Photos below taken with a vintage W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 and a 2005 reissue W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8. Which is which, and why? 
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Lens 1 @ f/1.8
Lens 2 @ f/1.8
Moto-Uno
Moto-Uno
I'd guess that the second picture in each set was with the older lens . Peter
MikeL
Go Fish
Lens 1 has old glass (lanthanum)?
(I see the color tint on mine.)
(I see the color tint on mine.)
brbo
Well-known
No idea. Lens #1 is better, though.
raid
Dad Photographer
How can you tell the difference in the lenses? Do they look different?
Fraser
Well-known
lens one is the new one, seems to be a bit better in the corners but that might be just my imagination!
Fraser
Well-known
new one has black ring at front, but there is a rare early one with black ring!
Fraser
Well-known
quite impressive they are so similar with so many years between them, to my eyes could almost be sample variation.
The serial number is the easiest way to tell. The reissue lenses are numbered from 0001 to 2500 (only 2,500 were made and they were all sold as part of a set with a matching serial number Nikon SP) and vintage lenses have a six digit serial number starting from 35.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
I like the first lens better.
raid
Dad Photographer
Thanks. I will check out my lens when I get home today from work. My lens is most likely a re-issue.
My lens is in ltm.
My lens is in ltm.
Gregm61
Well-known
Years and years ago, I purchased a Canon VT de Lux rangefinder that came with a 35mm f1.8 screw mount Nikkor. Like so many other setups, it was sold as I gathered money for the next "have to" have.....I really wish I had held onto that outfit.
LTM serial numbers are six digits and start with 18xxxx.
The reissue was made in Nikon S-mount only. Only 2,500 were made and they were all sold as part of a set with a matching serial number Nikon SP.
https://www.cameraquest.com/nrfblsp2005.htm
Michael Markey
Veteran
I would guess that the first picture in each set is the newer lens .... it seems to have slightly more contrast.
raid
Dad Photographer
So my lens then cannot be a re-issued lens. Thanks, Jon. I just love the images from my lens on the M9. The colors come out looking beautiful.
On my M9, my lens give sme "the Real look".
Corran
Well-known
That's what I see except the warmer colors suggest the older lens.
benmacphoto
Well-known
I'd say #1 is the 2005 reissue and #2 is the original 35mm 1.8.
Looks like #1 has better control of coma over #2, and the modern coatings would help this.
Looks like #1 has better control of coma over #2, and the modern coatings would help this.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I too think that the first lens in the sets is the better corrected lens. I guess it is the newer lens, but the contrast of both is the same. Surprising, usually newer lenses have more contrast due to better coatings.
Erik.
Erik.
JMQ
Well-known
Jon, very nice. I'm guessing No.1 is the 2005 version and No.2 is the original. Both are quite similar, but I see a little more contrast in No.1, and am therefore using the hypothesis that the multicoating gives the better contrast.
When are you going to reveal? Thanks, Jean-Marc
When are you going to reveal? Thanks, Jean-Marc
JMQ
Well-known
Ben, looks like we are on the same wavelength.