my worst Nikon Lens

[RalphLambrecht]

I own a small Nikkor Zoom 35-70mmf/3.3-4.5 and for a long time, I considered this my worst lens. However, I kept it because, I feel bad to offload what I don't like to somebody else and because, it is very light-weight and very versatile. In any6 event, I used it again today,strictly at f/8 and low and behold, I have to revise my opinion about this lens; It is pin sharp at this aperture at any focal length! Well done Nikon.

 

[BradS]

I think that the worst Nikon lens I have is perhaps the 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI. I’m not really even sure there’s anything bad about it I just don’t like it.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I have a 35-135 f/3.5-4.5 AIS Nikkor that's always produced soft images. Don't know why.

Maybe I should try a faster film to ensure both a sufficiently high shutter speed and smaller aperture.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have a 35-135 f/3.5-4.5 AIS Nikkor that's always produced soft images. Don't know why.

Maybe I should try a faster film to ensure both sufficiently high shutter speed and smaller aperture.

I shot this at 1/60s f/8 from a distance of 6 feet.

 

[Stanislav Boščík]

I think that the worst Nikon lens I have is perhaps the 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI. I’m not really even sure there’s anything bad about it I just don’t like it.

But I love my 28/3.5! It is really sharp in IR I use it primarily for. In visible spectrum it is extremely sharp in the center so used on digital APS-C cameras it can produce excellent images. It is also quite flare-proof. What more to ask for?

 

[blockend]

But I love my 28/3.5! It is really sharp in IR I use it primarily for. In visible spectrum it is extremely sharp in the center so used on digital APS-C cameras it can produce excellent images. It is also quite flare-proof. What more to ask for?

I like the 28/3.5, too. Especially zone focused.

The old pre-AI 35mm 2.8 isn't stellar, but perfectly adequate for my purposes. The only lenses I've found to be mediocre or poor performers are older super zooms.

 

[guangong]

I was basically given a pre AI 28/3.5 lens at a camera store ( remember camera stores?) that was located in a small a small NJ town. Lens had scratch completely across glass. Scratch has no effect on images and produces very fine results.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

I like the 28/3.5, too. Especially zone focused.

The old pre-AI 35mm 2.8 isn't stellar, but perfectly adequate for my purposes. The only lenses I've found to be mediocre or poor performers are older super zooms.

There were at least two versions of this lens. I took one of them on a trip to Europe rather than the "better" 35/1.4 AiS just to save some weight. The images are wonderful although I'm not a peeper. Try here:

http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html

 

[narsuitus]

The Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.8 AI was my worst Nikon lens. It had very poor image quality.

My second worse Nikon lens was a Nikkor 45mm GN f/2.8. It had excellent image quality but it was too small for me to use comfortably.

I have a Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI that is not in the worst category. I use it in reverse position on bellows for close-ups and macros.


Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 pre-AI (front center) by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[blockend]

There were at least two versions of this lens

Thank you for the link. Mine is the 1967 version shown on the list.

 

[rubbernglue]

I think the 50/1.4 (ai) is the worst nikon lens I have used.
I have the 28/3.5 pre-ai also and I really like it! However I no longer have a house to mount it on... sold my nikkormat to by a 'F' but it never happened so perhaps there will be another nikkormat sometime

 

[dynachrome]

The pre-AI 28/3.5 lenses have some corner darkening but are sharp. This was improved with the AI. The 28/3.5 AI is quite good. I also like the 35-70/3.3-4.5 closed down some. I inherited a 35-135 AF but haven't used it yet. The 35/2.8 K and 1st AI version has 6 elements and is excellent. My late 43-86 lenses are not bad. I like the 50/1.4 AI but my favorite of the 50/1.4 lenses is the K. My least favorite Nikkor must be the old 20cm f/4. The Q and QC 200/4 models are much nicer.

 

[benveniste]

My worst Nikon lens is the 60-180mm f/4.5~5.6 IX-Nikkor. And yes that includes the 43-86mm f/3.5 AI.

 

[macfred]

My second worse Nikon lens was a Nikkor 45mm GN f/2.8. It had excellent image quality but it was too small for me to use comfortably ...

The Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.8 AI was my worst Nikon lens. It had very poor image quality ...

I have the Nikkor 45mm GN f/2.8 and the Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P (both based on a Tessar design of 4 elements in 3 groups) - they are my 'all time favorites' (though Rockwell added the 'P' - version to Nikon's ten worst lenses).
Different strokes for different folks ...

--

I once got the Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.8 AI 'for a song' - gave it away for nothing ... For me the worst Nikon lens I used so far.

 

[Jon Buffington]

The convenience of the 35-70 3.3/4.5 for me is the 52mm filter threads and small size. I can take a full kit with primes and zooms to cover everthing in a nice, small package and only need 1 filter. Stopped down it isn't bad. I do find though if I am doing a one lens kit w/ a zoom on my n90s, I take the 28-80 3.5-5.6d with me as I like the range and it is a very good lens (suprisingly). I like the 28/3.5 non ai (I have the later one, with the rubber focus ring) and have contemplated getting it converted for use on my other Nikon bodies (only use it on the nikkormat f2t) though suprisingly, my series e 28/2.8 is very sharp except wide open.

 

[images39]

I can't think of a bad Nikkor lens that I've used. I recall Ken Rockwell claiming that the 45mm 2.8P lens was awful. Funny thing; that's my favorite and most used Nikon lens. Love the compact size and the way it renders.

Dale

 

[macfred]

I recall Ken Rockwell claiming that the 45mm 2.8P lens was awful. Funny thing; that's my favorite and most used Nikon lens. Love the compact size and the way it renders.

Dale

Yes!

 

[Paul Howell]

I don't recall ever having a bad Nikon lens, I shot with Nikon both in the AF and later when a working PJ, from 1970 to 2002. Now I didn't have a lot of glass, just 4 lens, 28 2.8 a 105 2.8 or was a 2.5 (?) 50 1.4 and 200 F4. Later I had a 35 to 70 E lens that was quite good at F 8, considering it was a consumer grade lens it was fine. The only trouble I ever had with Nikon was with a 28 2.8 AI that I bought to replace an older 28 NonAI that I had upgraded to an AI, it started to have drag while focusing so I bought a new lens. I could not get it to focus, just wast quite sharp. I took it back to the store I purchased it, they exchanged and the second lens worked just fine. I never know if a persons account of a lens is that the lens design is bad or it's just a one problem lens.

 

[Ariston]

It's not my worst, but my least used lens is a Vivitar 135mm 2.8. I love the images it produces, but rarely use it because it has no auto-indexing. Because of this, it is also worth very little (won't meter with digital cameras), so it's good for anyone looking for a cheap 135mm option if you know how to meter on your own and don't need the automation.

 

[Ariston]

I apologize if the OP intended for these to be Nikkor only examples, instead of Nikon mount lenses.

 

[jim10219]

I've had a lot of bad Nikon lenses. The two versions of the 43-86mm top the list. Not too far behind was the 28mm E series that I sold when I bought a 24mm Vivitar that outperformed it in every way. Oddly enough, I sold the E series for quadruple what I bought the Vivitar for.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

KR's observations on the 45/2.8 P lens:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/45.htm

In the comparison photos at the bottom of the page, he does mention the photos are from the extreme corner at a high enlargement. I think his main complaint was the price for performance.

 

[narsuitus]

The Nikkor 45mm GN f/2.8 that I had was the first version (serial #723896). I purchased it in the early 1970s to use with my Honeywell flash units. When I replaced the Honeywells with a Vivitar automatic exposure flash units, I no longer needed the guide number feature of the GN lens.

The lens being too small for my hands was the second reason I decided to sell the lens.

The third reason was the focusing ring rotating in the opposite direction of all my other Nikon lenses. A focusing ring that rotated in the opposite direction as all my other Nikon lenses interfered with me focusing quickly and instinctively.

The fourth reason was I could not afford to get the lens AI'd with all my other pre-AI lenses.

I feel guilty putting this lens in the worst Nikon category because image quality was never a problem for me with this lens.

 

[blockend]

I apologize if the OP intended for these to be Nikkor only examples, instead of Nikon mount lenses.

If we open the third party can of worms I have a bucket full. There are counter examples of course, including the excellent F-mount 28mm Kiron I foolishly sold. The negatives from which stand up with any 28mm lens I've owned including modern Apochromatic versions.

 

[cooltouch]

This topic got me to thinking and, since I don't own a 43-86, I guess I'd have to say that my "worst" Nikkor lens is my 24mm f/2.8 AI (or is it AIs?). It's a fine lens as long as you ignore the corners. Even at f/8, corners are blurry. I learned many years after buying the lens that apparently the 24mm 2.8 Nikkor is fairly well known for being soft in the corners. I have no complaints with regard to any of my other Nikkors.