Really enjoyed your review. You do a wonderful job illustrating your comments on color and background blur, sharpness with your images. I also appreciate your very calm presentations - I have watched many of your videos and there is never any drama, shilling, crazy camera angles, etc. Just relaxing and informative videos. Cheers!
At least I have 3 of these lenses. The 55 3.5 lives on my camera. Fortunately it looks like prices on the Nikkor 85s have started coming down. I've been waiting for a good deal on a 35 2.8 hasn't happened just yet. But I have a 35 2 OC so I'll just continue to wait. Managed to get a crazy good deal on a 50 1.4. I'd been looking for a 50 2, then found an early H silver nose at a decent price. If you can wait the deals are out there for Nikkors
Of my collection of Nikkor manuals the stand out lenses are the 85mm f2, and the 25-50 f4. This zoom lens is a gem, with fantastic color rendering. The look is difficult to describe, but images have a natural looking sharpness with a wonderful 3D, tactile immersive quality.
It's the longevity of support for their legacy products that led me to nikon to begin with. As everyone knows it's the glass that costs the most money but using vintage lenses on digital camera bodies is how I learned photography. And honestly how I could afford to pursue it
As others have pointed out there are some subtle differences in the F mount. Pre-AI lenses need to be adapted to fit any post AI lenses. The AI lenses use a tab to index the aperture found on the base of the lens mount. Pre-AI use the bunny ears to catch a tab to index. Mounting a Pre-AI lens that hasn't been converted will usually damage the catching tab on the body side as the notch hasn't been cut out to accommodate. That said this has no bearing on adapter mounts they tend to clear those no problem. AI lenses can mount backwards though since they are equipped with the ears. Anywho otherwise fun video looking forward to next week!
Some of the best lenses and cameras ever made were from Nikon. The only problem is finding somewhere to get them serviced, like the 105mm 2.5 ais. A terrific lens review. I was right about the Nikon Fe camera.
I own most of the wide aperture Nikkors from the 24/2 to the 34/1.4, 55/1.2, 85/1.4 and on up to the 180/2.8. All beautiful lenses and I find that I frequently shoot wide open, especially doing street photography. I am especially fond of my 55/3.5 macro. Super sharp! I shoot mostly black and white film through my F2, F3 and F4s so, the chromatic aberration is almost never an issue for me. I find that the wide aperture lenses often behave much better when stopped down 1 or 2 stops. It's nice to have the option to open it up the whole way though.
A nice review. I have a full family of Nikkor lenses, from 20mm to 300mm. My 35mm is the f2 version and the 24mm doesn't distort architecture shots. Great lenses, great build. I use mine primarily for landscape shooting. I do prefer a Jupiter 9 over the Nikkor 85mm for portraiture use.
Hallo Nigel, sehr schöne Objektive! Vielen Dank für die Vorstellung! Ich habe das Nikkor AI-S 1.8/50mm Pancake! Auch dieses ist hervorragend und bildet mit der Nikon EM eine kompakte Einheit zum immer Dabeihaben! Ich kann es einfach in den Rucksack stecken. Liebe Grüße Ralf
I used an FM2 with a 50 1.4 AI-S as my main camera/lens for over a decade. Obviously that was with film so I couldn't evaluate it's good or bad points in the same way you can sticking it on a mirrorless. However, I was entirely happy with it. With hindsight I used it at maximum aperture far too often but the biggest advantage for me with a very fast lens on an SLR is the nice bright image in the viewfinder.
The 35 is a pre ai lens. The bayonet did not change since 59; but you have to be very careful about mounting those older lenses on the post 1977 bodies. You can do damage to the body. Other than that, I agree with everything you said. I own all of these lenses and I love them all.
Great video interrupted by one of YT's gawd awful advertisements. This is getting out of hand. I have a few Nikkor lenses and CA is a huge problem. I shot my 300mm with an adapter on my A7R3. This is something I never noticed when shooting my my Nikon F2, so maybe shooting on film is different to not be noticeable, or I wasn't concerned about it.
a lot of nikkor's were redesigned in the 60's for contrast. those redesigns also came with C/A. some early nikkor's have much less C/A such as the 35 2.8 and the 58 1.4
Tho' I'm not a Nikon user. I can remember reading that old Nikkor lenses, were right up there with Leica, back in the late 50's and early 60's. So, don't be put off by their age. These would've been hand-crafted, in their day, and the optics fashioned out of Lead-glass. Buy yourself an adapter and try one on a modern, mirrorless DSLR. You wont regret it, if you can find one that is?
If using the F mount then yes any lens for F mount from 59 til now will mount up. But if you're using the new Z mount you will need an adapter. Having said that __ you can use a "dumb" adapter which cost very little money and be off to the races on that system as well.
@@randydean23 Nikon make an F to Z adapter which is very sophisticated but also very expensive, about £250 I think. You can get a simple one, basically a tube with the relevant mounts at each end, for under £20 which many people would find adequate for their needs.
Hi, the 50mm f1.4 beats its small brother, the 50mm f2 in every aspect. Even stopped down to the sweet spot, it gives sharper images across the entiere field.
I'm sure you're right, but the 50 f2 can make some very nice images. Although it may not be technically perfect, it has a lovely character, in my view anyway. Thanks for looking in.
The 50mm f2 was never made in af. Nikon dropped the f2 in January 1979 and rename it the f1.8 simply to keep up with the Jones's as all the other manufacturers were rebranding their 50mm's. You're right about the lenses will fit the modern Nikon DSLR's but there's a few exceptions. Your 55mm macro will not work and will probably even damage a newer camera (except one of the new mirrorless Z Nikon's adapted ) because there's no cutout on those pre ai lenses for the auto indexing tab on the cameras and if you try to fit it you'll break off the plastic tab leaving you with a nice big repair bill. Also the smaller D3000 and D5000 series cameras are made for the newer AFS lenses with electric motored apertures. But you can find some of the pre AI lenses with factory AI aperture rings especially the last of them which are multi coated which explains the difference in colour you are seeing. You really need to include the 50mm f1.8 AIs Nikkor pancakes of which there's 2 different versions one for the Japanese home market and the other for the rest of the world and as far as i can tell with yhe 2 examples i have the only difference is the closest focus distance on the Japanese one is .45m the other is .6m and both have better coatings than the 50mm f1.8 E series Nikon which in it's self is a very under rated lens. Great seeing a Nikon lens review
My 50mm f1.4 (bought used in 1979 with an FM) and 20mm f2.8 are sitting unused because film is prohibitively expensive and I can’t afford a full frame Nikon DSLR. They are useless on my cheap D5200 because of no metering and the kit lens already covers the adjusted range.
None of these 5 Nikon lenses are legendary. Reading your description mentioning a 80mm Nikon lens I was expecting a video of the F3AF Autofocus 80mm f/2.8 lens, which is in my mind legendary wide open at f/2.8 upto f/16. Focuses on a F3/AF camera or a F4 camera (Not on a F4s or F4e camera, it could even damage your camera or lens) But you reviewing the AI 85mm f/2.0 lens which is not good at f/2 and f/2.8. A 3 out 5 lens. Much beter (5 out 5) is the 1975 85mm f/1.8 non-AI lens, K version could be converted to a AI type of lens with a AI kit 37 from Nikon ….
My first Nikon was the Nikon FM with 50 f1.4 too. pre-ai lenses can damage digital mounts. I miss the feel of those old Nikon Ais lenses. And I miss how small those lenses are. One disagreement - the 43-86 has to be one one of if not Nikons' very worst lenses. but zooms were new than and mot were terrible.🦘
As I understand it there were three versions of the 43-86, the first (which I haven't shot) is universally known as awful, however the 2nd and 3rd versions are usually considered much better. Mine's the second version and I thought it pretty nice! Certainly nicer than most cheap zooms from the 70s/80s.
I believe the Nikon FE - unlike the FM - is not all mechanical. It has an electronic shutter. Very helpful lens review👍
Think he meant to say FM and the Nikon he's hold is indeed an FM.
You're right, I meant to say FM, thanks for the correction.
@@zenography7923 I don't know whether it's actually M for mechanical and E for electronic but it's a handy way of remembering.
@@zenography7923 Thanks for clarifying this. I noticed it as well.
You've got some eagle-eyed followers out here, Nigel! Best...
Thanks for the nice reviews! You really should get a look at the 105mm 2.5 ais lens, my all time favorite, and quite cheap also!
I'll look out for one, thanks for the tip.
Really enjoyed your review. You do a wonderful job illustrating your comments on color and background blur, sharpness with your images. I also appreciate your very calm presentations - I have watched many of your videos and there is never any drama, shilling, crazy camera angles, etc. Just relaxing and informative videos. Cheers!
Thank you so much, very glad you're enjoying the videos.
At least I have 3 of these lenses. The 55 3.5 lives on my camera. Fortunately it looks like prices on the Nikkor 85s have started coming down. I've been waiting for a good deal on a 35 2.8 hasn't happened just yet. But I have a 35 2 OC so I'll just continue to wait. Managed to get a crazy good deal on a 50 1.4. I'd been looking for a 50 2, then found an early H silver nose at a decent price. If you can wait the deals are out there for Nikkors
Of my collection of Nikkor manuals the stand out lenses are the 85mm f2, and the 25-50 f4. This zoom lens is a gem, with fantastic color rendering. The look is difficult to describe, but images have a natural looking sharpness with a wonderful 3D, tactile immersive quality.
I'll look out for one, thanks for the tip.
It's the longevity of support for their legacy products that led me to nikon to begin with. As everyone knows it's the glass that costs the most money but using vintage lenses on digital camera bodies is how I learned photography. And honestly how I could afford to pursue it
Vintage lenses are much cheaper, and much fun too!
As others have pointed out there are some subtle differences in the F mount. Pre-AI lenses need to be adapted to fit any post AI lenses. The AI lenses use a tab to index the aperture found on the base of the lens mount. Pre-AI use the bunny ears to catch a tab to index.
Mounting a Pre-AI lens that hasn't been converted will usually damage the catching tab on the body side as the notch hasn't been cut out to accommodate. That said this has no bearing on adapter mounts they tend to clear those no problem.
AI lenses can mount backwards though since they are equipped with the ears.
Anywho otherwise fun video looking forward to next week!
Thanks for looking in, glad you enjoyed it.
I hope you remembered to get Zorki to sign a model release form.
I did, but his reply was inscrutable. I took it for a yes.
Some of the best lenses and cameras ever made were from Nikon. The only problem is finding somewhere to get them serviced, like the 105mm 2.5 ais. A terrific lens review. I was right about the Nikon Fe camera.
You're right, I meant to say FM. Thanks for looking in, glad you enjoyed it.
I own most of the wide aperture Nikkors from the 24/2 to the 34/1.4, 55/1.2, 85/1.4 and on up to the 180/2.8. All beautiful lenses and I find that I frequently shoot wide open, especially doing street photography. I am especially fond of my 55/3.5 macro. Super sharp! I shoot mostly black and white film through my F2, F3 and F4s so, the chromatic aberration is almost never an issue for me. I find that the wide aperture lenses often behave much better when stopped down 1 or 2 stops. It's nice to have the option to open it up the whole way though.
Those sound like some very nice lenses, enjoy!
Very interesting! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
A nice review. I have a full family of Nikkor lenses, from 20mm to 300mm. My 35mm is the f2 version and the 24mm doesn't distort architecture shots. Great lenses, great build. I use mine primarily for landscape shooting. I do prefer a Jupiter 9 over the Nikkor 85mm for portraiture use.
You have some fantastic lenses there, enjoy!
Hallo Nigel, sehr schöne Objektive! Vielen Dank für die Vorstellung! Ich habe das Nikkor AI-S 1.8/50mm Pancake! Auch dieses ist hervorragend und bildet mit der Nikon EM eine kompakte Einheit zum immer Dabeihaben! Ich kann es einfach in den Rucksack stecken. Liebe Grüße Ralf
Hallo Ralf, ich hatte einmal eine EM, eine sehr schöne kleine Kamera. Ich hoffe, bei dir ist alles in Ordnung, vielen Dank für deinen Besuch.
Very informative...thanks
I do enjoy these videos. You haven't been on a camera walk in a while. How about a walk and talk tutorial?
You're right, I should do an outside one soon, but it's been a bit chilly recently!
I used an FM2 with a 50 1.4 AI-S as my main camera/lens for over a decade. Obviously that was with film so I couldn't evaluate it's good or bad points in the same way you can sticking it on a mirrorless. However, I was entirely happy with it.
With hindsight I used it at maximum aperture far too often but the biggest advantage for me with a very fast lens on an SLR is the nice bright image in the viewfinder.
The 35 is a pre ai lens. The bayonet did not change since 59; but you have to be very careful about mounting those older lenses on the post 1977 bodies. You can do damage to the body. Other than that, I agree with everything you said. I own all of these lenses and I love them all.
Thanks for the info, appreciated.
I always marvel at your ability to describe colors from a lens.
Thank you!
Great video interrupted by one of YT's gawd awful advertisements. This is getting out of hand. I have a few Nikkor lenses and CA is a huge problem. I shot my 300mm with an adapter on my A7R3. This is something I never noticed when shooting my my Nikon F2, so maybe shooting on film is different to not be noticeable, or I wasn't concerned about it.
a lot of nikkor's were redesigned in the 60's for contrast. those redesigns also came with C/A. some early nikkor's have much less C/A such as the 35 2.8 and the 58 1.4
All Nikon F lenses are compatible with current F mount cameras except the non Ai ( exception to the DF model ). I love your videos btw ❤
Glad you're enjoying them, thanks!
The Video looks to show a Nikon FM which is fully mechanical.
The FE is Automatic Aperture Priority and has an electronic shutter.
🤗📷
You're right of course, thanks for the correction.
@
I love the Nikkor 85mm f2 Ais together with Nikkor 35mm f2 Non Ai, Ai and Ais as I have 5 of them even a import version.
Tho' I'm not a Nikon user. I can remember reading that old Nikkor lenses, were right up there with Leica, back in the late 50's and early 60's. So, don't be put off by their age. These would've been hand-crafted, in their day, and the optics fashioned out of Lead-glass. Buy yourself an adapter and try one on a modern, mirrorless DSLR. You wont regret it, if you can find one that is?
"Outside it is raining and gray today". AkA "England".
If using the F mount then yes any lens for F mount from 59 til now will mount up. But if you're using the new Z mount you will need an adapter. Having said that __ you can use a "dumb" adapter which cost very little money and be off to the races on that system as well.
@@randydean23 Nikon make an F to Z adapter which is very sophisticated but also very expensive, about £250 I think. You can get a simple one, basically a tube with the relevant mounts at each end, for under £20 which many people would find adequate for their needs.
Thanks for the info, appreciated.
Hi, the 50mm f1.4 beats its small brother, the 50mm f2 in every aspect. Even stopped down to the sweet spot, it gives sharper images across the entiere field.
I'm sure you're right, but the 50 f2 can make some very nice images. Although it may not be technically perfect, it has a lovely character, in my view anyway. Thanks for looking in.
00:36 nikon FE is definitely not all mechanical...
Thanks, meant to say FM.
The 50mm f2 was never made in af. Nikon dropped the f2 in January 1979 and rename it the f1.8 simply to keep up with the Jones's as all the other manufacturers were rebranding their 50mm's. You're right about the lenses will fit the modern Nikon DSLR's but there's a few exceptions. Your 55mm macro will not work and will probably even damage a newer camera (except one of the new mirrorless Z Nikon's adapted ) because there's no cutout on those pre ai lenses for the auto indexing tab on the cameras and if you try to fit it you'll break off the plastic tab leaving you with a nice big repair bill. Also the smaller D3000 and D5000 series cameras are made for the newer AFS lenses with electric motored apertures. But you can find some of the pre AI lenses with factory AI aperture rings especially the last of them which are multi coated which explains the difference in colour you are seeing. You really need to include the 50mm f1.8 AIs Nikkor pancakes of which there's 2 different versions one for the Japanese home market and the other for the rest of the world and as far as i can tell with yhe 2 examples i have the only difference is the closest focus distance on the Japanese one is .45m the other is .6m and both have better coatings than the 50mm f1.8 E series Nikon which in it's self is a very under rated lens. Great seeing a Nikon lens review
Glad you liked it, and thanks for the info!
No 105mm?
Or 135mm f/2.8?! They're both incredible lenses and not too expensive - I saw a decent 135mm for £109 yesterday.
Not yet, hopefully coming soon.
im not addicted to buying nikkor glass!!
Missing the 2.5/105 mm AI or AIS, the 2.8/28 mm AIS, the 2.8/55 mm AIS or 2,8/60 mm AFD, the 1.8/85 mm AFD…
I'll get to them eventually, thanks for the tips.
My 50mm f1.4 (bought used in 1979 with an FM) and 20mm f2.8 are sitting unused because film is prohibitively expensive and I can’t afford a full frame Nikon DSLR. They are useless on my cheap D5200 because of no metering and the kit lens already covers the adjusted range.
Maybe a used mirrorless might be helpful? FF Sony A7 mk1 is very cheap right now. I know what you mean about film - ouch!
None of these 5 Nikon lenses are legendary. Reading your description mentioning a 80mm Nikon lens I was expecting a video of the F3AF Autofocus 80mm f/2.8 lens, which is in my mind legendary wide open at f/2.8 upto f/16. Focuses on a F3/AF camera or a F4 camera (Not on a F4s or F4e camera, it could even damage your camera or lens) But you reviewing the AI 85mm f/2.0 lens which is not good at f/2 and f/2.8. A 3 out 5 lens. Much beter (5 out 5) is the 1975 85mm f/1.8 non-AI lens, K version could be converted to a AI type of lens with a AI kit 37 from Nikon ….
I'm sure there are better lenses than these, but all of these can make some pretty nice images I think. Thanks for the suggestions.
Would like to switch off that boring translator this end, missing your original voice❗🤔
You can change it in settings, the gear icon at the bottom right.
My first Nikon was the Nikon FM with 50 f1.4 too.
pre-ai lenses can damage digital mounts.
I miss the feel of those old Nikon Ais lenses.
And I miss how small those lenses are.
One disagreement - the 43-86 has to be one one of if not Nikons' very worst lenses.
but zooms were new than and mot were terrible.🦘
As I understand it there were three versions of the 43-86, the first (which I haven't shot) is universally known as awful, however the 2nd and 3rd versions are usually considered much better. Mine's the second version and I thought it pretty nice! Certainly nicer than most cheap zooms from the 70s/80s.
@@zenography7923 I only have memories of the first - enough to turn me off for a lifetime ...🦘