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Best Nikon Pre-AI or Non-AI lenses

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RLangham said:
No one has explicitly mentioned the Nikkor-S 50mm f/2 yet, made about 1959-62, first with... eight aperture blades (I think?) and no click stops and then with six blades and clicks, before being replaced with the equivalent but reformulated Nikkor-H. The front element is nearly flat to the naked eye and deeply recessed in the body like an old Helios.

It's the best lens I've ever owned. It came to me on a Nikkorex F, which was a basic but rugged collaboration between Mamiya and Copal on a Nikon contract job. It's contrasty, razor sharp normal with a great vintage color rendition even on consumer color negative. It can be a little cool in temperature but a very light pink infrared filter can make it magically warm... I wouldn't trade it for a Nikkor S f/1.4 or any other Nikkor.
Click to expand...

I know of this lens and found about 2 on sale but didn't find any praise on the 'nets for it. Yours is the first praise of the Nikkor-S 50/2.
 
markjwyatt said:
I have a Nikkorex F. I bought it to try out a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 (non-AI) lens I have. Unfortunately after I got it, I was exercising it a bit, and the wind mechanism jammed, and I cannot wind it anymore. I cannot find much on the internet about how to unjam it, take it apart, etc.
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I think there is a video tutorial on youtube. I have certainly seen instructions on how to open it. Either on youtube or maybe on Richard Haw's excellent website (despite him being a real Nikon fanboy.)
 
flavio81 said:
I know of this lens and found about 2 on sale but didn't find any praise on the 'nets for it. Yours is the first praise of the Nikkor-S 50/2.
Click to expand...
I would love to eventually compare it side by side to the Nikkor H 50/2 systematically but I can't spring for any really expensive lenses right now.
 
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flavio81 said:
I know of this lens and found about 2 on sale but didn't find any praise on the 'nets for it. Yours is the first praise of the Nikkor-S 50/2.
Click to expand...
I've had a couple. They were ok, but the 50/2 Nikkor H is REALLY good, it stood up well in comparison with a Summicron R. It's one flaw is a wee bit of barrel distortion.
Put it this way - I've had every pre AI 50, I now have one Nikkor H or HC 50 for each body.All five of them.
 
George Mann said:
Which is ridiculous given how much the Summicron versions sells for!
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I got a nice HC here for $30, shipped. Perfect glass, some paint worn off the focus ring.(just like all my other Nikkors)
Edit I should point out that I am not a fan of 50s faster than f:2, generally. The only 1.4 I really like is the Takumar, the one with the built - in yellow filter. The Nikkor S 1.4 struck me as "blah", the Nikkor S 1.2 is "blah" and ridiculously heavy. The H balances perfectly on the 'mats and the F & F2 with plain prisms.
 
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iKokomo said:
I am looking for some Nikon Pre-AI/Non-AI lenses to use.

I was wondering what the best (reasonably priced, cheaper) Nikon Pre-AI (or even non-AI) lenses that I should look for? I am mainly a portrait photographer.

I would prefer to stick with Nikon branded lenses.
Click to expand...
for a portrait photographer , the 85mmf/2 would be a must.
 
E. von Hoegh said:
I've had a couple. They were ok, but the 50/2 Nikkor H is REALLY good, it stood up well in comparison with a Summicron R. It's one flaw is a wee bit of barrel distortion.
Put it this way - I've had every pre AI 50, I now have one Nikkor H or HC 50 for each body.All five of them.
Click to expand...
If the S 50mm is only alright in comparison then the H would have to be incredible. Obviously it must be pretty sharp... how's the contrast and the color cast?
 
RLangham said:
If the S 50mm is only alright in comparison then the H would have to be incredible. Obviously it must be pretty sharp... how's the contrast and the color cast?
Click to expand...
"... it stood up well in comparison with a Summicron R"
Except for the "wee bit of barrel distortion" (which you will never notice unless you photograph a lot of very well laid brickwork).
Color cast? On Kodachrome, a bit warm; Ektachrome a bit cool, Agfachrome was rather earthy, and Fujichrome tended a bit towards green. C41, whatever the printing tended toward, never used them on color print beyond a couple rolls, and never checked them against color charts, but I'd say pretty neutral. In this day of scanned negatives and digital printing, you're not getting as much of the lens' character as you probably think you are - there's a real difference between a pure analog workflow and hybrid, particularly in b&w.
But they have a smooth, sharp, contrasty rendering that gives great detail, on b&w fine grain film they are a pleasure to print, and projected slides are gorgeous. It does exactly what a top quality lens should do, one of the nicest standards ever. And CHEAP.
 
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narsuitus said:
I have owned and used a number of pre-AI and non-AI lenses on my Nikons.
...Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 AI converted by Nikon (lens H)
Click to expand...

What is the color rendition of this lens like? I'm thinking about getting one, but would like to be able to use it with color film, without worrying about funky color casts, or flat, muddy colors.
 
I agree about 55mm and 105mm( both variants)-- excellent lenses
Mine Q 35/2 is built like a tank, but very sharp only at close distance, maybe enough distance(few meters) for portrait.
In past I have tried many 50 f2 lenses- s.c and m.c. I am maybe the only one here,who did not like them. Just OK lenses.
I sold all my 50 f2 collection and keep the only one 50 f1.4 s.c. Far better lens in all respects.
 
iKokomo said:
I am looking for some Nikon Pre-AI/Non-AI lenses to use.

I was wondering what the best (reasonably priced, cheaper) Nikon Pre-AI (or even non-AI) lenses that I should look for? I am mainly a portrait photographer.

I would prefer to stick with Nikon branded lenses.
Click to expand...

Mr. Grossmann has a video covering this very question on youtube in an excellent fashion.
 
I have 105/ 2.5 ,
bought in New York about thirty years ago at pawn shop.
It's a great lens.
 
Sirius Glass said:
I like the f/2.8 20mm to 35mm Nikon AF zoom lens and the f/3.5 28mm to 200mm Nikon AF zoom lens. Note that the f/3.8 28mm to 300mm Tamron AF zoom lens with the Nikon mount is also very good.
Click to expand...
Which suffix model is the f/3.5 28mm to 200mm Nikon AF zoom lens?
 
RLangham said:
No one has explicitly mentioned the Nikkor-S 50mm f/2 yet, made about 1959-62, first with... eight aperture blades (I think?) and no click stops and then with six blades and clicks, before being replaced with the equivalent but reformulated Nikkor-H. The front element is nearly flat to the naked eye and deeply recessed in the body like an old Helios.

It's the best lens I've ever owned. It came to me on a Nikkorex F, which was a basic but rugged collaboration between Mamiya and Copal on a Nikon contract job. It's contrasty, razor sharp normal with a great vintage color rendition even on consumer color negative. It can be a little cool in temperature but a very light pink infrared filter can make it magically warm... I wouldn't trade it for a Nikkor S f/1.4 or any other Nikkor.
Click to expand...

Here's the two versions side by side:

43212326712_86a4cafb2b_c.jpg
 
Maybe the 85 1.8 (or 1.4, pretty pricey though). A Leica R 90 Elmarit lens stays screwed to my Nikon camera, can't imagine a better portrait lens for any amount of money unless it was an R 90 Summicron.
 
Two lenses I feel don't get much praise are the 35/2.8 and 135/2.8. The 35mm is well corrected stopped down, the 135/2.8 is a great headshot lens. Both won't break the bank.
 
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