Best Nikon Pre-AI or Non-AI lenses

flavio81 · Oct 1, 2020

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.

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.

flavio81 · Oct 1, 2020

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.

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.)

RLangham · Oct 1, 2020

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.

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.

BradS · Oct 1, 2020

RLangham said:
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.

I just sold a 50/2 Nikkor-H on eBay for $30. Can’t hardly give this stuff away anymore.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nipp...6?pageci=5d210760-3c63-4cf5-ab45-0beb041a96e7

RLangham · Oct 1, 2020

BradS said:
I just sold a 50/2 Nikkor-H on eBay for $30. Can’t hardly give this stuff away anymore.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nipp...6?pageci=5d210760-3c63-4cf5-ab45-0beb041a96e7

Damn, I wish I'd seen that. I just tend to assume Nikkors go for three figures.

George Mann · Oct 1, 2020

BradS said:
I just sold a 50/2 Nikkor-H on eBay for $40. Can’t hardly give this stuff away anymore.

Which is ridiculous given how much the Summicron versions sells for!

E. von Hoegh · Oct 4, 2020

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.

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.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 4, 2020

George Mann said:
Which is ridiculous given how much the Summicron versions sells for!

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.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 4, 2020

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.

for a portrait photographer , the 85mmf/2 would be a must.

RLangham · Oct 4, 2020

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.

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?

E. von Hoegh · Oct 5, 2020

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?

"... 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.

MultiFormat Shooter · Dec 31, 2021

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)

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.

kobaltus · Jan 1, 2022

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.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 1, 2022

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.

Mr. Grossmann has a video covering this very question on youtube in an excellent fashion.

ericB&W · Jan 1, 2022

I have 105/ 2.5 ,
bought in New York about thirty years ago at pawn shop.
It's a great lens.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 1, 2022

Which are the best zooms in AF or AF-D lenses for a N6006?

PS Here's a good reference chart from Ken Rockwell that gives lens compatibility for Nikon cameras.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Which are the best zooms in AF or AF-D lenses for a N6006?

PS Here's a good reference chart from Ken Rockwell that gives lens compatibility for Nikon cameras.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

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.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 1, 2022

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.

Which suffix model is the f/3.5 28mm to 200mm Nikon AF zoom lens?

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Which suffix model is the f/3.5 28mm to 200mm Nikon AF zoom lens?

I use it on the N75, N80 and F100

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 1, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I use it on the N75, N80 and F100

Thanks. What suffix is the lens?

madNbad · Jan 1, 2022

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.

Here's the two versions side by side:

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Thanks. What suffix is the lens?

G for the 28mm to 300mm
I have to dig out the 20mm to 35mm but it is a heavy metal "silver" model.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 1, 2022

ericB&W said:
I have 105/ 2.5 ,
bought in New York about thirty years ago at pawn shop.
It's a great lens.

I'll add the 135mmf/3.5 to the list as ell as the 85mm f/2.

gone · Jan 1, 2022

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.

Danny D · Jan 2, 2022

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.

Best Nikon Pre-AI or Non-AI lenses

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