Thoughts on pre AI Nikkors ( 35mm )

[Dave Wilkinson]

Ever since buying them in the seventies, a pair of Nikkormat FT2's has been my favourites, and performed impeccably over the years. Naturally I have acquired a few lenses, mostly non AI - and love them all, for the build quality and performance, on both film and lately digital ( D40 ) all - that is except ONE!.
I have a Nippon Kogaku Nikkor S 35mm f2-8 optic that did not get a lot of use on the film cameras, but I would like to use on the D40, the sad fact is - although in excellent condition, it just does not perform to the standard of it's brethren, apart from the common slight 'yellowing' of the front element, the glass is perfect.
After the long-winded approach my question is - do you own one of these? and what is the general opinion, it does not rate too highly in a couple of articles that I read elsewhere. Would another '35' from the same era be any better?, or perhaps a later AI version?, although ( small point ) I am not too fond of the later rubber grip lenses.
Cheers, Dave.

PS I find my 105mm f2-5 Nikkor - absolutely brilliant on digital 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The 35/2.8 is "Passable". The 35/2 Nikkor-O is superb. I have two of the F2.8's, bought cheap and look nice on the cameras. One was in a Nikon grab Bag. I have not shot with them much. I always use the 35/2 instead.

 

[hans voralberg]

Of all the Nikons lens I've used, the one I loved the most is the Nikkor-O 35/2, I love its pastel like colour and smoothness. I foolishly sold it and haven't manage to find another one, yet. It's virtually impossible to find these from dealers now, ebay is a tad too expensive and not in the UK.

 

[dogberryjr]

Funny you should write about this today. I was looking for a lens to finish a roll of ilford pan 50 with today and went with a trusty AI'd 55mm micro. I love the feel of these dinosaurs. Sorry I can't answer your actual question.

 

[TWoK]

Nothing beats my Nippon Kogaku 5.8cm f/1.4 Nikkor-S. My Nikkor-N 28mm f/2.0 isn't bad either. I'd be happy to get a Nikkor-N 35mm f/1.4 as well.

 

[MaxElmar]

Yup - Nikkor-O 35/2 - second only to the 35/1.4 - at about 1/4 the price.... now my 35/1.8G wins out over either, but it's a no go on film.

105/2.5 PC - is also super.

 

[hans voralberg]

Dave if you don't mind buying from the US, KEH has 2-3 for very favourable price. I'm considering buying one myself with a F2 to go along with it.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

And just to clarify: The Nikkor-O 35/2 is pre-AI. Mine is factory converted, and CLA'd at the time. The Nikkor-OC is the same optical forumula, but multicoated. It will sell for less than the Single-Coated version. I asked KEH that one time and was told Wedding Photographers preferred the rendering of the Single coated lens. The later versions of the 35/2 changed the optical formula and lost their soul.

 

[colyn]

The 35/2 Nikkor-O is superb.

Now I'm gonna have to stick my AI'd Nikkor-O on my D90 and give it a test run..

 

[tomnrides]

I have the same set up here for a quick comparison: non-Ai 35mm/f2.8, 18-35mm/f3.5-4.5AF D, and DX18-55kit lens.
35 did the least when pointed to light, without an old Hoya UV it did better. When away from light source, it looks to be fine, but what do I know from this test.

35/f5 did of course better into light, but still flared a bit,
I suppose distortion is much less than any of above I used.

28mm/f3.5 did a lot better though similar vintage -see below.

 

[tomnrides]

Here is 28/f3.5 open

 

[pesphoto]

i just got a non AI 24mm that has been converted to AI to use on my F3HP

 

[peterm1]

A number of these are excellent. As already mentioned the 35mm f2 and 28mm f3.5 work great on digital (assuming for most cameras that they have been AI'd). In addition I own an Ai'd 105mm f2.5 (Sonnar version of course) and the 50mm f2. Both are excellent lenses. The 50mm f1.4 also also pretty good but I prefer the f2. I also own the 80-200mm f4.5 zoom and find it's pretty good too but surprisingly its a bit too contrasty on my D200.

 

[Calzone]

The 35/2.0 Nikkor-O is a great lens. I also like the build quality. Mine has been AI'd. All my other Nikon lenses are AIS fast primes, but the 35/2.0 has the smoothest focus.

Calzone

 

[spystyle]

I used to use old Nikkors adapted to an EOS Canon dSLR. I loved the old glass 🙂

 

[Shac]

Dave - I have and use a non-Ai 35/2.8 on a D60 - if you haven't tried yours yet on the D40 - do so before shelling out for another lens. I think it's fine at the crop

 

[spystyle]

Dave - I have and use a non-Ai 35/2.8 on a D60 - if you haven't tried yours yet on the D40 - do so before shelling out for another lens. I think it's fine at the crop

With a Nikon D40 you will need to use a hand held meter for any lens that doesn't have CPU contacts (like AF and AF-S)

But it's not a problem for members of this club as we all have hand held meters 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

Nikkor-S 35/2.8 passable?

Hardly...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have two of them, and have used them along with the 35/2 Nikkor-O and 35/2 IC series (integrated coating).

Try the 35mm F2.8 wide-open and post back. Also, there are several generations of them. I have the single-coated versions. Compared with the 35/2 Nikkor-O, I still rate them as "passable". Stopped down to F5.6~F8, they are much better. So is my Zoom-Nikkor-C 43~86/3.5, reputed to be the worst lens Nikon ever made. I love mine.

From the worst lens that Nikon ever made. 43~86/3.5 Zoom-Nikkor-C. Well- maybe the single coated version is even more horrible...

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Mine has - in the past, made some good black and white pictures, but in colour ( and especially digital ) it does not cut it like my other Nikkors, and the 50mm f2 makes a very nice portrait lens, with that crop factor. Looks like I need a 35 - f2!
Dave.