We love our manual focus Nikkor lenses!


Hi giantcanopy,

Lovely series taken by the PC-E lenses :thumbsup:
 

The 85mm f2 ais is on my "want list" ;)

Though i already have the AF-D 85mm f1.4, its way too large and heavy to walk-about with.

Looks darn sharp wide open :) thanks for sharing!

Ai 85mm/2 wide open on a D300s
4686587203_9e71f28854_b.jpg
 

i don't mean to be a wet blanket, but it s probably alot more economical to wait out at BnS. the shops charge you ridiculous prices.. 350-420 for a 50 1.4 AIS.. you could buy the 55 1.2 for that price on BnS..

my 50 1.4 AI'D was a birthday present, my friend got it for $150 (only some exterior surface user mark wear, glass and mechanical no problems) at the shop I mentioned when they were having one of their monthly discounts ;)

(i'm guessing the AIS is more expensive? not sure what is the optical formula difference between all the different 50 1.4 variations)

here are some shots with it, should be wide open for all if I remember correctly

#1

5380713785_8e18d86100_z.jpg


#2 (colours intentionally tweaked in this shot)

5343148553_99cb47ceeb_z.jpg


#3

5339618720_2278d5cf53_z.jpg



#4

5266123965_f76995380c_z.jpg
 

my 50 1.4 AI'D was a birthday present, my friend got it for $150 (only some exterior surface user mark wear, glass and mechanical no problems) at the shop I mentioned when they were having one of their monthly discounts ;)

(i'm guessing the AIS is more expensive? not sure what is the optical formula difference between all the different 50 1.4 variations)

the nikkor-s is quite a pretty lens and you got it for a good price! just some differences:

pre AI lenses: mostly single coated(yellowish brown reflection). have to be adapted for AI cameras

Pre AI 'C' lenses: have a C behind the normal name. for example, Nikkor-O. C 35mm f:2. C stands for the newer multi coating. they re alot harder to find, but they should be better

AI'd: AKA AI converted. can be modified by hand, or factory retrofitted.

AI: for AI metering cameras. by this time, most have new coatings..

AI-S: in addition to AI, they has a standardized aperture mechanism for things like shutter priority or P modes where the camera controls the aperture. this is very important. an AI or AI converted lens may work properly in A and M, but will give inconsistent exposure when the camera sets the aperture. almost all AIS lenses have the new NIC coatings which are greenish blue.

to my knowledge, the 50 1.4 was optically redesigned from pre AI to AI, got new coatings, and a new exterior look.
 

Last edited:
I'm using manual AIS lenses on my 7D and I'm absolutely loving it.

From the 105mm f2.5 AIS during Thaipusam




From the 35mm f1.4 AIS (sorry if it's heavily edited)
 

the nikkor-s is quite a pretty lens and you got it for a good price! just some differences:

pre AI lenses: mostly single coated(yellowish brown reflection). have to be adapted for AI cameras

Pre AI 'C' lenses: have a C behind the normal name. for example, Nikkor-O. C 35mm f:2. C stands for the newer multi coating. they re alot harder to find, but they should be better

AI'd: AKA AI converted. can be modified by hand, or factory retrofitted.

AI: for AI metering cameras. by this time, most have new coatings..

AI-S: in addition to AI, they has a standardized aperture mechanism for things like shutter priority or P modes where the camera controls the shutter. this is very important. an AI or AI converted lens may work properly in A and M, but will give inconsistent exposure when the camera sets the aperture. almost all AIS lenses have the new NIC coatings which are greenish blue.

to my knowledge, the 50 1.4 was optically redesigned from pre AI to AI, got new coatings, and a new exterior look.

Great info Ben.

Here is some detailed info to read also.
http://www.cameraquest.com/aidaiais.htm
 

thanks for the information!

anyway just a side thought... how many of us here like our lenses with the scalloped grip design?
 

Great info Ben.

Here is some detailed info to read also.
http://www.cameraquest.com/aidaiais.htm

and a quick run down on nikkor lens coating:

5238681131_b83510b2a5_z.jpg


the oldest is the purple from the 5.8cm f/1.4

pre ai lenses usually have the orange one on the nikkor s 50 1.4

then came the blue one on newer pre ai lenses. these lenses have the 'C' as can be seen on this nikkor H.C. quite rare, i suddenly regret selling that one.. haha.

last is the NIC coating which is green in the AIS 50 f2 and 55 3.5 macro.

series E lenses have yet another coating.. but im not all that sure.

i d be interested to know if you have seen other nikon coatings...

here's a good site with all the production dates/versions tagged to serial numbers. lots to go through:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html
 

Nice thread we got here! Great to know that there are still many of us sharing the same affection for Nikkor manual focus lenses here.

Sharing some of my humble shots from Nikkor 50mm 1.2Ais lens below:

FM3a Ilford Delta 400


FM3a Ilford Delta 400


D300


D300
 

and a quick run down on nikkor lens coating:

5238681131_b83510b2a5_m.jpg


the oldest is the purple from the 5.8cm f/1.4

pre ai lenses usually have the orange one on the nikkor s 50 1.4

then came the blue one on newer pre ai lenses. these lenses have the 'C' as can be seen on this nikkor H.C. quite rare, i suddenly regret selling that one.. haha.

last is the NIC coating which is green in the AIS 50 f2 and 55 3.5 macro.

series E lenses have yet another coating.. but im not all that sure.

i d be interested to know if you have seen other nikon coatings...

here's a good site with all the production dates/versions tagged to serial numbers. lots to go through:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

Ai lenses' coatings are mostly green too. And I have seen some Ais lenses with pinkish coatings as well. So hard to tell sometimes.
 

Taken with the PC-E 24mm. Not exactly an aged design but its manual.....

4179619273_87d8a8ecfa_z.jpg


4846355929_73016b6b30_z.jpg


4232702768_56720b516e_z.jpg

 

Taken with the PC-E 24mm. Not exactly an aged design but its manual.....

4179619273_87d8a8ecfa_z.jpg


4846355929_73016b6b30_z.jpg


2nd one is just fantastic! love them!!! did you use the tilt/shift for any of them?
 

The 85mm f2 ais is on my "want list" ;)
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same here... been looking for the 85mm f2 too (albeit not so much actively looking). images produced from it does really look good and is much cheaper than the f1.4. if you don't need the speed, that's one :thumbsup: lens to go for
 

the nikkor-s is quite a pretty lens and you got it for a good price! just some differences:

pre AI lenses: mostly single coated(yellowish brown reflection). have to be adapted for AI cameras

Pre AI 'C' lenses: have a C behind the normal name. for example, Nikkor-O. C 35mm f:2. C stands for the newer multi coating. they re alot harder to find, but they should be better

AI'd: AKA AI converted. can be modified by hand, or factory retrofitted.

well put ben :thumbsup:

on top of that, it is still possible to factory ai the non ai lenses. don't think that nikon does it anymore but there are still shops that have some of the ai kits around.

however, the kits are pretty specific to the batch. so if you want to ai the lens, you will need to check with the shop if they still have the kit by letting them know the serial number. here is some info on the kits.
 

thanks for the information!

anyway just a side thought... how many of us here like our lenses with the scalloped grip design?

me! :bsmilie:

my 24mm and 35mm are the scalloped versions and i had specifically hunted them down. the feel is pretty different from the later models as it has a heck lot more metal. feel that the scalloped grip is easier to hold too but that is pretty subjective.

can't go wrong with either
 

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?
 

I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?

You can focus using the electronic rangefinder in your camera, but it takes some getting used to. Personally, I use manual lenses because my dad has them still in good condition, so I rather use them instead of spending more money on other glass. :)
 

For me, manual lenses appeal because :

1. They are damn solidly built! Mostly all metal construction.
2. They have dept-of-field scale on the barrel. This makes hyperfocal distance focusing easier.
3. They have history, some were made since 1959.
4. It feels great to focus manually using a manual focus lens.
5. The sound of precision click's when you turn the aperture ring. New nikon lens are mostly "G" type and no longer have aperture rings.

My first manual focus nikkor AFTER i had gone digital in 2004, is the 50mm f2 ais.
I had read some literature about this humble lens at a nikon website. Click here http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/nikkor/n02_e.htm

since then i have obtained a scallop barrel pre-ai nikkor-o 35mm f2, a 24mm f2 ais ( which i am still testing!).

When you use a manual focus lens on a manual focus film slr like the FM2, FM3A, F3 or F's..the feeling is just complete!



I am slowly catching on the manual virus. I'm totally new to this field. Can I find out from you guys, why manual lenses appeal to you? I read somewhere you'll need spilt prism for better focusing. Can I just focus with the existing cam viewfinder?
 

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