Ziess 35mm f/2.8 wide angle lens compatible with Nikon S3 2002?

[chasfreeland]

Hello all. I've recently purchased a Nikon S3 2002. A camera shop here in Bangkok where I live has an older Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2,8 lens on offer. It mounts onto the camera and focusses without apparent problems, but I am still wondering if it is compatible. I've read (on Camera Quest, I believe) that Zeiss lenses may not produce in-focus pictures on Nikon RF. What are your recommendations for a 35mm wide angle lens on this Nikon 2002 S3? Should I stick with Nikkors? Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Congrats on the S3 2002! A Zeiss 35mm f2.8 lens will focus just fine on it.

Here's the Nikon/Contax compatibility chart in my Bessa R2S manual. You can see that at f2.5 a Contax 50mm lens on a Nikon body (or vis versa) is fine from infinity to 2m, but there's no mention of a 35mm lens because the DOF covers the focus difference between the two systems right down to 0.9m.

 

[Tom A]

I use my pre-war 35f2.8 Biogon on S2/S3 and SP's all the time. It is a very good lens - prone to flare, but very sharp. Contrast is a bit lower than on modern glass - but that is not a bad thing. Works fine with bl/w.
Build quality is second to none!!!
With the Zeiss wide-angles you dont have any problem with focus incompatibility - the smaller f-stop (2.8) takes care of any "shifts". With the 50f1.5 and the 85f2 you can see it - particularly wide-open and at close focus,
If you go to Flickr and click on our site (see below) and scroll through the sets, there is one called the Zeikon Project. I took all my Zeiss glass and stuffed it onto various Nikon and Bessa R2S bodies and tested the lenses.

 

[chasfreeland]

Thanks, Tom and Jonmanjiro

Thanks, Tom and Jonmanjiro

Well, I guess that settles it. The 35mm Zeiss f/2.8 biogon lens is indeed compatible with the new Nikon S3. I looked at your photos, Tom, on Flickr. The lens type I was asking about is shown in the front row of your introductory photo of that lovely orchestral assembly of Nikon rangefinders and lenses used in your project. The 35mm lens I was asking has a "T" on it, which I, and my local dealer, took to mean that it is coated. But one of your photo captions (VGH waiting room) says that the lens is uncoated. You've certainly got me interested in looking out for a 50 f/1.5 Sonnar. You have a photo taken with that lens showing a white dog against a black and gray background that especially verifies your comments with regards to the tonality it is capable of producing. I'm new to this forum, so thanks again for your help, and please excuse the typo of "Zeiss" in my heading. I didn't notice it until I posted. P.S. I'm a longtime resident of Thailand. If anyone on the forum needs info about travel or photo stuff in this part of the world, send me a message. Best regards to one and all, Charles

 

[Tom A]

Charles, the T coating usually means that it is a postwar lens. The coating did improve flare control and image contrast. The lens should work fine on your S3 too.
Occasionally you will find Zeiss lenses that are a bit "tight" on some Nikons - there is really no specific lens or Nkon - it has more to do with tolerances of the barrel and the Nikon focussing heli-coil.
I regularly use 21/28/35 Biogons on my Nikons. They are spectacularly well built lenses and optically as good or better than anything Leica had at the time.
There are several experts on Zeiss Stuff on Rrf - any question on the Sonnars - ask Brian Sweeny - he knows it all!!!!
Get the lens and enjoy it (and, of course start down that slippery slope that is called "hoarding" more glass!!!!).
If you come across the Planar 35f3.5 - pick it up. It is one of the great 35's of all time! A bit slow - but well worth it.

 

[Tom A]

. The 35mm lens I was asking has a "T" on it, which I, and my local dealer, took to mean that it is coated. But one of your photo captions (VGH waiting room) says that the lens is uncoated. You've certainly got me interested in looking out for a 50 f/1.5 Sonnar. You have a photo taken with that lens showing a white dog against a black and gray background that especially verifies your comments with regards to the tonality it is capable of producing.

Charles, I, at the time had both the uncoated and the T-version! Dont worry - once you start with a Zeiss/Nikon Rf - it makes complete sense to have duplicates or multiples of the same lens!

 

[jonmanjiro]

Dont worry - once you start with a Zeiss/Nikon Rf - it makes complete sense to have duplicates or multiples of the same lens!

Absolutely 🙂 Especially when we have Tom A's expert advice to help us rationalize the purchases 😀

 

[Tom A]

Well, it is mainly to rationalize my own stash of Nikkor lenses! So far 7 50f1.4's, a couple of f2's, another couple of f1.5's - lets not even go to the 35's!
I hate changing lenses and usually take 2-3 bodies instead with lenses on them instead! Makes sense to me.

 

[john341]

wide angle for Kiev or Nikon S2

wide angle for Kiev or Nikon S2

You people seem to have the contacts for w/a lenses..apart from eBay, where should I look for a 28mm lens to suite my Nikon S2 or Kiev 3? any advice will be appreciated..greetings from Oz!

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

You people seem to have the contacts for w/a lenses..apart from eBay, where should I look for a 28mm lens to suite my Nikon S2 or Kiev 3? any advice will be appreciated..greetings from Oz!

You can check the classifieds section on RFF on a daily basis. Keep an eye on your bank balance while you are doing so, this section is highly addictive. 😀

There was a 2.8cm f/3.5 advertised here not so long ago

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/16619/cat/all

but the status is SALE PENDING. One of the nicest 2.8cm I've seen so far.

 

[Tom A]

Once you start getting into the "exotica" in Kiev/Contax/Nikon mount - stuff gets difficult to find.
I looked long and hard for my Tessar 28f8 and in the end found it in Tokyo some years ago. Price was OK - about $400 for a clean one - not cheap, but they actually had two of them to choose from!
The Biogon 35's pop up on E-bay occasionally too. RFf classified is probably your best bet for a reliable source.
The Orion 28f6 for the Kiev is another alternative. Again, not exactly plentiful - but they do come up on various sites.
Check the Zeiss related sites for sourcing them too.
In Tokyo, I got mine from Akasaka Camera (and last year they still had one ) - another good source for this kind of stuff is Sankyo Camera in Tokyo. His stuff has the advantage of being good user stuff - not mint collectible and thus reasonably priced - at least by Tokyo standards.
Of corse, Murphy's Law applies here - the moment you want it - prices go up!