Best Vintage Nikon lenses.

Nikon 2 · Mar 16, 2023

What are your opinions on the best vintage Nikon lenses from pre AI to AI-s…?

rulnacco · Mar 16, 2023

My suggestions will be limited compared to the many members here who have had experience with so many more than I have, but here are my faves (all, unless indicated, are AI-S):

24mm/F2.8 Mine seems to be quite sharp stopped down a bit. Some folks are not real keen on this lens, but if you need this wide, it's quite good really--I can't complain.
28mm/F2.0 Very useful focal length, very sharp (quite good wide open), fast. Often ranked as one of the best manual focus Nikkors.
35mm/F1.4 Wide open, has a lot of "character" (which you may or may not like), but stopped down is quite sharp. And it's nice to have the 1.4, even though it isn't at its best there, certainly.
50mm/F1.8 I have the "long nose" version. Many people *really* like the Japanese pancake version. Nothing special, just good, sharp, cheap and compact.
105mm/F2.5 The legendary Nikon portrait lens. You can find modern lenses in this focal length that are sharper, but this has *good* character--see Steve McCurry's famous Afghan girl photo.
75-150mm/F3.5 A Series E lens, and maybe the very best one. A real sleeper, many fashion photographers championed it back in the day. Mine is *extraordinarily* sharp, even and especially on digital as well as film. Many suffer from "zoom creep" (I'm lucky, I found one practically mint that doesn't have it), but a strip of gaffer tape will fix it well enough.
180mm/F2.8 AF This is an autofocus lens--but it works *great* on manual focus cameras, as it has a wide and well-damped focusing ring. I've got the hammertone-finish version, which is a little more ergonomic than the earlier AF version. There are AI(-S) versions, too, but really, the AF version is great and the fact it's internally focusing adds to that.
80-200/F4.5 N Highly regarded back in the day, this one (it's manual focus/AI) is actually still very useful, even on digital (although, of course, it's nowhere near as convenient there as it would be, comparatively, on a manual focus camera). Quite sharp, an excellent early zoom lens--dirt cheap nowadays. Get the version with the rectangular rear baffle--Ken Rockwell (yeah, I know--but just look at the sample photos on the page for this lens, they prove what he says in this case) raves about it here: https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/80-200mm-f45-n.htm.

Another one which will definitely get cited, which I've kind of lusted after but never owned, is the 85mm/F1.4 AI-S. And I've heard excellent things about the 105mm/F1.8. Both have always been a bit out of my budget for how much I would use them.

madNbad · Mar 16, 2023

28 2.8 Ai-S
45 GN non Ai
50 2.0 non Ai
55 2.8 Macro Ai-S
85 1.8 non Ai
105 2.5 any
105 macro

Bronson Dugnutt · Mar 16, 2023

Nikkor-S Auto 5.8cm F1.4

Nikon seems to reserve the 58mm focal length for its oddball glass.

Melvin J Bramley · Mar 16, 2023

28 f3.5 AI
28 F2 non AI
50 F1.8 AI
50 F2 AI
55 f2.8 micro AIS
80 F2 AI
75-150 3.5 series E
300 F4.5 IFED AI
Autofocus..
180 F2.* IFED
Believe it or not... 24-120 AFD.

Beverly Hills · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
What are your opinions on the best vintage Nikon lenses from pre AI to AI-S

From Ken Rockwells point of view, the 50mm f/1.8 is the better choice in comparison to 50mm f/1.4 AI or the
50mm f/1.2 ????
Because of pricing !!! And because of better quality at highest speed. And because of smaller dimension and weight.

Pls. do not confuse with later 50mm f/1.8 Serie E !!!!

have a nice day

Beverly Hills · Mar 17, 2023

Melvin J Bramley said:
28 f3.5 AI

The 28mm f/3.5 was my favorite lens for portraits some
years ago.
Who stated a good photographer HAVE to use 85mm
for shooting portrait ?........have a nice time!

FriedLouisStudio · Mar 17, 2023

These are all non-AI, my pro parents had been accumulating Nikkor lenses (and Nikkorex, Nikkormat, and Nikon bodies) since 1963, and we didn't feel any need to make the leap into AI gear. I have shot with most of these lenses recently: despite their age and heavy use, none has ever required so much as a CLA! The favorites I use most are bold.

28/3.5 (1968)
35/2 (1972)
45/2.8 GN (1969)
50/1.4 (1973 - we had several, and a 50/2 earlier... but I don't care for the 50mm look, so I hardly use it)
55/3.5 Micro (1972)
105/2.5 (1966)
13.5cm/3.5 (1961)
200/4 (1973)

We had the infamous 43-86/3.5 zoom from early on too, but I can't recommend it!

Nikon 2 · Mar 17, 2023

madNbad said:
28 2.8 Ai-S
45 GN non Ai
50 2.0 non Ai
55 2.8 Macro Ai-S
85 1.8 non Ai
105 2.5 any
105 macro

Why do you prefer the 50mm f/2 non AI...?

Nikon 2 · Mar 17, 2023

Any comments on a Nikkor 35mm f/2 O.C...?

madNbad · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Why do you prefer the 50mm f/2 non AI...?

I have owned a bunch over the years. Mostly the chrome nose Nikkor-H but there were a couple of early 50 2.0 Nikkor-S and my personal favorite the late run Nikkor-HC with both the scalloped focusing and aperture rings. Most of the many Nikons I owned (almost all were the plain prism F) or Nikkormats didn’t need the Ai coupling and I wasn’t a fan of the rubber ring on lenses until the introduction of the Ai-S line. I liked the handling, size and rendering better than the Nikkor-S 50 1.4. I felt keeping with period appropriate lens for the bodies I was using.
I did have a Df for a few years and used mostly chipped Ai-S lenses, including the fabulous 50 1.8. Both the 28 2.8 and the 50 1.8 Ai-S are among the best manual focus lenses Nikon made.

madNbad · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Any comments on a Nikkor 35mm f/2 O.C...?

The early non Ai ones from its introduction are heavy, have a long focus throw and aren’t particularly sharp at the edges. The Ai-S is the pick. Slimmed down, good optics and a joy to use.

gorbas · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Any comments on a Nikkor 35mm f/2 O.C...?

Flares very easily, barely usable at f2, nice metal construction, Ai 2/35 was much better and it's version I prefer.

Christiaan Phleger · Mar 17, 2023

Wow all the way from Pr-AI up to Ai-S? This list will be long, Nikon during this ere made huge gains in every area of lens manufacturing (as did every lens maker).

As in any award show, there are many categories.

Best Telephoto Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF Ai.
Best Wide Nikkor-N 35mm f/1.4
Best Normal Nikkor Noct 58mm f/1.2
Best Mid-tele Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 Ai-S
Best Slow Wide Angle That's Fast Enough with good bokeh in a light package that is really cheap and astoundingly sharp with deep color saturation and made in large quantities so it's easy to find Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 Ai
Best Medium Telephoto Zoom That Lives In The Car Trunk attached to an ancient Nikkormat that is most useful and really sharp and so cheap you can forget about it Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 N

Basically you have to collect them all and then you see that all of the Nikon lenses from that particular era are at least very good and all have useful qualities even if they are the slower or the more budget version. I have and love the 28mm f/2 but I often choose to shoot with the not very well regarded 28mm f/2.8 Ai Non-CRC since I like how it looks in color.

Nikon 2 · Mar 17, 2023

Christiaan Phleger said:
Wow all the way from Pr-AI up to Ai-S? This list will be long, Nikon during this ere made huge gains in every area of lens manufacturing (as did every lens maker).

As in any award show, there are many categories.

Best Telephoto Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF Ai.
Best Wide Nikkor-N 35mm f/1.4
Best Normal Nikkor Noct 58mm f/1.2
Best Mid-tele Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 Ai-S
Best Slow Wide Angle That's Fast Enough with good bokeh in a light package that is really cheap and astoundingly sharp with deep color saturation and made in large quantities so it's easy to find Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 Ai
Best Medium Telephoto Zoom That Lives In The Car Trunk attached to an ancient Nikkormat that is most useful and really sharp and so cheap you can forget about it Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 N

Basically you have to collect them all and then you see that all of the Nikon lenses from that particular era are at least very good and all have useful qualities even if they are the slower or the more budget version. I have and love the 28mm f/2 but I often choose to shoot with the not very well regarded 28mm f/2.8 Ai Non-CRC since I like how it looks in color.

Some expensive lenses...!

Sirius Glass · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon f/3.5 15mm AIs lens with rear filters.

madNbad · Mar 17, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Nikon f/3.5 15mm AIs lens with rear filters.

When I had the Df, I really wanted one but couldn’t find a decent copy at a reasonable price.

GregY · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Some expensive lenses...!

If you think they're expensive now, you should consider when they were new...back-in-the-day.... you thought very carefully and saved for a long while 18mm f4 or a 300mm 2.8.

Paul Howell · Mar 17, 2023

So many great lens, but as noted, the F lens mount was launched in 1959, Nikon like all the major manufactures invested in lens design, then computer aided designs, and coating improved as well. If you are shooting with a camera requires lens with the coupling prongs look for late lens. I had the 58 1.4 28 2.8 and 3.5, the 105 2.8 200 F4. The 28 2.8 was the only Ai that came as as an Ai out of the box, the others I had converted by Nikon to Ai.

Oldwino · Mar 17, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Any comments on a Nikkor 35mm f/2 O.C...?

madNbad said:
The early non Ai ones from its introduction are heavy, have a long focus throw and aren’t particularly sharp at the edges. The Ai-S is the pick. Slimmed down, good optics and a joy to use.

gorbas said:
Flares very easily, barely usable at f2, nice metal construction, Ai 2/35 was much better and it's version I prefer.

I really like the way the OC draws wide open - it’s not the sharpest, but it has a pleasant character to it. It is a good companion to my Nikkor-P 105/2.5. At f2.8 the 35mm is quite a bit sharper. Great build quality.

Nikon 2 · Mar 18, 2023

Oldwino said:
I really like the way the OC draws wide open - it’s not the sharpest, but it has a pleasant character to it. It is a good companion to my Nikkor-P 105/2.5. At f2.8 the 35mm is quite a bit sharper. Great build quality.

Does the extra coating “C” make a difference…?

Oldwino · Mar 18, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Does the extra coating “C” make a difference…?

I seem to remember reading that they were all coated, and the added “C” was more for marketing purposes, back when coating, and multi-coating, we’re a new thing.
Mine is simply an “O” version, but it is definitely coated.

blee1996 · Mar 18, 2023

I don't own enough Nikkor lens nor did enough scientific test to know the best. But after using a dozen or so pre-AF Nikkor lenses over the years, here are my favorites either for its quality or character. You might find that they all use 52mm filter, and I still have all of them today.

- 105/2.5 Ai-S: beautiful portrait lens with built-in hood
- 24/2.8 Ai-S: sharp and crisp wide angle for landscape
- 75-150/3.5 Series-E: sharp, compact, nice out-of-focus, cheap
- 50/1.2 Ai-S: versatile and dependable all-around lens (this was my 1-camera 1-lens choice for a recent month-long European trip)
- 55/3.5 Ai'd: good for a long nature hike that can both do macro and general purpose photography

Acere · Mar 18, 2023

Nikon 2 said:
Any comments on a Nikkor 35mm f/2 O.C...?

I have the NON AI and I like it. Shot at f/2

Nikon 2 · Mar 18, 2023

Nice...!

Best Vintage Nikon lenses.

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