any RF 28 I've used.

 

[normclarke]

My favorites are the 2.1cm f4, the 35mm f2 Oand the 105mm f2.5all pre AI lenses. I recently obtained the 2.1cm and have found the image more to my liking than the 21mm SA f3.4 that I sold last year. Not as sharp but seems to have better contrast, this could also be sample variation.

Best,

normclarke.

 

[summar]

My favorites: the Nikkor 50/1.4, 105/2.5 and 24/2.8, all AI.
More unusual: the Nikkor PC 35/3.5, earliest model (I shoot a lot of architecture, and find it an incredibly sharp lens) and 180/2.8, AI'd (a bulky heavy monster but surprisingly easy to hand-hold).
Yes, I also shoot rangefinders or I wouldn't be here, Leica IIIf, Leica M4-P, Kiev 4a.