We love our manual focus Nikkor lenses!


50mm AIS @ f1.2
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Hi, tonight I will be taking delivery of a Nikon Micro 105mm f2.8 AI-S, my very first manual len. I will need to add a HS 14 hood and a extension tube in order to get 1:1 magnification for macro. I understand a PN-11 extension tube is required. Request advice whether both items are available locally and any 3rd party extension tubes that are compatible. Thanks
 

I have been doing a fair bit of work travel lately, some times I have time over the weekend to do some shooting.

Been thinking about how to extend my "range" without breaking my back. And one of those ranges is macro.

So out came my AiS 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor. So much smaller than the AFD or AFS 60mm, doesn't add much weigh to the bag but boy does it add flexibility to do some macro!

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Last edited:
diediealsomustdive said:
I have been doing a fair bit of work travel lately, some times I have time over the weekend to do some shooting.

Been thinking about how to extend my "range" without breaking my back. And one of those ranges is macro.

So out came my AiS 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor. So much smaller than the AFD or AFS 60mm, doesn't add much weigh to the bag but boy does it add flexibility to do some macro!

Which body did u use to pair up the 55mm?
 

Which body did u use to pair up the 55mm?

I am using the D300 with the 55mm, still here in Japan! I really am loving the 55mm for its resolution and size!

I see from your sig that you have all the big boys: 14-24, 24-70, 70-200II (and 50/1.5G, AFS60 as well). That's no a combi I would travel with, surely break my back. Nor do I want to pay for, too cheap sake to pay for the big 3 (although I do have the 80-200/2.8D)!
 

I just picked up a 105mm 2.5 AIS yesterday, and I'm pretty impressed with it!

01_soccer_match.jpg


02_flower.jpg


02_terrapin.jpg


It's pretty sharp wide open, but I get quite a lot of chromatic aberrations in the OOF areas when I do so. Is this characteristic of this lens or is my copy not that good?
 

yup, the 105mm f2.5 is indeed a real sweet lens. unfortunately, i don't use it often enough :embrass:

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nikon 105mm f2.5

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nikon 50mm f1.4 nikkor s non ai
 

I just picked up a 105mm 2.5 AIS yesterday, and I'm pretty impressed with it!

It's pretty sharp wide open, but I get quite a lot of chromatic aberrations in the OOF areas when I do so. Is this characteristic of this lens or is my copy not that good?

Probably due to the older design which strikes the film plane not at a right angle, a requirement for digital sensor but not for film. Not sure though, can you show examples? I must pull mine out to test run it. Bought it new in 1985.
 

On a wild and wacky adventure now; am part of a group of photogs who's sharing a lens.
An old 1970s 85mm f/1.8 HC AI-ed contributed by an Australian photog
It moves from each photog to another, each having only 2 weeks with it.
It's my turn now, and I'm the 2nd on the list. Shipping to Hong Kong next. Then Europe, Canada, US
With 23 participants, it'll go back to Australia in almost a year! lol

Taken with the 45PC-E:



Nikki (CKC_7404) by Zichar, on Flickr
 

Probably due to the older design which strikes the film plane not at a right angle, a requirement for digital sensor but not for film. Not sure though, can you show examples? I must pull mine out to test run it. Bought it new in 1985.

Sure thing. Sample 1, notice the mynahs further away and the cars in the background.
01_mynahs.jpg


Sample 2, the edges of the flower petals.
02_flower-1.jpg


Sample 3, almost the whole watch face.
03_watch.jpg


These were shot on a D300, I guess it wouldn't be so bad on film, D3 or D700 due to lower resolution.


On a wild and wacky adventure now; am part of a group of photogs who's sharing a lens.
An old 1970s 85mm f/1.8 HC AI-ed contributed by an Australian photog
It moves from each photog to another, each having only 2 weeks with it.
It's my turn now, and I'm the 2nd on the list. Shipping to Hong Kong next. Then Europe, Canada, US
With 23 participants, it'll go back to Australia in almost a year! lol

Taken with the 45PC-E:

Nice, a loaner programme? I wonder if Clubsnap would have something similar.
 

Haha not exactly, more like a see-what-you-shoot-with-this-lens kinda experiment
It's unique for me I suppose since I've never owned an 85 ... it's not an easy focal length to get used to
 

Sure thing. Sample 1, notice the mynahs further away and the cars in the background.
01_mynahs.jpg


Sample 2, the edges of the flower petals.
02_flower-1.jpg


Sample 3, almost the whole watch face.
03_watch.jpg


These were shot on a D300, I guess it wouldn't be so bad on film, D3 or D700 due to lower resolution.




Nice, a loaner programme? I wonder if Clubsnap would have something similar.

Horrible CA in OOF areas. These will still show in FX sensors too. However, in film the CA, together with the single layer coating of old lenses, will usually translate to slightly softer edges and focus, which some photographers using B/W film will actually find it pleasing and it gives old b/w photographs their "classic look". Back in the days when 90% of photos were shot in b/w, this may not be such a bad thing.

Suggestion to KCCHEW, try converting these to monochrome and see if they give you a nice effect.
 

Zichar said:
On a wild and wacky adventure now; am part of a group of photogs who's sharing a lens.
An old 1970s 85mm f/1.8 HC AI-ed contributed by an Australian photog
It moves from each photog to another, each having only 2 weeks with it.
It's my turn now, and I'm the 2nd on the list. Shipping to Hong Kong next. Then Europe, Canada, US
With 23 participants, it'll go back to Australia in almost a year! lol

Taken with the 45PC-E:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/zichar/7264625078/
Nikki (CKC_7404) by Zichar, on Flickr

Like your creative idea :)
 

Sure thing. Sample 1, notice the mynahs further away and the cars in the background.
01_mynahs.jpg


Sample 2, the edges of the flower petals.
02_flower-1.jpg


Sample 3, almost the whole watch face.
03_watch.jpg


These were shot on a D300, I guess it wouldn't be so bad on film, D3 or D700 due to lower resolution.

I get home quite late in the last few days and it was difficult to replicate the higher contrast level so I cannot confirm your situation. But my first reaction on seeing your photos is that perhaps the lens' coating is compromised. There may be fungus or fungus removal that had damaged the coatings. I don't know when I can replicate the situation, not in the week or two, but I will try. I have several MF 105mm f/2.5 - 2 of them non-Ai, the last AiS. I will check them all.

The D3 and D700 have the same resolution as D300, just the pixels are not packed so tightly - in other words the pixels are bigger. Not too sure if there will be a difference, but I can also check as I have a loaner D700 with me for the next 2 weeks.
 

Thanks for the suggestions bros, maybe I'll go back to the shop I bought my lens from and ask to test their non-ai versions. Too bad I didn't see aberrations this bad at the shop, looks like I have to be more careful next time.
 

Thanks for the suggestions bros, maybe I'll go back to the shop I bought my lens from and ask to test their non-ai versions. Too bad I didn't see aberrations this bad at the shop, looks like I have to be more careful next time.

you can't mount non-ai lenses on your d300. iirc, you can only mount non ai lenses on the dxxxx and the d40 and 60 bodies
 

Azzuri is correct, unless the lens has been AI converted. Or use low end bodies D40, 60, 3000, 3100, etc.
 

Maiden contribution
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100mm 2.8 E
 

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