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

[John Geerts]

The 35mm -  f/1.4 AIS with the Fuji S5 Pro.

[Frank Fremerey]

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

on Df

Dear Fons! I feel I commented on this wonderful poetic picture ages ago. A daring colorscape and a wild background. Totally love it!

[Frank Fremerey]

The 35mm -  f/1.4 AIS with the Fuji S5 Pro.

Seems to be a great combination of lens & Camera. How do you develop these shots?

[Frank Fremerey]

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!

What you say is one aspect of the effect you will see showing this kind of pictures on the interweb. Some people really hate this "icorrect" rendering as they say. Some love it.

If you can live with this comtoversy, good. I can.

Yet I also own or can borrow all these "perfect" expensive lenses from friends any time.

[John Geerts]

Seems to be a great combination of lens & Camera. How do you develop these shots?

Yes it is. Very good lenses  work on every good camera of course     

Adobe Camera Raw reads the RAF-files (at the max setting including D-range at 400%)  in the correct size including all pixels. I ran some tests to check that. So it will go in the normal workflow.  I checked it with Fuji's Finepix Studio, Silkypix and the special raw-convertor S7raw and all four deliver nearly the same 16-bit  Tif-file (4.256 x 2.848 -  80.0 MB)  at the standard settings.  DxO, Faststone and Affinity (and probably many others) won't read the RAW-file in the correct way.

[Frank Fremerey]

Thank you. I tried it with PN and it did not work.

[Andrew]

D500 with 35/1.4 AIs
Processed in C1 ver 9

[Danulon]

I purchased this lens, too, kind of x-mas present. 
I love this peculiar bokeh!

Sample picture:

[richardHaw]

I am really liking this lens but unfortunately the really short focus throw is driving my nuts

[Frank Fremerey]

I purchased this lens, too, kind of x-mas present.    I love this peculiar bokeh!  Sample picture:

Guenther: that is the spirit. Some love it, Something likes it!!!!

[PeterN]

Now I want to have the 1.4 AIS too...

[John Geerts]

I prefer this one to the other 35's 

[Roland Vink]

I am really liking this lens but unfortunately the really short focus throw is driving my nuts

Get the AI version
Only you also trade the 9-blade aperture for a 7-blade aperture (very early AI converted Nikkor-N 35/1.4 also have 9 blades but they have yellow radioactive glass )

[Jack Dahlgren]

I have the AI and really enjoy using it.  The bokeh really varies by subject and f stop. Here are a couple from today first at f/4 second at f/1.4




I like the wide open look myself when it adds texture.

[John Koerner]

The 35mm -  f/1.4 AIS with the Fuji S5 Pro.

I purchased this lens, too, kind of x-mas present. 
I love this peculiar bokeh!

Sample picture:

Both of these are really, really nice.