Best Nikon Pre-AI or Non-AI lenses

[__Brian]

I picked up a Nikkor-T 105 F4 not too long ago - "cosmetic user", perfect glass- for ~$100. This is a preset lens, an answer to the Leica Mountain Elmar.

Much sharper than I thought it would be, lots of aperture blades. A three-element design, basically a Cooke triplet. Small and light.

Great for portraits if F4 works for you.

One note: Infinity has an Index Mark, and the Symbol is past it. The focus turns to the Mark, not the Symbol. Nothing wrong with the lens, this is just how it works. Unusual - most Nikon lenses have the focus index line up with the infinity symbol, EXCEPT this one.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

The 105mm f2.5 sonnar is great and handles color very well.

Nikkormat FT2, Nikkor-P Auto 1:2.5 f=105mm
Kentmere 100, D-19 reversal

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

(My first post here, but I've been doing b/w nonstop since the early 1960s, my parents were professionals with their own studio from 1946 to the early 2000s.)

I have many of these lenses; most have been in my family's possession since the 60s/70s... and they've continued to work beautifully without ever having been serviced. I especially love the 105/2.5 and the 35/2, but my most-used Nikkor lens hasn't been mentioned yet...

The Nikkor 45/2.8 GN.

It's HALF the size and weight of any other non-AI lens - a pleasure to carry - and crazy sharp. We got ours back in 1969 for its intended use, automatically adjusting the aperture as you changed focus when using manual flashguns. The arrival of "self-quenching flashes" like the Vivitar 283 a couple of years later made that function obsolete... but the GN still shines as a pancake lens. I'm really surprised that it isn't better known, either as a unique collectible OR a very small, excellent shooter.



I took these a few years ago with a Nikon F2 (with meterless DE-1 prism, just estimating exposure) on Tri-X, developed in D-76 1:1, negs scanned at 1800 dpi.

 

[darkosaric]

Welcome to APUG FriedLouisStudio !
45/2.8 is one of those that I have on my list, but only for a good price, as usually in Europe they go for crazy prices.

 

[Sirius Glass]

(My first post here, but I've been doing b/w nonstop since the early 1960s, my parents were professionals with their own studio from 1946 to the early 2000s.)

I have many of these lenses; most have been in my family's possession since the 60s/70s... and they've continued to work beautifully without ever having been serviced. I especially love the 105/2.5 and the 35/2, but my most-used Nikkor lens hasn't been mentioned yet...

The Nikkor 45/2.8 GN.

It's HALF the size and weight of any other non-AI lens - a pleasure to carry - and crazy sharp. We got ours back in 1969 for its intended use, automatically adjusting the aperture as you changed focus when using manual flashguns. The arrival of "self-quenching flashes" like the Vivitar 283 a couple of years later made that function obsolete... but the GN still shines as a pancake lens. I'm really surprised that it isn't better known, either as a unique collectible OR a very small, excellent shooter.

View attachment 332182 View attachment 332183

I took these a few years ago with a Nikon F2 (with meterless DE-1 prism, just estimating exposure) on Tri-X, developed in D-76 1:1, negs scanned at 1800 dpi.

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Thanks for the welcome! They do seem to go for a bit more than other classic non-AI lenses like the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/3.5 Micro, even the 105/2.5. Of course, that's ironic, because the 45/2.8 GN was about the lowest-priced when new.

UsedPhotoPro just had one a few days ago for a little over $100, but it got snapped up. (I've had very good experiences buying older Nikon gear from them, their Good rating looks closer to Excellent to me. For example, I recently got a late serial #, looks-like-it-was-never-used, 200/4 for $39.)

 

[madNbad]

Thanks for the welcome! They do seem to go for a bit more than other classic non-AI lenses like the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/3.5 Micro, even the 105/2.5. Of course, that's ironic, because the 45/2.8 GN was about the lowest-priced when new.

UsedPhotoPro just had one a few days ago for a little over $100, but it got snapped up. (I've had very good experiences buying older Nikon gear from them, their Good rating looks closer to Excellent to me. For example, I recently got a late serial #, looks-like-it-was-never-used, 200/4 for $39.)

The little 45 GN is the only Nikkor lens that focuses in the same direction as a Leica (and Canon, too). Welcome to the forum!

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Thanks for the welcome!

Yup, the focus ring runs in the same direction as the aperture ring... so they can be locked together based on the flash Guide Number.