The Nikkor Lens Club!

[augustmoon]

Originally Posted by Steinback

I don't suppose any of you have tried one of the 85mm Nikkor lenses yet? I've been looking for a fast manual 85 and I wouldn't mind expanding my list of possibilities.

Yes, back before I switched to Canon (then to Pentax ), I had the 85 1.4 AIS, it was the only MF lens I had during my brief Nikon days.

It is a very nice MF 85 lens, if you wanted a fast 85...

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_short.html

Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-s

I haven't priced one lately (as I have the Zeiss 85) it might be pricey.. KEH.com had one in bargain condition (aka kinda crappy) for $570 USD. A good condition might be around $800-900 USD, you should check ebay.

And then after paying the money, you have to alter it to mount it. Then after all that, you have a lens that may or may not fit very well, and needs to use stop down metering.. You could almost get an A*85 by the time you find one in great condition and convert it. Or a used Zeiss 85, and I would say I think the Zeiss 85 is a bit nicer than the Nikkor.

There's also the 85 F2, but the Pentax M and K versions are so much nicer..
Nikon 85mm f/2.0 AI-s Nikkor Review © 2004 KenRockwell.com

F2 in this length on crop is still on the fast side. I can barely manually focus my 85 at 5.6. The DOF gets thinner and when I am outside at any distance, F5.6 is actually on the thin side.

I think this whole Nikkor thing is only worthwhile if you already have a Nikkor lens you really like, or find a good deal on a neat lens. Or you find a unique lens that is in Nikkor mount and not made in Pentax, like some of the tilt/shift lenses, some of the super wides they have as well.

I'd personally go for a Pentax M85f2, or the K85 or Tak version.

[woof]

The 85mm f/1.8 Nikkors are also worth a look.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 Telephoto Lenses - Pre AI Era

85mm f/1.8 Nikkor-H Auto Telephoto Lens


Please do not go past the 105mm f/2.5 without a look either.

105mm f2.5 Nikkor-P Auto & 105mm f2.5 AI Lenses

Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 Telephoto Lenses - Pre AI Era

woof!

[Steinback]

The various Takumar 85s are currently at the top of the list of lenses I'm sort of passively keeping an eye out for.

In terms of Nikon gear I was thinking of something along the lines of the non AI 85mm f/1.8 as a potential candidate: Used Nikon | Telephoto 85mm f/1.8 Manual Focus Lens (AI
An older all manual lens that can't be used on current Nikon bodies without modification that seems (with a sample size of 1) to run in a similar price range to a Super Tak 85 in the same condition.

I try to make it to one or two camera shows a year and prices are all over the place for older gear so I keep my list of potential lenses fairly broad in case I run into something interesting.

[augustmoon]

Originally Posted by Steinback

The various Takumar 85s are currently at the top of the list of lenses I'm sort of passively keeping an eye out for.

In terms of Nikon gear I was thinking of something along the lines of the non AI 85mm f/1.8 as a potential candidate: Used Nikon | Telephoto 85mm f/1.8 Manual Focus Lens (AI
An older all manual lens that can't be used on current Nikon bodies without modification that seems (with a sample size of 1) to run in a similar price range to a Super Tak 85 in the same condition.

I try to make it to one or two camera shows a year and prices are all over the place for older gear so I keep my list of potential lenses fairly broad in case I run into something interesting.

Ian, are you heading to this one:
Imaging Shows 2008

or this one?
PHSC - Photographica-Fair

[SOldBear]

Originally Posted by Steinback

I don't suppose any of you have tried one of the 85mm Nikkor lenses yet? I've been looking for a fast manual 85 and I wouldn't mind expanding my list of possibilities.

I bought an Ai-S Nikkor 85mm F/2.0 for $20, planning to keep it. Then I found out how much I could sell it for. I did and with the proceed, added $30 for a slightly-used Tamron 90mm F/2.8 macro.

I'm like that - buying Nikkor lenses if the deal is good. Then I try the lens out and decide if I want to keep it. Currently I definitely keep only one: Nikkor-P 105mm F/2.5. I like the color rendering and it's too beat-up to bring a lot of money.

I'll probably sell the 35mm F/2.0 and the 24mm F/2.8 to partially fund the DA21.

I recently sold a Nikkor *ED 180mm F/2.8. That is about 50% of the Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8, very high on my wish list.

[Steinback]

Brian, I might go to the Henry's show, but only because vizjerei posted a link to free tickets here: (Toronto) Henry's Imaging Show

It's a good place to check out new equipment since most of the major manufacturers generally have reps there (Pentax, Sigma, etc.) and they bring lenses and equipment that are special order only at Canadian retailers. The last time I went the used lens selection was pretty beat up; Henry's staff does a thorough job of pulling out anything worth any money and putting it on EBay.

The PHSC show is the show I'm looking forward to, the accessory and M42 prices are often very good. Last year I found a $10 Super Tak 50mm f/1.4 and an external battery pack adaptor for my Vivitar 285 for about the same. I know another forum member here found a $90 Pentax 85mm and I ran into another guy at the show who had a clean MZ-S with grip for $250.

[augustmoon]

LBA - Nikkor 28 f2.8 AIS

This is a nice lens. I have been looking for a really good, sharp 28 that I can use in general for both close and distant scenes. Short of saving up for the Zeiss Distagon T*28 F2, which may actually not be that well suited for distant and infinity, this little Nikkor lens just may do the trick (as least until I can get the new Pentax body first)

8 elements in 8 groups, it features Nikon’s famed “CRC” (close range correction), which is a floating element

9 oz. 2’5” by 2.3” with a 52mm filter thread. But weird 7 bladed aperture. (why not 6 or 8) I personally dislike heptagonal bokeh.

Solid, metal construction.

F2.8 to F22, diffraction on crop sensor sets in at F11, but I’d actually stop at F8. F8 looked better to me than F11. This will be stop down metering on the Pentax, focusing and F2.8, maybe F4 on a sunny day, then stopping the aperture ring down to where you want to actually shoot at.

Sharp edge to edge at f2.8 sweet spot is probably F4 to F5.6.

Focuses very very closely, 7 inches from the sensor, so just about slightly less than 4 inches from the front of the lens element. This is the closest of ALL of the Nikkors including their Micro (macro) lenses.

This lens is multi-coated.

Vignetting at 2.8 on crop is very minimal, I’d say completely gone by F4.

Distortion is practically non-existant. This is what the Nikon Fan-Boys rave about this lens. Most say it is one of the best Nikkors, supposedly up there with the 85/1.4, the 105/2.5 and the Micros.

Probably a bit more useable at infinity than the M, A and F series 28’s I’ve had.


All in all this is a very nice lens, very sharp, macro-ish performance up close, good bokeh with the exception of the highlights with that 7-sided shape. Good detail at infinity as well, I will be keeping and converting this one.

Here's an older test:
Zeiss 28mm f2.8 v Nikon 28mm f2.8 v Olympus 28mm f2

I got this lens yesterday, so I haven’t completed the conversion yet, but I did grind off the black tabs that protrude past the bottom of the mount, which are a part of the aluminum aperture ring, the aperture ring removes easily once the mount is removed, so safe and easy sanding of these 2 parts off is quick and can be done away from the lens and elements itself. This is a quick first step in the conversion process, and once done, allows the lens to be safely twisted onto the Pentax Body. The top of the lens comes to rest pointing toward the shutter release.

At this point, it will stay on fairly well, it will focus past infinity and the close focusing won’t be as close, I will then add a shim/gasket to underneath the mount that will take care of the registration difference between Pentax and Nikon, but I will wait to finalize that until the conversion is complete. That final step will allow me to twist the lens on until it clicks, and will more or less be aligned somewhat close to straight up.

The first is a F4 at infinity and then a 100% crop of that, followed by the African Violet and a crop.

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by augustmoon

Nikon doesn't call this macro, but micro, I guess because it only goes 1:2. I think that in the 1:2 range for 50-something that the Pentax A-50 F2.8 macro is probably the best buy. (it has been over 15 years since I used one, but from memory, the color and contrast and detail from the Pentax A series was wonderful)

I have a 1980 Nikkor brochure in front of me (acquired along with the stuff mentioned below) and at that point, 1:2 was as close as the Nikkors got, and they were all called Micro. The comparable lens listed in this catalog is a 55mm F2.8, they recommend buying a TC to make it a 110mm 1:1. There's no mention of the word "macro" anywhere in the text; I assume it was like the way everyone has a slightly different name for image stabilization, and they wanted to use a word other than macro?

(BTW, for 50-something macros, I really like my Komine Vivitar 55mm F2.8 which is a true 1:1, very nice color and contrast to my eyes. It was also dirt cheap!)

Anyway, I recently joined the Nikkor club myself. There was a local Craigslist ad for a Pentax P3n and some lenses. Long story short, I skipped the camera but bought the lenses, which apparently had been being used on the Pentax. (The seller was not the original owner so he didn't know.) I ended up with a Nikkor-P 105mm F2.5 and a Nikkor-Q 20cm F4.0, along with the (huge) leather case for the 20cm and a clear plastic "tube" for the 105mm. Also a Nikkor-F polarizing lens and one or two other small bits. They're in very, very nice shape but missing caps. I think I did OK but it was not the best bargain I've ever found.

Here's some shots of the lenses mounted on my K100D.









I've done just a few shots with the lenses but so far, I'll probably keep the 105mm and put the 20cm on eBay. The 20cm is OK but nothing particularly special, I'll stick with my Komine Vivitar 200mm F3.5 for now, I think. The 20cm is pretty impressive-looking, though! The 105mm joins my Super Tak and my Lester A Dine - I think I've got quite enough 105mm lenses now!

Here's a shot taken with my K20D from the 105mm, along with a 100% crop. This was wide open, at F2.5.





Not bad for wide open. Here's one from the 20cm; it was stopped down but I'm not sure how far - F5.6 or F8 I think. Also a 100% crop.





Interesting stuff... I will be keeping my eyes open for future deals on Nikkor pre-AI lenses; even if I don't keep them, it's fun to play with some unusual lenses sometimes!

[augustmoon]

These older P style lenses are heavy duty! That 200 is massive! The newer Nikon bodies can't even use these older lenses without a conversion, so some of these really well built lenses are still in good working order and can be had for fairly cheap!

I just finished a conversion of a newer 105 F2.5 AI model. Haven't gotten around to any portraits with it yet, but attached is a shot at infinity once I made the final infinity stop on the lens during the conversion process.

also there is a Flickr group for Nikkor lenses on Pentax cameras, I need to make some submissions myself...

Flickr: Nikkor Lenses on Pentax

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by augustmoon

These older P style lenses are heavy duty! That 200 is massive!

The first shot has it focused out to maximum length plus has the built-in lens hood extended... the third shot is the lens at its shortest. It's probably a tiny bit bigger than my Komine Vivitar 200mm F3.5 and definitely smaller than my Tokina Vivitar 200mm F3.5 (a TX-mount with M42 adapter.) I haven't lined them up together yet... if I get really motivated, I'll do a comparison between the three before selling the Nikkor (and probably the Tokina-Vivitar, too.)

[SOldBear]

Just picked up this morning a package including 2 Nikon F2 bodies and a bunch of prime lenses:





Among the lenses are two 55mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor lenses and this 85mm F/1.8:





Some quick test photos of the 85mm F/1.8 (JPEG directly from K10D, no post-processing):

https://viper.verific.com/WebSites/H...t/IMGP6318.JPG
https://viper.verific.com/WebSites/H...t/IMGP6319.JPG
https://viper.verific.com/WebSites/H...t/IMGP6320.JPG
https://viper.verific.com/WebSites/H...t/IMGP6321.JPG

[stevebrot]

Originally Posted by SOldBear

Just picked up this morning a package including 2 Nikon F2 bodies and a bunch of prime lenses...

What a beautiful bunch of equipment! Lucky you!

Steve

P.S. The links were dead (404) as of 15:45 PDT, 16 June

[augustmoon]

That's a nice package of gear. The bodies look very clean.

Interested in seeing more pics from the 85. That's a lens I'm considering, along with the 135 and 200.


The 4 lenses I have fully converted now with permanent K-mounts are the 24, 28, 55 Micro and 105.

The 28 F2.8 AIS has been spending more time on the camera than anything else.

[Nesster]

Quick test shot, K100D @asa1600, wide open at f/3.5, 1/80sec, Micro Nikkor Ai 55mm...

[augustmoon]

Here's a couple from the Nikkor 55 Micro F2.8 AIS.

Hard to see in this lighting, probably should try pics of stamps for a better test of detail.

The Twonie (Toonie) (sp?) is at full mag of the lens at 1:2 This is the full frame. F4



The Penny is with a home-made PK-13 Ext Ring that gives 1:1. This is a 100% crop at 1:1 F5.6