Joint effort to describe the classic Ai-S 1.4/35mm

[Frank Fremerey]

Sometimes it is the pictures you take with a lens that speak for themselves...

All taken at f=1.4 (see EXIF for details)

[John Geerts]

Indeed.

I shot for more than a year with this lens only (on the D700) and one gets bored after a time so it rests too much in the cupboard.

With the D800E at the closest focus.

[richardHaw]

OK, now I know why most of what is posted here are close-ups

this lens is really something when shot close to around 2m wide-open

[richardHaw]

here at f/1.4, really challenging

[richardHaw]

OK, f/2 makes things a lot faster

[Frank Fremerey]

Challenging is the word

[richardHaw]

the bird is the word

something simpler, a static subject. awesome lens!

[richardHaw]

it's actually pretty sharp

having lot's of fun with this lens

[Bill De Jager]

A few more taken on the same day, all at f/1.4:

Knot #4 by Bill de Jager, on Flickr

Redwood Leaves by Bill de Jager, on Flickr

Knot #1 by Bill de Jager, on Flickr

Photinia #1 by Bill de Jager, on Flickr

[Erik Lund]

Very nice images Bill, good use of the lens characteristics that are so typical for this lens wide open

[Tom Hook]

Here's the 35 1.4 ais at f/2. I have switched to a new camera, the 810, and subsequently new software, Iridient, because Capture NX2 no longer works  .

I feel like I'm starting over.

[Frank Fremerey]

Bill & Tom. Great examples. Superb photography

[Fons Baerken]

I have to go some time back to find extensive use of this "artistic lens".



on Df

[F456]

My first post on this interesting website: hope it is worthy...

I think we have a thirst nowadays for old-style lenses with so-called imperfections. Just as the old 1960s-1990s Summilux 1.4/35mm for Leicas is hard to find now and much liked despite the better behaved ASPH versions made since. In the case of the Leica the compact size helps too, no doubt.

I too am hoping to go out and buy the 1.4/35mm Nikkor once more after seeing those characterful wide open shots. I am so sad I sold my Noct though; I cannot afford to get another.

Maybe, as with a face, a lens with an imperfection draws more attention to its beauty because of a distinct feature. Which happens to be indistinct, in the case of the defocused background!

[Bill De Jager]

Thank you, Frank and Erik!