Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Ai-S!

[richardHaw]

https://richardhaw.com/2020/07/04/repair-zoom-nikkor-35-70mm-f-3-3-4-5-ai-s/

not a bad lens at all

[Roland Vink]

"Having said that, you can still buy one of these new when sold with new-old-stock Nikon FM10s or Nikon FE10s"

A small correction - the lens sold with the Cosina-made FM10 and FE10 is a 35-70/3.5-4.8. It is a different lens which is a little slower at the long end. It looks more plasticy overall, has no chrome grab-ring, and it has only 6 aperture blades instead of 7. I've not tried this lens so am not sure how it compares optically with the older lens.

[richardHaw]

"Having said that, you can still buy one of these new when sold with new-old-stock Nikon FM10s or Nikon FE10s"

A small correction - the lens sold with the Cosina-made FM10 and FE10 is a 35-70/3.5-4.8. It is a different lens which is a little slower at the long end. It looks more plasticy overall, has no chrome grab-ring, and it has only 6 aperture blades instead of 7. I've not tried this lens so am not sure how it compares optically with the older lens.

Thanks for clarifying!!!!

man, i am confused by these 2 lenses

[Roland Vink]

"the lens sold with the Cosina-made FM10 and FE10 is a 35-70/3.5-4.8. It is a different lens which is a little slower at the long end"

It's also slower at the wide end - f3.5 vs f3.3, so overall about 1/6 stop slower through the entire zoom range.

I had the AI-S 35-70/3.3-4.5 for a while some years ago. I bought it second hand, the shop had two, one showed focus shift when zooming, the other was better so I bought it. I took some good pictures with it but felt it was never quite as sharp as my AI-S primes so I sold it again.

[richardHaw]

I had the AI-S 35-70/3.3-4.5 for a while some years ago. I bought it second hand, the shop had two, one showed focus shift when zooming, the other was better so I bought it. I took some good pictures with it but felt it was never quite as sharp as my AI-S primes so I sold it again.

mine has terrible focus breathing

not sure about the focus shift. it can be tough to adjust a zoom back to factory standards. my guess is that it has been repaired.

[John Geerts]

Thanks for the write up, Richard.

This lens is not bad at all indeed and can give very satisfying results. The first AF version is of the same quality

[richardHaw]

Thanks for the write up, Richard.

This lens is not bad at all indeed and can give very satisfying results. The first AF version is of the same quality

Hello, does it have the same optical formula?

[John Geerts]

Yes, probably