How good is the Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AIS lens?

KennyMark · Aug 21, 2013

Barrel distortion

vpwphoto · Aug 21, 2013

Sorry... I just used one day in and out it was an AIS (thousands of exposures) , and yes strong backlighting situation and such lent to more washed-out details than say a 55mm micro AIS or 105 1.8 AIS could handle. It wasn't terrible, but negatives made in those situations with the 35mm f1.4 AIS had me reaching for the #4 VC filter while similar images on same roll shot with other lenses had me going back to the VC #2. I was just giving you my experience with it for a decade. I do not currently own one. I find the short zooms from Nikon to be pretty darn good.

I wouldn't call the ghosting "uncontrollable" it's just more prone to it while wide open... as are many of these "fast" lenses.

BTW I used it with a metal "F" hood from the 1960's no filter, but I think a 58mm or 62mm cap fit the hood. I'd buy it again if I had the need for it. Cheers.

vpwphoto · Aug 21, 2013

KennyMark said:
This from my AIS version a couple of minutes ago. Note: these were shot on a D7000, I would have shot on a full-frame but don't have one and don't have time to soup a roll and scan before uploading right now. Beat me up if you want.

Lens flare (first three sun in frame, next two, sun out of frame)

View attachment 73258 View attachment 73260 View attachment 73261 View attachment 73263 View attachment 73266

These photos (#3 and #4... where contrast is reduced (or black values "come up"_) articulate very much what I was trying to say from first hand use of this lens for a decade.

Just trying to help... not perpetuate any particular rumor. Cheers.

KennyMark · Aug 21, 2013

In spite of the defects shown in my photos, this lens remains my favorite. I seldom shoot something as backlit as the first 5, and I can live with the barrel distortion because this lens allows me to in one quarter the amount of light that I can with my zoom. I suspect that my pragmatism will allow me to cope with the disappointments in my life better than my idealism.

YMMV.

RattyMouse · Aug 21, 2013

Wow....great discussion. Anyone compare this lens to the Zeiss 35mm f/2? I'm tossing around the idea of getting one or the other of these lenses.

cliveh · Aug 21, 2013

Nikon lenses are good, but with regards to comparison of Nikon v Leitz, everybody knows that Leitz lenses are made from elements only obtainable from the centre of the earth. These elements are then hand crafted in platinum crucibles by Peruvian virgins under water and then hand ground by a recluse order of Carthusian monks over many years. When finished if put on a table with a Nikon lens, the Nikon lens will try to roll off in an attempt to commit suicide. Thus is the superior quality of the Leitz lens.

markbarendt · Aug 21, 2013

cliveh said:
Nikon lenses are good, but with regards to comparison of Nikon v Leitz, everybody knows that Leitz lenses are made from elements only obtainable from the centre of the earth. These elements are then hand crafted in platinum crucibles by Peruvian virgins under water and then hand ground by a recluse order of Carthusian monks over many years. When finished if put on a table with a Nikon lens, the Nikon lens will try to roll off in an attempt to commit suicide. Thus is the superior quality of the Leitz lens.

When I get better than my Nikon lenses ...

RattyMouse · Aug 21, 2013

PKM-25 said:
I loved it at F2 on down but I had a hard time with it at 1.4 either due to focus or it being somewhat soft or both. I now have the 35mm 1.4G and that lens flat out blows it away, it's on par with my former 35mm 1.4 love, the Leica 35mm 1.4 Aspheric. Too bad the G version is such a big lens, I feel like I could fit the AIS version inside it...

In my experience, I buy 1.4 lenses to shoot them at 1.4 and I could rarely do that with any degree of satisfaction with the 35mm 1.4 AIS. I even find it easier to hit focus manually with the G than the AIS, it's that sharp wide open.

I have no doubt that the G lens would be much better. But I can't use G lenses on an FM2 nor do I want to pay that price. My main interest is in manual focus lenses so that is why I look at this lens as well as the Zeiss 35mm f/2 one.

Xmas · Aug 22, 2013

From 85 to 90 I had a lux and Nikon 35 /1.4 as normal lenses. The Nikon was a normal lens the lux flared and misbehaved I always used a hood on both and both were like new from box.
But you only use fast cause you might need to use fast.
Today I use a /2.5 cause Im in a coffee shop 2 hours before sunset, eating muffins.

MFstooges · Aug 22, 2013

clayne said:
Absolutely awesome.

It has it's flaws (barrel distortion) but it's charm well outweighs that. I have one pretty much welded to my F, albeit its the original Nikkor-N Auto 9-bladed version (which is about 40 years old now). Various shots on my Flickr stream with it.

Antha by kediwah, Neopan 1600, XTOL 1+1

Hey I really like that picture! It is sooo beautiful!

How good is the Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AIS lens?

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