NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Zang on January 29, 2019, 20:51:33
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Hello all,
This lens is quite a controversial one. There are divided opinions on the internet, but not many photos taken by this lens are found. Owners of Nikkor 35 mm f2.8, Please kindly share you pictures here :)
I bought mine last month but I do not have anything worth sharing for now (we have some crazy snow storms here which turn people away from any inspirations, including photographic one LOL). I will do as soon as I take some pictures.
Cheers,
Zang
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The reasons for the divided opinions, presumably, are the various versions of the lens in existence.
The oldest one silver-nosed model accompanying the Nikon F in its time was, well, not the best lens the company ever made. The mid '70s 6/5 design (K) is much better, followed by a smaller 5/5 version that is according to memory a more modest performer.
This is the 35/2.8K (AI- and CPU-modified by Erik Lund) on my Df. Actually a sweet little lens.
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Thanks Birna. Mine is probably from the last AI batch. BTW, the picture is awesome :)
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Actually I have one photo, a test one. The crop shows the lens is razor sharp!
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The crop:
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There are 4 optical versions of this lens:
Nikkor-S 3.5cm 1:2.8 Auto (7 elements, 5 groups) - serial nos 920101 - 9275xx. From early 1960s, difficult to build due to fine tolerances required so is uncommon and soon replaced.
Nikkor-S 35mm 1:2.8 Auto (7 elements, 6 groups) - serial nos 176911 - 392xxx. Common pre-AI version, improved performance and easier to build so was relatively common.
K/Ai 35mm 1:2.8 (6 elements, 6 groups) - serial nos 773111 - 870xxx. Highly regarded version, is sharp with very low geometric distortion, rendition not quite as smooth as older version though.
Ai/AiS 35mm 1:2.8 (5 elements, 5 groups) - serial nos 350001 - 593678. Simpler optical design not as well corrected for geometric distortion, maybe not quite as sharp but with smoother rendition. The Ai version has a very short focus throw, the AiS version is a little better.
5 versions if you include the Series-E 35mm 1:2.5. This has a similar 5 element design as the AiS version, but optimised for more speed and compactness, so the image quality is not at the same level.
7 versions if you include the two PC-Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 lenses:
Early version with metal focus grip (8 elements, 7 groups) - serial nos 850001 - 886xxx
Upgraded to modern style with rubber focus grip and multicoating, same optics - serial nos 900001 - 909635
Later version (7 elements, 7 groups) - serial nos 179091 - 205761. Styled like AiS lenses, but with manual preset aperture ring is not Auto Indexing (AI). I haven't heard much about how these lenses perform?
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I have what I believe is a K-version which was used a lot the film days. I never thought my copy was very good on digital - while center is sharp, edges do not hold up near infinity. Here is an example at f/4 on the D200:
(https://otoien.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-3/p3275373600.jpg)
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Thanks Vink for the comprehensive information. I suspect I have 5 element AI version.
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not a lot of photos? there are even websites that show you whats inside :o :o :o
https://richardhaw.com/2016/05/28/repair-nikkor-35mm-f2-8-ai/
https://richardhaw.com/2018/12/23/repair-nikkor-35mm-f-2-8-ai-s/
these are very nice lenses, i enjoy using ALL versions including my fancy tick-mark version.
i love them all. they all have their own quirks ::)
i am going to make some articles on the other versions but i am too busy these days. i only slept 3 hours the other day
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@Rick - These ones were the last articles I read after tons of other before I decided to spend hard earned $80 on 35mm LOL. These and your other works as well as Bjorn's site made me want to joint this community LOL.
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... BTW, Bjorn had a different opinion on 35mm f2.8, though.
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Thanks Vink for the comprehensive information. I suspect I have 5 element AI version.
You can know for sure by looking at Roland's site, and clicking on the underlined I.D. of the lens, eg: 35/2.8. Clicking will take you to a clear photo of an example of that specific model.
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That was how I figured out my lens batch :) I do not know any other ways LOL Thanks anyway!
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The K-version
(http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1751.0;attach=10318;image)
(http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1751.0;attach=10317;image)
(http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1751.0;attach=10316;image)
And more to find here: http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,1751.0.html (http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,1751.0.html)
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5 versions if you include the Series-E 35mm 1:2.5. This has a similar 5 element design as the AiS version, but optimised for more speed and compactness, so the image quality is not at the same level.
Does anyone have any experience with the Series-E 35mm on a modern DX body? A friend of mine has got a copy which he doesn't use anymore, so I'm wondering whether it's worth it asking him to mail it to me. I'm trying to assemble a lightweight kit of primes for hiking, and the Series-E sure is a lot lighter than my AIS f2/35mm.
Thanks.
Hermann
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I'm mainly using the SE Nikon 35 for IR, for which purpose it serves admirably.
If your expectations aren't set sky-high, the lens won't disappoint you.
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I have a rough example of the 35mm E-series, one of the last of the first series, from 1980-81, serial nr. 1863710, the focus don't go very smooth.
I put it on my D500 and took some picture, you can judge for yourself if it is worth the effort, I was surprised.
The files are straight from LR, no PP except the lR default.
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Thanks Birna, and especially Bent. I think those photos look pretty good, even wide open. Not bad at all for a lens that age. My friend's lens is a bit older than yours actually, serial nr. 1859128. The focussing is apparently quite smooth, albeit a bit loose. Anyhow, I asked him to mail it to me.
Now I've got to find a nice, not too expensive 20mm or 24mm for my kit. That won't be quite so easy, I suppose ... :-)
Hermann
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You are welcome, I was surprised too :)
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Some really beautiful pictures produced by that 'infamous' Nikon 35 mm! Bjorn's ratting kept me away from owning this lens for years, until I found no alternative for an inexpensive 35 mm. My sample is incredibly sharp and easily beats 17-55 mm at 35 mm in overall picture rendering.
Cheers,
Zang
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When I first picked up a Nikon in 2006, the 35mm f/2.8 was one of my first lenses. Mine was the final iteration. I read online how poor it was, how it was a waste of time, how the zoom did EVERYTHING better, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Excellent colour, clean and open look and even in dull weather the photos had bite.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.
In fact I will go further. I bought the 17-35mm f/2.8 and found I used it less as it was heavy and in my opinion, not so good. Of course it zoomed and had AF but I still picked up the 35mm f/2.8 in preference. I did have a SE, but sold it as it always looked a bit washed out and soft, but that may have been the processing of course.
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I have two 35/2.8 lenses, each of which has its virtues.
The first is an early-70's version of the 35/2.8 PC, with the collar milled so it clears an AI tab. This is, simply, one of my favorite lenses. Aside from the usefulness of the shifting, it just seems to do its job well, sharp and with colors that look right. Some of that may be gearhead placebo effect, as I find it such a beautiful machine. On Photo.net there's a "fixed focal length friday" thread, and I usually go out on a thursday with this lens and grab whatever looks nice that day. The first shot was made in December, of Neshobe Island on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont.
The second, bought some time ago for nearly nothing, is a 35/2.8K, milled to AI. When I got this I found it pretty blah on full frame, not bad but not great. On DX it comes into its own, decently sharp, easy to focus, tough as nails. The second shot is one I just took in the back yard. I like the PC lens so much I rarely use this one except when traveling. (edit to add: both these are taken with a D7100)
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I have two 35/2.8 lenses, each of which has its virtues.
The first is an early-70's version of the 35/2.8 PC, with the collar milled so it clears an AI tab. This is, simply, one of my favorite lenses.
Your effusiveness has impacted my paypal account. Hopefully the sting will be forgotten by the time the new lens shows up next week.
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The Nikkor-S 35mm f2.8 was one of my first two Nikkor lenses. The other was 85mm f1.8 K, which I still have 40 years later. The original 35mm got beat to death on trips around the world. But it did great on film (first image, ship captain on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, F2, Kodachrome) and digital (surface of a coin,D300, extension tube). I've since replaced the 35mm with a mint copy, and it's on my F2 right now.
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Second image.
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I took this image of my 90-year-old mother at her kitchen table in Alaska. Nikkor-S 35mm f2.8, Nikon F2, Fuji Superia 400.
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As usual, when I see good shots I forget about lenses... lots of good ones above!
Concerning the 35/2.8 PC lens, I got a late version. I did not use it for years - sure an interesting and versatile lens, but as a 35mm it got in the shadow of the Zeiss 35/2, and as a PC lens it got in the shadow of the 28/3.5 because PC is simply more useful at that focal length.
Indeed, when stopped down, the Zeiss is distinctly sharper, and at large apertures, the Zeiss has much more contrast.
But now that the subject is open - I'll put that 35/2.8 PC (late version) back on the Df and see what happens.