Living proof that vintage glass is not necessarily obsolete

Nikonsince1974

I picked up an immaculate 105mm f/2.5 "chrome nose" Nikkor P on Ebay for $40. It had oil on the aperture blades, which is an easy and inexpensive fix. I got it back from the repairman, and decided to try to do an A-B comparison with my 105mm f/1.8 AIS. I know it was risky to mount an non-AI Nikkor on the D700 but the meter coupling prong on the D700 is short so I decided to give it a shot. It was a little stiff to mount it but it did not damage the prong.

I chose a scene that had lots of fine detail and shot with both the old and newer Nikkors. To my astonishment both were where I know the NIC coated AIS would be clearly superior to the amber coated Nikkor P.

This is definitive proof that even a 40+ year old Nikkor can still hold its own today.

Nikonsince1974

Not sure why some of my text did not make it through, but the images were indistinguishable @ f/5.6 in Photoshop at 200%.

Msmoto

Oh, yes, here is a quick test shot with my NIKKOR-P Auto 1:4.5 f=300mm from about 1967



View it here to really see the sharpness..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/8698489119/sizes/o/

This lens is a bit used, but here one can see the conversion by John White (http://www.aiconversions.com) in Ann Arbor, Michigan....

Pistnbroke

Without VR much old glass is dead unless you are talking 1/500 which is a bit restrictive

spraynpray

Not so sure about that myself, the Sigma 'Art' series doesn't have VR?

Pistnbroke

I meant longer lenses 100mm +

pictureted

When stopped down, most of my AIS lenses are very sharp. 20/4, 28/2.8, 105/2.5 and 200/4 (on tripod) seem particularly good.

paulr

Old lenses are like old People they deserve little respect. A lot pleasure and good images can be achieved.
OK not in the 100MPH world where speed seems to be everything. But in an environment where you have time to take that special shot and appreciate the feel and quality that manufactures took to produce a lens of character something modern lenses and cameras fail to do.

framer

I still refuse to sell 4 of my old manuals, almost never use them but those will be buried with me along with my F4 and a roll of Tri-X.

framer

WestEndFoto

Here is a classic:



MF Nikkor 15mm f/3.5 AI-s

I was warned that this lens would have lots of flare, so what did I do? I shot it in the worst possible situation. However, that aside, I am amazed how straight a 35 year old 15mm wide angle can be. Apparently it has less distortion than my 14-24.

framer

The 15mm f/3.5 AIs was my favorite lens for taking airplane cockpit photos. Works great for inside car shots. I just noticed the cockpit shot on the left side of all my posts was shot with this lens. @ f/11 I could get the whole cockpit tack sharp and the outside image sharp.

I still own this lens.

framer

heartyfisher

Last few days I have been so tempted by a second hand manual focus Nikkor 50-135 F3.5 AIS !

But I already have an 18-140 and a 70-200 F4 so I logically don't need it at all !!
So why am I tempted ?? is it its reputation as a sharp underrated zoom that came out at the wrong time? Maybe its because the 70-200 is just that little bit too long on DX? Sigh..

Manual focus too .. I have been meaning go for a photo session with my Manual focus lenses for sometime.. and this 50-135 could be a fun addition.... I have a 50f1.4 ais an Avanar 200f3.5 and a Tokina 35-105 f3.5-4.3. This nikkor is possibly much sharper than my old non nikkor lenses.. no?

My manual focus kit is the old S5pro (nikon D200 clone) which had a replaced focus screen with split and microprism ring.

KnockKnock

Is there a good vintage wide angle prime in the 16-18mm range that would work on a D7100 as a standard wide angle prime? Right now I'm using the 18-55 AF-S VRII (the first collapsable) DX for that role. It's quite sharp at f/5.6-f/8 and VR helps its slow speed. I've become sensitive to the purple-fringe of my faster lenses, and sometimes prefer this cheapie for non-action walkabout purposes.

WestEndFoto

The 15mm f/3.5 would be the best choice if you want "vintage" glass. However, by "vintage" do you mean "cheap". A well used one is currently listed on B&H for $900.00. I am lucky as mine is very clean.

One downside is the front element. You will not be able to fit a filter over it.

The widest that can accept filters (besides the current 14mm??, but that is not vintage) are some of the 18mm lenses. I don't know much about them though.

heartyfisher

not quite "vintage" but the samyang 16mm prime has a good reputation.

framer

The 15mm uses rear filters, not that many but better than nothing. Standard B&W filters, plus UV and one other.

framer

WestEndFoto

framer said:

The 15mm uses rear filters, not that many but better than nothing. Standard B&W filters, plus UV and one other.

framer

Yes, I forgot about those. It makes me wonder why Nikon didn't go further with those. Can't really stack them is one reason I suppose.

WestEndFoto

Not sure if this qualifies as vintage:



Reflex - Nikkor 1000mm f/11.

Distance: Approximately 800m

Handheld. I got lucky. Note the ISO, this was taken at sunset, thus the golden colour. Not sure how practical this lens is.

This is the third version introduced in 1976, which has a rotating tripod colour. I will need to get a clamp to attach to my tripod if I have any serious hope of getting something sharp.

pictureted

I have the 500/8 reflex (last version) and even with a AS plate on the collar and tripod mounted the lens is marginal. The best feature of the 500mm is the 1:2.5 close focus, making it a really long "near" macro.

framer

I hope you got a bargain on that 1000 at f/11 and to try and get it focused on a modern focus screen WOW.

Let's see some BIF shots with it...

framer

WestEndFoto

It was quite a bargain. Free. I also got an 800 f/8 AIS for the same price. I was shooting that tonight on a top of the line, except 5 or 6 years old, Gitzco tripod with a Wemberly gimbal head. Now that is sweet and again it was the same price. I will never need to upgrade that setup.

The 800mm lens is another matter. About the only way to get it in focus is with live view and on a stationary object. I can't imagine trying to focus manually at f/5.6. This lens is the narrowest dof in my lineup.

BIV? Surely you jest. Now if it was auto-focus, I am sure that would make a world of difference. I have a new appreciation for bird photographers.

Interesting. We have it easy today. Photography in the days of manual focus was hard.

WestEndFoto

PS, I found a clamp for the 1000 mm to attach to the Wemberly. I am now in business.

CaMeRaQuEsT

How do you get a reflex 1000mm f/11, an 800 f/8 Ai-S, a Gitzo tripod and a Wemberley gimbal, all for free? I'm jealous! Some blokes have all the luck in the world! Me, I had to pay $50 for my crappy E series 35mm f/2.5, and that is the cheapest lens I've ever bought!

paulr

WestEndFoto The 800mm 5.6 has Fov of only 3 degrees hence the precise focusing.

I use a Follower Focus adjuster which enables me to turn the lens very slowly for precise focusing.

Pistnbroke

I do have some old glass a 400mm f5.6 tokina AF which I mount on my wifes D7100 at 1/500 and F8 ...cost me £38 ( about $50) inc postage so as long as she thinks it cost $1500 its all good ......( why should you have the best stuff etc etc moan moan )

WestEndFoto

CaMeRaQuEsT said:

How do you get a reflex 1000mm f/11, an 800 f/8 Ai-S, a Gitzo tripod and a Wemberley gimbal, all for free? I'm jealous! Some blokes have all the luck in the world! Me, I had to pay $50 for my crappy E series 35mm f/2.5, and that is the cheapest lens I've ever bought!

One of my tenants passed away and nobody came to claim his stuff. Normally that is a garage sale put on by the resident manager, but not in this case. I have listed only a very small portion of the items. All I have really done so far with lenses is separate pre-AIS from AIS and later. Each of those pre-AIS lenses has a film body attached. I am sure I have at least 3 copies of every F. I think I want a DF.