NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: BruceSD on April 04, 2024, 23:08:22
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Recently, I purchased a few Nikon D1X bodies. Needing additional Nikkor lenses to put on them, I just purchased 2 Nikkor lenses on eBay.
The first was a $37 USD Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens. Overall in excellent condition.
Next, after seeing some beautiful images Birna posted that were taken with a Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D AF lens on her D1X, I decided that I just had to have one of these lenses. I lucked out and found a "new old stock" one for only $127 USD (see photo) on eBay. Imagine finding a brand new, in the box, copy of this old lens.
I'd love to hear about your recent purchases of vintage Nikkor lenses. Are you amazed at how inexpensive fine old Nikkor lenses are selling for these days?
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P.S. Vintage Nikon DSLR bodies are going pretty cheap these days too. Just bought a D200 for $45 USD. Also, on Saturday night, I found a brand new Nikon D1X body for sale for just $199 USD. It was a "new old stock" item that came in a box, with: manual, warranted card, strap, battery, AC cord, and battery charger. I went downstairs to get a drink of water, and when I got back to my desktop computer, I found that someone else had purchased it.
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Thank you!!!!!
I just shot a 1.4/24G for 675€, shipping included.
For my first new copy I paid nearly 2000€ and sold it for 999€ which was a misttake
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Recently, I purchased a few Nikon D1X bodies. Needing additional Nikkor lenses to put on them, I just purchased 2 Nikkor lenses on eBay.
The first was a $37 USD Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens. Overall in excellent condition.
Next, after seeing some beautiful images Birna posted that were taken with a Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D AF lens on her D1X, I decided that I just had to have one of these lenses. I lucked out and found a "new old stock" one for only $127 USD (see photo) on eBay. Imagine finding a brand new, in the box, copy of this old lens.
I'd love to hear about your recent purchases of vintage Nikkor lenses. Are you amazed at how inexpensive fine old Nikkor lenses are selling for these days?
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P.S. Vintage Nikon DSLR bodies are going pretty cheap these days too. Just bought a D200 for $45 USD. Also, on Saturday night, I found a brand new Nikon D1X body for sale for just $199 USD. It was a "new old stock" item that came in a box, with: manual, warranted card, strap, battery, AC cord, and battery charger. I went downstairs to get a drink of water, and when I got back to my desktop computer, I found that someone else had purchased it.
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That D1X also came with a mail-in envelope for the buffer upgrade firmware. I wonder if Nikon USA can still do it …
I recently bought an AF-s nikkor 17-55mm 2.8 G ED DX lens. Weighs a tonne! Excellent condition, and in Yen was 38,000.
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Recently, i bought a Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D for 40 Euro, including a B+W UV-filter.
It looks like it has never been used before.
I have the impression that, as people are moving more and more to mirrorless cameras, the second hand F-lenses are getting cheaper by the day.
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Could be interesting to hear about if anybody had problems with build quality of the Z-lenses.
We know that optical they are very good and often at a higher level than older Nikkors.
I take a lot of care when using my Z-lenses so I have had no issues so far but a lens like the 24-70/4 feels a bit "plastic-like".
It is tempting to get an older Nikkor from the time where built-quality was higher and then use it with adapter. But so far I have only invested in Z-lenses to be used on Z-bodies.
Is it only a "feeling" about the Z-lenses or are they in general more prone to break than older Nikkors?
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I haven't seen many anecdotal reports of Z zooms being knocked 'out of whack' so far. Conventional wisdom: Due to lack of reports of Z zooms damaged by "normal" rough handling, we won't have a good idea of the design/build quality of the Z lenses vs the previous F series' until they've been in use for a longer period of time.
Or...the lack of reports of misaligned zooms after heavy/hard use indicates that the Z zooms are better designed to survive?
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Could be interesting to hear about if anybody had problems with build quality of the Z-lenses.
We know that optical they are very good and often at a higher level than older Nikkors.
I take a lot of care when using my Z-lenses so I have had no issues so far but a lens like the 24-70/4 feels a bit "plastic-like".
It is tempting to get an older Nikkor from the time where built-quality was higher and then use it with adapter. But so far I have only invested in Z-lenses to be used on Z-bodies.
Is it only a "feeling" about the Z-lenses or are they in general more prone to break than older Nikkors?
So far I had no issues with my growing number of Z-Lenses but I did not challenge them either. My impression with my first Z lens the mentioned 24-70/4 is that the lens shade feels cheap- derived from the fact that they made it thinner (probably weight saving)
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So far I'm convinced that the mirrorless cameras survive drops that had killed or thrown badly out of alignment most DSLRs. Models involved were Z5, Z6, Z fc (in particular that one), and the Z9.
Whether the same goes for native Z lenses, I don't know except that my Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 has survived 3 -- three -- drops to frozen ground without any damage other that a tiny bit of the plastic lens hood came loose. I put in a small screw to make the hood lock securely again, in the manner I learnt from Erik years ago.
The draw back with the mirrorless, at least the majority of the models, is they attract more dust onto the sensor if you swap lenses a lot.
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My cheapest aquisitions of Nikon lenses so far
50 mm f/2 AId (the hacksaw way); 36,34 Euro; analog offering 1991
AI-S 80-200 mm f/4; 45 Euro; Ebay 2008
Nikon 75-150 mm Series E 40,5 Euro, Ebay 2009
Ebay offerings of old Nikkors appear to have become more rare and more expensive since then
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My cheapest was 60€ for 6 lenses. A retiring photographer was selling banana boxes with old stuff in it. I spotted a 105/2.5 and a 55/3.5 on the picture and bought a box for 60€. I was loading it in the trunk when she called me accross the street: Take this one too, nobody uses this anymore. I ended up with 6 lenses, 2 (unusable) film bodies, a Polaroid camera and cables, hoods, a flash and a Paterson.
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Had bought some box arrangements with accessories like Lens covers and hoods , Filters, cables too
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Could be interesting to hear about if anybody had problems with build quality of the Z-lenses.
Roger Cicala of Lens Rentals disassembled a 24-70mm f/2.8S for his blog.
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2020/01/finally-the-nikon-z-24-70mm-f2-8-s-lens-teardown/
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Interesting!
It looks ok with a metal inner part showing the zoom and focus cam probably (I did not read it in very detail).
Could be interesting to know how many of the plastic looking parts are plastic or metal.
I always gets disappointed when I unscrew screws to release a metal ring or metal part to see that the screws are secured into plastic ("self cutting").
I like M1, M2, M3 screws that are secured into a proper metal thread. I probably need to get used to the other way of assembly with screws directly into plastic.
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My most recent purchase was the 35-70 ƒ/3.5 AI. It's actually my second used one in the last few years. The first lens was loose inside when I bought it and it now rattles and no longer maintains sharpness. This new old one is tighter inside but the focus ring moves smoothly and much more lightly than my first. New one is also sharper. I like the look from this lens a lot.
I had the ƒ/2.8D and it was an excellent performing lens but I just don't get on well with one-ring zooms. Mine got floppy over time--many of them do.
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Is this the 72mm thread version of the 35-70/3.5? I fondly recall it was very sharp. However, also quite susceptible to flare if you weren't careful.
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Yes, it's the one that takes 72mm filters. Very nice lens. Haven't noticed too much flair but I don't shoot a lot into bright lights.
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Just got a 50mm f/2 NIKKOR-H Auto 1:2, Ai modified, and a 135mm NIKKOR-Q Auto 1:2.8 unmodified, both almost like new, for 25 EURO each. It is amazing how smoothly these 50 years old lenses still operate.
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The Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AIS (recommended to me in this forum a while back) is extreme value for money, I think.
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Just got a 50mm f/2 NIKKOR-H Auto 1:2, Ai modified, and a 135mm NIKKOR-Q Auto 1:2.8 unmodified, both almost like new, for 25 EURO each. It is amazing how smoothly these 50 years old lenses still operate.
where you got such good deal price? :D
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where you got such good deal price? :D
On a local second hand web site. The seller was moving into a new house and thought he had too many lenses already.
https://www.2dehands.be/v/audio-tv-en-foto/foto-lenzen-en-objectieven/m2103129782-lenzen-en-andere-voor-25-per-stuk
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Looking at all these incredible deals I have for some years wanted a HN-4 lens hood for my almost mint looking GN-Nikkor 45/2.8.
It seems people selling these hoods think they are made of gold. My GN lens is an older one with 9 aperture blades so the lens hood needed for this should be the Niikkor branded with the F-logo and not just a Nikon branded without the F-logo. I ended up with a getting a boxed GN-Nikkor with everything included as the hood as "stand-alone" has a really high price-tag.
If someone finds a F-logo branded HN-4 I am interested as I still need one the my "stand-alone" GN-Nikkor :-)
Do you ever use your GN-Nikkor (original (non-P version)) on your camera?
Since the hood seems a bit hard to get I assume the lens was sold both with and without the hood?
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My copy is CPU-enabled and the aperture is decoupled from the focusing ring. It's a nice lens for IR but otherwise I don't use it much.
The hood got lost many years ago and I never bothered getting a replacement.
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OK!
I wanted the hood just to have it as a complete set (collectible purpose).
I found out the one I have was an older one with 9-blade aperture and I really like the F-logo they engraved in older hoods / filters.
The newer AIS version (45/2.8P) seems to be a bit more expensive and it is probably sharper wide open but I have also heard that it is not as well built as the original GN.
Stopped down a bit the image quality looks good. The focus is quite special (goes the "wrong way" and is a cam rather than helicoids). I understand that it is necessary so lens works as intended with GN dialed in.
One of the more special Nikkors. I wonder if the lens was targeted amateurs rather than professionals?
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The hood got lost many years ago and I never bothered getting a replacement.
Kenko makes a 52-37mm step-down ring. This and a 37mm filter with its glass removed should do the job. Or, Canon ES-52 originally dedicated to its EF 40mm/f2.8 pancake lens should come handy.
Food for thoughts. :)
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Since test images are shot with Z7 it must have been a relative new addition to "1001"?
https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/story/0081/ (https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/story/0081/)
He dared to take all images at f/2.8 ?
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My GN lens is an older one with 9 aperture blades so the lens hood needed for this should be the Nikkor branded with the F-logo and not just a Nikon branded without the F-logo. I ended up with a getting a boxed GN-Nikkor with everything included as the hood as "stand-alone" has a really high price-tag.
Can you confirm your lens has 9 aperture blades? If so, yours has the highest serial number I have seen, even higher than some early samples with 7 blades. Given the relatively late serial number, the hood might actually correct for this lens. You have a complete set with box, insert, instructions, bubble case, and hood, so I suspect the hood is original with the lens when it was new. What is the date on the instruction book? There is usually a date indication on the back page, lower right. Thanks.
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My sample is s.n. 729075 and has 7 blades. However, the iris is wonderfully [semi-]circular at all aperture settings apart from f=4, where the blade edges are more obvious.
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Can you confirm your lens has 9 aperture blades? If so, yours has the highest serial number I have seen, even higher than some early samples with 7 blades. Given the relatively late serial number, the hood might actually correct for this lens. You have a complete set with box, insert, instructions, bubble case, and hood, so I suspect the hood is original with the lens when it was new. What is the date on the instruction book? There is usually a date indication on the back page, lower right. Thanks.
The boxed GN-Nikkor is from the ebay images. It is just purchased so on the way to me ($219 + shipping).
This lens has probably only 7 blades. A couple more ebay images attached which should confirm it is only 7 blades?
I was looking a hood for my own GN-Nikkor but ended up getting a whole lens incl. the hood (with the F-logo). So I am still looking for an additional hood so I have for both lenses.
My own GN-Nikkor has 9-blades and has no. 716656. So a little older than the one just purchased. The white writings at the front (Nippon Kogaku etc...) seems the same.
There are several versions for a collector it seems. Old type Kogaku (9 / 7 blades). Nikon branded instead of Kogaku. The multicoated C-version. Ai-version etc.......not easy to be a collector. It is good I am just a little bit of a collector so I don't need them all :-)
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The seller wrote that the lens looks mint but with some dirt at the rear which images shows. He also wrote he is not a photographer or expert so he would not try to remove the dirt which is a good thing......I think.
I will do this very gently.
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What is interesting to read in the "1001" is that two of the lens elements are La (Lanthanum).
Maybe it is well known but I did not know they used it for such a relative cheap lens. It seems to control CA well.
Here I can read La-glass was from 1953 (I downloaded the pdf to have some more old Nikkor stuff to look at):
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00765/00765.pdf (https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00765/00765.pdf)
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A bit more technical info here and the adaption to the newer P-version:
https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/nikon-nikkor-ai-45mm-128-p/ (https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/nikon-nikkor-ai-45mm-128-p/)
A shame my Italy language reading is a bit limited.......but you always get something out of it....
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Was the 35/2 made in a GN-version?
I bit down the page there is an image of the 35/2 in a special "package" where GN-Nikkor is written on the "face":
https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/nikon-nikkor-35mm-12/ (https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/nikon-nikkor-35mm-12/)
So......one more lens to search for. Probably more than $216 if I find one......but there should be incredible deals out there?
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Ok, the GN Nikkor-O 35/2 seems to be a prototype so probably difficult to find on ebay as an incredible deal unless the seller does not know what he is selling:
https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/prototipi-nikon-nikkor-del-1967/ (https://www.nocsensei.com/camera/tecnica/marco-cavina/marcocavina/prototipi-nikon-nikkor-del-1967/)
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I received my "new" GN-Nikkor today. Very nice looking. Close to mint condition.
The lens to the left is my "old" GN. I was looking for the speciel lens shade with F-logo and ended up with a lens + shade.
One image I focused at the aperture blades to conclude that the new one has 7-blades and the old 9.
One more difference is the coating which is purple on old and blue on new. 3rd image showing this. I have no idea why Nikon changed the coatings as both are single coated I assume.
Is the blue coating better than the purple?
I could test that now I have both types.
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I tested the "new" lens a few min. ago with a short walk and took some images in dim light. 1. and 3. at aperture 8 and 2. at aperture 4.
Think lens is doing ok. Why all these lens elements when four is enough?
Each image has a 100% crop.
What is important using the F-Z adapter is to not just believe that infinity mark is spot on. That is not the case. It goes past infinity so focus by zooming in to 100% or more is the way to do it.
Probably the adapter is designed that way to be sure it can go to infinity with most lenses. I guess the GN was infinity adjusted from factory so it was spot on using a F-body.
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One more example:
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I tested the "new" lens a few min. ago with a short walk and took some images in dim light. 1. and 3. at aperture 8 and 2. at aperture 4.
Think lens is doing ok. Why all these lens elements when four is enough?
Each image has a 100% crop.
What is important using the F-Z adapter is to not just believe that infinity mark is spot on. That is not the case. It goes past infinity so focus by zooming in to 100% or more is the way to do it.
Probably the adapter is designed that way to be sure it can go to infinity with most lenses. I guess the GN was infinity adjusted from factory so it was spot on using a F-body.
Lovely images, and nicely sharp at 100%. I think it's a keeper lens, that's for sure.
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Yes, and the $200 for the lens was not that bad. Then with shipping + tax from US to DK it added up to a bit more than $300.
But I have seen the HN-4 lens shade as standalone to $150 or more. The F-logo HN-4 to be the most expensive. Now I got both lens + shade.
Lens looks good on Z-body. The focus action is a bit strange. Especially at the long end. Lens has a 30m mark and from there a bit to go to infinity. Like a tele-lens. That has to do with the special GN-feature.
Even with only 4 lens elements the lens seems to be corrected for CA very well.
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nikon really need to develop DF II body :D
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Yes, but still a mirrorless :-) .....but just designed for F-mount lenses and optimization for the old mechanical F-mount lenses with some smart focus-aid (maybe like part of viewfinder magnified that could be moved around like a focus point). I guess a very nice and compact camera could be made. Maybe this would cause a price raise on old Nikkor lenses :-)
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Lloyd Chambers recently blogged that the world needs a D850E. Mirrorless guts but with a flange-focal distance and mount for Nikon F lenses. I'd be tempted, but not holding my breath, as they say. https://diglloyd.com/blog/2024/20240512_1000-NikonD850E-evolution.html (https://diglloyd.com/blog/2024/20240512_1000-NikonD850E-evolution.html)
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the new gen Z or Sline lense is more or less lack of good design and quality feeling when you compare with old AUTO or AI lineup
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Optically most ofthem are far superior to the old lenses ..... good looks are not an overriding importance in the end.
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Optically most ofthem are far superior to the old lenses ..... good looks are not an overriding importance in the end.
optically yes, due to new advanced optial design, new process of manfufacturing the glass,coating, materials...
but from the industral design, old AUTO and AI are better
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It all boils down to what one should use the lenses for ...
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There is probably an element of "Lomography" in using the old Nikkors.
It is much easier to just use a Z-lens and I will do that most of the time.
I am still impressed how nice some of the old Nikkors renders. A bit lower contrast bot still "sharp enough". Colors maybe not as saturated.
It requires both lenses (F-lens against Z-lens) to really see the difference in rendering.
I was not able to find any CA from GN-Nikkor. I wonder if camera and/or NX-studio can correct it without knowing the lens.
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I would settle for an FTZ adapter with an aperture follower ring and the appropriate firmware in the adapter and camera body to support legacy optics.
And screwdriver AF would be "icing on the cake" - as one of the Sony adapters already has.
But then, I am just dreaming! ;)
Some how I don't think that we will ever see such an adapter, or a D850 or a DF II.
Moreover, none of the so-called Nikon Ambassadors are likely to be interested in such legacy support products and we on sites such as this one have no voice in respect of what Nikon develops.
Lloyd Chambers recently blogged that the world needs a D850E. Mirrorless guts but with a flange-focal distance and mount for Nikon F lenses. I'd be tempted, but not holding my breath, as they say. https://diglloyd.com/blog/2024/20240512_1000-NikonD850E-evolution.html (https://diglloyd.com/blog/2024/20240512_1000-NikonD850E-evolution.html)
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one point I keep in mind for a while
the Z/S line lens maybe the most restrict lense because of it's short flange distance, it can not adapt to any other camera body.
meanwhile, Z camera body is most flexible camera due to shortest flange distance
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the weakness of year1970-2000 old Nikkor lense is the CA and focus speed
never thinking about the sharpness, resolution, color are not good enough, the color you can adjust in software :) WB from camera is more enssential factor
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the upper left corner of the picture
this is from D850 + nikkor 135/3.5 Ai-S aperture wide open
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color from lightroom ;D
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same lense
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the upper left corner of the picture
this is from D850 + nikkor 135/3.5 Ai-S aperture wide open
I ran some tests on my AI 135/3.5 recently and got the same results. The AI-S 135/2.8 is similar but the colour fringing is reddish instead of violet. Sharpness is pretty good though.
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I would settle for an FTZ adapter with an aperture follower ring and the appropriate firmware in the adapter and camera body to support legacy optics.
Given all the third party Z adapters which support other lens mounts with AF and exif data, I am surprised none of them have developed an AI FTZ adapter. I'm sure there would be a good market for one.
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I ran some tests on my AI 135/3.5 recently and got the same results. The AI-S 135/2.8 is similar but the colour fringing is reddish instead of violet. Sharpness is pretty good though.
I found, with my 135/3.5 Ai, that stopping down about 1/2 stop substantially reduces that CA/color flare effect around bright edges.
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I will suggest giving the Nikkor-Q 200/4 a try. I tried it once (on DX-body) and to my eye it is better than its reputation with very nice blurred background at f/4:
https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/story/0048/ (https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/story/0048/)
Also I am sure there are incredible deals on this lens. Try to get the latest version (Q-C if possible).
The build quality is nice also. I think at f/4 the background blur would be similar to the 135mm at F/2.8.
I think it has less CA than the Nikkor-Q 135mm.
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But generally I find using a DX body with vintage lenses is the way to go. Lenses appears to be much more "perfect" as you "cut" the edge performance. Often where to see the worst CA of vintage lenses.
Look forward to the rumored Z90. Hope it is more than a rumor.
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But generally I find using a DX body with vintage lenses is the way to go. Lenses appears to be much more "perfect" as you "cut" the edge performance. Often where to see the worst CA of vintage lenses.
Look forward to the rumored Z90. Hope it is more than a rumor.
corner is ok, not really matter, the FX gives better rendering ;D
wating a light FX body, E or F, Z mount
the ZF is too heavy although looks nice
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Soon after I got my first DSLR, a D50 in 2006, I got a hankering for some new lenses. I had several old film lenses, including a Nikkor 20mm f4 K, Nikkor-S 35mm f2.8 and Nikkor 85mm f1.8 K -- but only the 20mm would fit on the D50, and for a long time, that was my widest lens. Then I answered an ad for some Nikon film gear, and for $120 I came away with a Nikon F with Photomic and plain prisms, a 135mm f3.5 AI, Micro Nikkor 55mm 2.8 AIS and 50mm f1.2 AI. I sold the Nikon F body and its prisms for twice as much as I had paid, and just sold the 50mm after years of use -- great lens. I still have the 135mm and 55mm and won't ever give them up.
Since then, I've gotten other Nikkors for "free" -- if you don't count the time spent wheeling and dealing.
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Kenko makes a 52-37mm step-down ring. This and a 37mm filter with its glass removed should do the job. Or, Canon ES-52 originally dedicated to its EF 40mm/f2.8 pancake lens should come handy.
Food for thoughts. :)
Thanks for the suggestion. Has anyone tried it with an ES-52, I have an AI converted 45mm GN Nikkor-C coming over from America and to buy the hood it would nearly cost the price I paid for the lens, while an ES-52 clone is pennies.
I could buy another lens or two the prices people are charging for this hood.
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Thanks for the suggestion. Has anyone tried it with an ES-52, I have an AI converted 45mm GN Nikkor-C coming over from America and to buy the hood it would nearly cost the price I paid for the lens, while an ES-52 clone is pennies.
I could buy another lens or two the prices people are charging for this hood.
I had £7.50 on my Amazon gift balance so I bit the bullet and ordered an £7.30 ES-52 clone and it looks fantastic on this lens even more than the original even the same style metal ribbing.
Through the view finder I see no vignetting.
Saved me a proper fortune on the original hood.