Nikon Series E - 36-72/3.5

[Bjørn Rørslett]

You can get higher magnification.

[Marco Lanciani]

The portion of the plant visible in my photos is about 10mm... Perhaps I'm not so wrong if I say 2:1 or 2,5:1...

Yet is having fun with what we have... sometime some serious work can be achieved too.

[Roland Vink]

Only one question. I've found not easy to mount the BR2A on the camera: it looks like it forces a bit before the "click". Is there any compatibility issue or it is due just the small grip available?

I had the older BR2 for many years which I used with my FE2. Since getting my D600 I bought a new BR2A, which supposedly has a modification to make it compatible with AF cameras. I always assumed it had some material cut away to provide clearance for the contacts inside the camera. But I had exactly the same problem as you - the BR2A was extremely tight to put on, at first I thought it wouldn't fit at all. After checking that it was not jamming against anything and causing damage, I just pushed a little harder and it clicked in.

The side with the F-mount is just a simple mount, with nothing protruding that might hit the contact block of an AF camera. After my trouble fitting it to my D600, I compared it closely with my BR2 and can't find any difference. I tried my BR2 and it's the same - tight but it will go on with no issues. I'm really not sure why there are two versions of this adapter?? Maybe the bayonet flange is a shade big and need a bit of wearing in, although I never had any problems when I used it on my FE2.

[Marco Lanciani]

I tried the BR-2A adapter on my old Nikon: the FE went smooth, FM2 and F90 less smooth.

So, I tried again on the D7000 and went less tight than the first time... so I tried also my D80 - no more cameras here  - and found that it was as much as tight as the D7000 the first time.

My conclusion... There are actually three ways to mount the adapter: there are three flanges so rotate each time by 120°.
You might find that one of the three positions is a tad smoother than the others. Can you confirm this, Roland?

[Roland Vink]

BR2A - Fits D600, FE2 and FM3A in all three positions. The fit is tight, tightest on the F600 (this is my newest camera so the mount may be less worn)

BR2 - One slot does not click in any of my D600, FE2 or FM3A. Looking at the mount from the side it appears the lens locking slot is in slightly the wrong place  so can't engage with the lens locking pin. Another slot fits the D600 and FE2 but not the FM3A - it seems to slide over the lens locking pin but the pin never engages. Maybe the slot is a little too short or narrow for the pin to go in. The third position works for all three cameras. Again, the D600 is tightest.

The only difference I can see between the BR2 and BR2A is that the lens locking slots are very slightly longer and wider, so they have less trouble engaging with the lens locking pin on the camera.

[BW]

I came upon this thread and suddenly realized that I had FM2 lying around somewhere. It actually had the 36-72 f3,5 lens mounted. I immediately put it on the Df and took it out for a spin, and boy was I surprised to see what that lens could deliver The horses was as usual, the models. Picture shot at ISO 140, 1/160 sec, f5,6, 36 mm. Minimal processing. Color was super, definition ok, easy to correct CA and sharpness ok. All in all a lens worth using a standard zoom on my Df.

[Frank Fremerey]

Borge. The shot is wonderful. The monochrome setting plus the warm brown fur. Love it.


I bought the lens a while ago and use it from time to time.

[BW]

Thanks Frank! The lens was a pleasant surprise. It was rescued from a lifetime in the closet.

[oldfauser]

I just dug mine out of the display cabinet; I'll give it a go tomorrow 

on the shelf next to my 36-72/3.5 is my old 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 AI-s; any thoughts on that lens?

Art

[BW]

I dont know about the lens you mention, but it might just have its own thread in here. Try the search function. I also have a few other old lenses to test.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I just dug mine out of the display cabinet; I'll give it a go tomorrow 

on the shelf next to my 36-72/3.5 is my old 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 AI-s; any thoughts on that lens?

Art

Start a new thread for the 35-105, please.

[richardHaw]

I just saw one this afternoon during my junk hunting session. so tempted to get this lens because of this thread (or the sexy 70-210AF there) but i currently do not have the place for it now. 

the range is more useful than the 43-86  which i found rather odd...

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I just saw one this afternoon during my junk hunting session. so tempted to get this lens because of this thread (or the sexy 70-210AF there) but i currently do not have the place for it now. 

the range is more useful than the 43-86  which i found rather odd...

On the contrary, the 43-86 mm range is very logical. Remember the diagonal of the 24x36 frame is 43 mm. Thus that 43-86 mm  zoom range is "normal" to "half normal" in terms of angle of field.

[richardHaw]

36 would be better suited for me.

i just don't know how much plastic was used on the 36-72. i will probably get that lens one day when i am in the mood...currently have another 43-86(ai version) to restore. it's fungus killing time!

i do like the 40-45mm focal length to be honest (i love the GN)

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The mount of the 36-72 is, by the way, really deserving the 'odd' designation. It is a layered pancake stack and a real pain to deal with for lens chipping. Apart from the materials feeling low quality there is nothing cheap or easy to assemble about this construction, so unfathomable that Nikon could save much money by the design.