Wow! This is an old thread. I see that I replied to it in 2009. Since then I also got the older 9 blade version of the 45/2.8 GN. I like both and was not tempted to get the P model. In the pancake or near pancake area, I have two 40/2.8 Pentax SMC-M lenses, the rare 40/2.5 Vivitar (in K mount), a number of 40/1.8 Konica Hexanons and some 45/2 Minoltas. They are all good lenses and fun to use. Of the group, the Konica Hexanons are probably the sharpest.
Who's using a Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 P in 2023? I thought I'd revive this thread as I've just ordered a mint sample from Japan - very excited to try it.
It will go on my F301 body as my standard 'always with me' compact/light set up. I mulled over getting a fancy point and shoot for this purpose for a while, but they're just too overpriced at this point. I still have a Yashica T3 point and shoot, but I've never been really happy with it, and its shutter is starting to fail, so when it goes, it'll be F301 + 45mm. A few disadvantages of course, but a lot of improvements.
As for the 45mm - there's not much about it online apart from the already mentioned usual suspects (good old Ken). Most people reviewing it seem to rate it based on how it looks and performs on a digital/mirrorless camera, including DX bodies, and including Nikon Z bodies. Even the smallest DX body will be thicker than my F301. Further to that, on DX bodies, focal length becomes a 67mm equivalent. On Z bodies, this needs a fat adapter. Both types of usage kind of nullify some of the advantages of this lens, so I essentially ignored them.
As for people comparing it to the Voigtlaender 40mm f/2 - I own the Voigtlaender. It's on another Nikon film camera I use when I visit my home country. I quite like it, and it's definitely tack-sharp, but the pretty noticeable field distortion (I'm surprised nobody talks about it) makes it rather unsuitable for the kind of photography I do. Also, I have the previous model (matte black, plain design) and the new model (SL-II, styled after early pre-AI Nikkor lenses) seems to be quite a lot bigger than the 45mm P Nikkor.
Anyhow. It should hopefully make for a nice compact and versatile backpack setup. We'll see.
The Nikon site has an article about the AI Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P -> A Standard Pancake Lens for the Nikon FM3A
Fuji 100-10-17B by Les DMess, on Flickr
I am still on the hunt for one myself . . .
Why would you want this lens over a Series E 50/1.8? The 50 is also very small and light, plus 1.5 stops faster. I can't see the use of a standard lens that is only F2.8.
The Nikon site has an article about the AI Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P -> A Standard Pancake Lens for the Nikon FM3A
Fuji 100-10-17B by Les DMess, on Flickr
I am still on the hunt for one myself . . .
I find 50mm a little too narrow. The sweet spot for me is really 35mm/40mm. Perhaps I'll be happy with this 45mm, too. Also, I never use my prime lenses wide open, I tend to stop them down to f/4 or f/5.6.
I guess what I'm really looking for is the thinnest profile SLR+lens I can find to replace a 'point and shoot' compact camera use case.
There is that, and then there is obviously GAS
I find 50mm a little too narrow. The sweet spot for me is really 35mm/40mm. Perhaps I'll be happy with this 45mm, too. Also, I never use my prime lenses wide open, I tend to stop them down to f/4 or f/5.6.
I guess what I'm really looking for is the thinnest profile SLR+lens I can find to replace a 'point and shoot' compact camera use case.
There is that, and then there is obviously GAS
Interesting article from the designer. Towards the end he writes: "The FM3A was discontinued because it turned out to be very difficult to achieve compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS 1) adopted by the EU in 2003". I wonder what hazardous material the FM3A contained considering that the directive is aimed at minimising waste from electrical and electronic equipment.
Sad that a lens as sweet as the 45mm/2.8P had such a short life.
Interesting article from the designer. Towards the end he writes: "The FM3A was discontinued because it turned out to be very difficult to achieve compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS 1) adopted by the EU in 2003". I wonder what hazardous material the FM3A contained considering that the directive is aimed at minimising waste from electrical and electronic equipment.
Sad that a lens as sweet as the 45mm/2.8P had such a short life.
My 9-blade 45/2.8 GN most often finds use on an FG-20. Pop on an adjustable, manual flash ala the Godox Lux Jr and shoot anywhere.
The newer AI-P version is appealing if you want to go even more modern & compact with something like an N75 that already has a built-in flash. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Nikon cameras (any?) with built-in flashes that will handle non-chipped lenses.
Trivia: the N6006 has a built-in flash and will meter with AI, non-chipped lenses, but not a non-AI lens. (On the digital side, the D200/D300 series and the D7000-D7200 series also have built-in flash and can meter with manual focus AI lenses.) Typically among the film AF cameras, the built-in flash came on more "amateur" oriented bodies like N65, N75, N80, etc, and Nikon started leaving the mechanical AI meter coupling off those to save money; usually they were aimed at being used with an AF kit lens anyway. The one weakness of an N80/F80, lack of metering with manual focus lenses.
The lens is here. It's tiny. Even smaller than I had imagined. Smaller and lighter than my Voigtländer 40mm f/2. Very well dampened focus ring, nice click to the aperture ring. Came with a 'barnacle' hood and caps.
Couple of pictures, including a comparison with a 50mm f/1.8 Ai-s pancake.
Ready to try it out. Roll of Kentmere 400, light yellow filter, D23 1+1 just mixed. Life is good!
[...]
The 45mm 2.8P is my most used lens for 35mm. I've read online reviews both trashing it and praising it, and none of that matters... I love the results from this lens. Also makes a Nikon SLR nice and compact. I think you'll like it.
Dale
Either one likes the slightly wider than normal lens or not. It is a religious following, like which end of a hard boiled egg one opens first.
Pff. Tht blog went downhill around a year ago. Guess they've run out of stuff to review. Photrio member Huss was a frequent guest of comment section there.Hey James Tocchio! How about acknowledging you got inspiration from here in your blog so Photrio gets some traffic?
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