In praise of "Nikon's Worst Lens", pre-AI 43-86mm

Kate-the-Great

Kate-the-Great

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(a sidenote up front- all of these were shot on a Fuji X-E1 with a "turbo" type adapter, making the lens an effective 30-60mm f/2.5. I've tested the adapter with numerous lenses and compared it with the "true" full-frame results from the same lenses on my 5D and the adapter's optics thankfully don't change the character of the lens, this is truthfully what the 43-86 looks like on 135)

I've heard the chromenose 43-86mm f/3.5 zoom-Nikkor oft derided as "Nikon's worst lens". Naturally, I had to pick one up to try out when I saw a local camera shop had a few for cheap.

I'm glad I did. It's a bit of a handful to carry around compared to the tiny Serenar I'm used to having on the Fuji, but the results are loads of fun. Sharp enough stopped-down and delightfully quirky wide-open. See for yourself, just don't blame me when there's a run on these well-built compact zooms ;)


_DSF2612.jpg by Kate Darragh, on Flickr


_DSF2764.jpg by Kate Darragh, on Flickr


_DSF2671.jpg by Kate Darragh, on Flickr


_DSF2736.jpg by Kate Darragh, on Flickr
 
Looking good, Kate! I see a bit of barrel distortion, so common with zooms at the wider end. But this was "early days" for zooms, wasn't it, and we were amazed at the effect... We were told a good use was to slow the shutter down and zoom during exposure. A special effects device!

IIRC, Voigtlander was first to market a zoom, the Zoomar 36-72 I think. But Nikon was in there very soon after.

November 1, 1965, Nikkormat FT with 43-86 Nikkor zoom, Kodacolor-X ASA 64, using this kit on a drive from Rapid City SD to Aberdeen to visit a girlfriend at the college... Wow, that was a while ago wasn't it, 50 years on the nose. I had borrowed the gear from the camera shop where I then worked, so just a familiarization run.

Have fun with your antique lens! :D
 
thank you. i always wondered about this one, now i can finally see. kind of pleasant :)

cheers,
s.
 
Well I should think that the price should stay reasonable since Nikon made a decent amount; they made quite a bit more of the Ai (best version). I've always found it a useful lens and the early version has a funky fun look to it. Nikon's story about this lens has lots of insights on this lens renders from the original designers. The lens definitely has few sweet spots.
 
There are a few lenses like this that get a bad wrap. Years ago I bought a lovely Nikkor pre AI 300mm f4.5. (Which reminds me I should AI convert it). It was the early silver and chrome one. It was always rated poorly in reviews but I found stopped down (like I suppose most lenses) it performed very nicely indeed. Perhaps people compared it too much to the later and much better f4 version with fancy shmancy glass.

Say maybe we should start a new thread. Something like "nice pictures with "crap" lenses"
 
As I recall, Herb Keppler, who wrote for Popular Photography magazine for many years, had a 43~86 and travelled around India with it, as a young man.
Yes, he admitted in articles that it wasn't the best Nikkor he ever used, but said it always seemed to get decent enough photos to be worthwhile using.
 
peterm1 said:
Years ago I bought a lovely Nikkor pre AI 300mm f4.5. (Which reminds me I should AI convert it). It was the early silver and chrome one.

Say maybe we should start a new thread. Something like "nice pictures with "crap" lenses"
Click to expand...

funny coincidence. been shooting in countryside with this lens, and ageing D200. lens has seen life but glass is in good shape. it has AI-kit installed by some previous owner.

22686319245_2fd868bba3_z.jpg
 
Gotta love the old AI/AIS zooms. I've owned quite a few in the past, although I've never owned this one. I do kinda miss some of them, like the 25-50mm, 50-135mm and 75-150mm Series E.
 
I have the last version of the 43~86mm lens and have no complaints whatsoever...and I am not a zoom liker...
 
Just FYI, the Nikkor 25-50 f4 lens is superb and not cheap. Grab one if you can find one as they are a little jewel among the lost gems in the sea. I use mine on my A7r when I want a nice pic and leave the native 24-70 at home.

Joel
 
Doug said:
Looking good, Kate! I see a bit of barrel distortion, so common with zooms at the wider end. But this was "early days" for zooms, wasn't it, and we were amazed at the effect... We were told a good use was to slow the shutter down and zoom during exposure. A special effects device!

IIRC, Voigtlander was first to market a zoom, the Zoomar 36-72 I think. But Nikon was in there very soon after.

November 1, 1965, Nikkormat FT with 43-86 Nikkor zoom, Kodacolor-X ASA 64, using this kit on a drive from Rapid City SD to Aberdeen to visit a girlfriend at the college... Wow, that was a while ago wasn't it, 50 years on the nose. I had borrowed the gear from the camera shop where I then worked, so just a familiarization run.

Have fun with your antique lens! :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug! Always neat to hear from folks who were using classic kit when it was new. Yep, lots of barrel distortion at the wide end of a bit of pincushion at the long but it's correctable in software if needed.

Do you happen to have any scans of your photos from that 1965 trip? :D
 
peterm1 said:
There are a few lenses like this that get a bad wrap. Years ago I bought a lovely Nikkor pre AI 300mm f4.5. (Which reminds me I should AI convert it). It was the early silver and chrome one. It was always rated poorly in reviews but I found stopped down (like I suppose most lenses) it performed very nicely indeed. Perhaps people compared it too much to the later and much better f4 version with fancy shmancy glass.

Say maybe we should start a new thread. Something like "nice pictures with "crap" lenses"
Click to expand...

I'd be into a thread like that. I also have a sample of the pre-AI chrome 300mm 4.5- my brother gave it to me because he accidentally ran over it with a truck and the aperture ring was a bit stiff. :eek: Works fantastic- plenty sharp and surprisingly, almost no CA! I'd like to see the optical performance of a modern 300 that's been run over by a truck- probably not so good as this old lens ;)
 
Bille said:
Corner performance here is grotesque. Is it the lens or the adapter?
Click to expand...

That's just the lens! Does the same thing on the 5D. Part of the charm for me... :eek:

Edit to say- this was at 43mm and 3.5- the corners get much better at f/8 and zoomed in a bit. At around 65mm and f/8-11 performance is perfectly acceptable, which is why I stick with 3.5-5.6 and either 43 or 86mm ;) . I have plenty of lenses that are sharp edge-to-edge; it's fun to play with effects sometimes :)
 
I have two 43-86/3.5 lenses, one pre-AI and one AI. My pre-AI has the black ring on the front (serial # 576510). Here is a sample from the pre-AI version (Nikkormat FT - Tri-X).
 

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