Nikkor 50-135mm F/3.5

[JJChan]

Based on my copy of 28-50mm, it doesn't have the same crispness of the 50-135mm - if anything, the lack of CA and pictorial quality of 25-50mm is actually a better match.

[benveniste]

There were 50-135/3.5 (or similar) lenses from several manufacturers during the mid 1980. The faster aperture and shorter focal length (compared to 80-200 zooms) made them useful for portraiture, reportage and landscapes. It's a shame they didn't remain in production as I think they cover a useful middle range, and would also be more suitable on DX cameras than 70-200 zooms. We are now stuck with a 24-70 and 70-200 divide for "pro" zooms with few choices outside this. I don't use the 50-135 but do shoot with the series-E 75-150/3.5 which covers a similar range.

John Shaw used the 50-135mm f/3.5 quite a bit. Since I found the 75-150mm a bit too long for DX portraiture, I considered buying one but ended up with an even more obscure Tokina AT-X 60-120mm f/2.8 instead.

[F2F3F6]

Don't know the 50-135 until yet... but I had a copy of this 2,8/60-120 Tokina ATX, interresting alas not up to the Nikon Serie E 3,5/75-150 quality.

Tokina: too long minimal distance (1,20m) solidly built, better than Nikon Serie E in this case.
But colors were not up to Nikon standards, cold, bluish, softness and not good against the light (halos).
For me, the 75-150 series E is a good allrounder, with an interesting short minimum distance (1m) and very good close-ups with 3T and 4T Nikon achromatic diopters (also with Leica Elpros VIa and VIb, but these are not multicoated...but easier to find than the Nikons).

Ended up solding my Tokina, I rather buy another Nikkor or Nikon Serie E !

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Didier, I have a nice spare 75-150 - complete with CPU ... Contact me if you are interested.

[F2F3F6]

Thanks, Bjørn I've sent a message to you !

[benveniste]

Don't know the 50-135 until yet... but I had a copy of this 2,8/60-120 Tokina ATX, interresting alas not up to the Nikon Serie E 3,5/75-150 quality.

Tokina: too long minimal distance (1,20m) solidly built, better than Nikon Serie E in this case.
But colors were not up to Nikon standards, cold, bluish, softness and not good adainst the light (halos).

Here's a quick comparison of my copies of the 60-120mm and 75-150mm under controlled lighting conditions and at 100mm.  Just for fun, I've also added the same subject from the Sigma 100-400mm, which I've rented for this weekend.  Obviously, I can't speak to your copy, but I don't see a huge difference in colors.

[richardHaw]

I am in the middle of overhauling this thing 

it's simple for a Nikkor zoom from the 80s 

[pluton]

Richard, your comment encourages me that a local repair shop can eventually be found that will competently service my copy. The recent record of the local facilities on much simpler Nikon lenses is not good.

[richardHaw]

it is NOT an easy lens to take apart but comparatively easier than other Nikkor zooms of the same era 

I will write a guide for this one day 

the 2nd picture shows the front ring and how it couples with the focusing helicoid. it is there so that the front ring doesnt rotate when you focus.

other lenses have a secondary helicoid to achieve macro mode, this one doesnt

[Erik Lund]

Great lens for landscapes, in particular if one goes a little easier on the polariser ...

(a bad scan from slide film, so some posterisation is still present. ignore)

A bit difficult to ignore,,, But I get it

[richardHaw]

A bit difficult to ignore,,, But I get it

i cant see the image 

[pluton]

it is NOT an easy lens to take apart but comparatively easier than other Nikkor zooms of the same era 

I will write a guide for this one day 

the 2nd picture shows the front ring and how it couples with the focusing helicoid. it is there so that the front ring doesnt rotate when you focus.

other lenses have a secondary helicoid to achieve macro mode, this one doesnt

I grabbed the service manual for this lens on ebay for $11.  I learned that it has 115 parts. Richard, you must have high powers of concentration.

[richardHaw]

I grabbed the service manual for this lens on ebay for $11.  I learned that it has 115 parts. Richard, you must have high powers of concentration.

this one is easy enough. I am currently working on a 50-300 and it's not as bad,too. the mid-range zooms from the 80s are the worst 

i find that the handling of this lens sucks. the focus throw is too long and the minimum focus distance isn't useful at all. but it makes for a good journo lens.