Nikon SLR lens for vintage look??

The single coated optics give an older time look, especially for black and white.

The Nikkor-S 5.8cm F1.4, Nikkor-O 35/2, and Nikkor-Q 135/3.5 would be good choices. All need to be modified to AI for wide-open metering, all can be used stopped down.
 
The single coated optics give an older time look, especially for black and white.

The Nikkor-S 5.8cm F1.4, Nikkor-O 35/2, and Nikkor-Q 135/3.5 would be good choices. All need to be modified to AI for wide-open metering, all can be used stopped down.

These lens need to be modified?
Or can just be used stopped down?
 
Depends on the camera. Fortunately for you, the FE body has the ability to flip the auto-indexing tab back out of the way. Some later consumer grade bodies are not able to do this, and an unmodified pre-AI lens can not be mounted.
 
The "non-AI" lenses can be used with the FE using stop-down metering. You can have the lenses modified for AI use by having a repair shop "notch" the aperture ring.

My Nikon SLR phase started in 1978.
 
Don't overlook the effect of the film too. Something like a Delta or TMax film wouldn't be ideal and even Tri-X has been 'improved' several times. You could look at the Efke or Foma films, possibly even some Chinese ones ???
 
Also along the film line: use a light blue filter to block some red light, as old films were orthochromatic (insensitive to red) rather than panchromatic.
 
I find myself in the camp who argues that film choice is more important than the lens. Efke 50 or Ilford PanF+ create a nice vintage look whatever lens you use.
 
I find that Sonnar designed lenses give that look. Most important it is non-photographers who see the difference immediately. I am not sure but hasn't Tri-X (very popular in the 1960s with the Nikon non-Ai lens series) been improved over the past 40/50 years? Does it give the same look?
 
I don't think it's the coating as I have 50's in single and multi f2 and 50mm 1.4 sc, ais and a/f. I'd say it has more to do with the film and developing.
The earlier lenses to my eye give warmer colours ie all single coated. The multi coated to me look more green-blue and are very consistant across focal length range.
 
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