43-86mm zoom

[John Harkus]

Just had a quick look at my "new" 43-86mm, a "C" lens from late in that run circa. '76 - in spanking condition, looks hardly used. First impressions are the expected barrel distortion at 43mm, pin-cushion at 86mm and soft corners, and by modern standards just a small amount of vignetting at the wide end at f/3.5.
Attached is a pic on a PK-13, at 86mm I think. Waiting for some better weather for the outside stuff!
John H

[John Harkus]

Apparently it's bad form to reply to your own post (I don't know where these rules were made either) - by a nice coincidence today is International Poinsettia Day, woot!

[Jakov Minić]

John, it's perfectly fine to reply to your own posts.
I have been doing so in several of them for months now

[John Harkus]

Wish there was a "like" button a la Facebook

John, it's perfectly fine to reply to your own posts.
I have been doing so in several of them for months now

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Sorry no "Like" button by design.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

By the way, using the 43-86 with a short extension might be against the recommendations of standard textbooks, but works like a charm. I put a CPU in an E2 dedicated to the 43-86 when shooting IR, but most similar narrow extension tubes work just as well.

If you prefer using close-up lenses with zooms, a Nikon 4T fits perfectly.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The Zoom-Nikkor 43-86 mm is one of my favourite lenses for IR. It is also a really beautifully built and finished lens. The CPU makes it compatible with each and every Nikon (D)SLR.

[John Harkus]

Some shots from this morning at St Bartholomews church, Gloucestershire. While it obviously doesn't have the absolute resolution (I'm being kind . . ) of more modern lenses you just need to get the right subject.

[Gary]

I remember that zoom. I was working news when it came out and found the lens too unsharp and slow for news.

I found speaking to one's self, (as in responding to one's own postings), has a lot of positives ... firstly, you're in a much better crowd than normal and if there's a controversial subject ... then you just don't have to bring it up.

PS- Sometime I'll even quote myself.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The first version of the 43-86 branded the concept of "consumer zooms" as the essence of evil and poor quality. Fewer people are aware of the later version with an improved optical design and greatly bettered image quality. Fine with me as it helps keeping the price down. The popularity of the 43-86 in its time, and the fact most were used by amateurs who cared for their playthings and mostly kept a lens in its pouch,  also means the second-hand market is flooded with cheap, nice samples these days.

It can be very helpful to discuss with yourself and don't be afraid of quarrels - one part is sure to come out on top

[FredCrowBear]

I've said it before, but I think it merits repeating.  I bought this lens (second version) in November 1981 in Hong Kong and used it heavily with an FE. 
It was a fun lens.  What it lacked in sharpness it made up for in usability! 
Still have it but never use it; I keep if because of my fond memories of using it.

And John, I think that your church yard series does the lens justice!

[John Harkus]

Cheers Frederick, it's by no means the pinnacle of sharpness but was very cheap and in lovely condition. I think Bjorn's post hit the nail on the head.
If you look in my other post - Sigma 24-35mm - I realised I made a mistake and accidentally added one of the 43mm shots as well. Fits in pretty well too!
John

I've said it before, but I think it merits repeating.  I bought this lens (second version) in November 1981 in Hong Kong and used it heavily with an FE. 
It was a fun lens.  What it lacked in sharpness it made up for in usability! 
Still have it but never use it; I keep if because of my fond memories of using it.

And John, I think that your church yard series does the lens justice!

[Wannabebetter]

I'm loving this discussion! The null hypothesis, in the full bloom of its expression. (A veritable "4T" of reason! But there I ago being a bad poet again. And among visual expressionists. Surely, I'll be burned at the stake -- or fed a burned steak. I'm always confusing the two... ) Onward.

I have noticed a recent upsurge in the popularity of this lens and, to date, was curious as to why. Like the many who have for years turned to Bjørn's unaffected, concise, lens reviews I was made aware of the superiority of the last iteration of this zoom. However, at the time I first considered this lens, that alone didn't seem a sound enough argument for acquiring one. (After all, better then dreadful is still no qualifier -- not that this lens was ever necessarily judged the latter. Just saying.) That, and assuming the purpose was to put it to its intended use and not merely to curate one's own Nikkor museum. Reading this thread I'm wondering now, will my own past reticence (okay, I was broke!) cost me a premium? (And what of the Micro 4/3 gang? Are they increasing the demand or inadvertently inflating prices? Hmm... ?! Perhaps that's best addressed in another thread, if not off-site.)

Thanks for those photos, everyone! They're a great help. And, John! Are you still with us? Pray tell, you didn't blink in the kirkyard?!

[John Harkus]

Here's another couple from this morning at Daglingworth, Glos. Mine is a pre-Ai version, and hence the worst possible combination, however it just goes to show that outright resolution isn't everything!
There's plenty of the 43-86 out there, and usually around the £25 mark - another option would be a 36-72 Series E (I have one of those as well).
John

[richardHaw]

i am currently servicing this lens. what a pain in the @$$. it feels like working on a puzzle. fixing a carburetor might be easier. 

this was certainly marketed as a cheap lens back then but the engineering that they have put into it is just awesome. you have to tear one apart to appreciate the level of thought that they have put into it. i will admit that this is probably one of the most challenging lenses that i have serviced due to the rear minor helicoids as well as the interlocking parts. the Nikon F4 is probably a good match for this lens' complicated construction. the Ai version is a lot simpler but is still a pain...