Why do some people prefer Nikon pre-AI glass to later Nikon glass?

fstop · Nov 4, 2016

chip j said:
Looking thru both kinds, I find the older glass is flatter and less colorful, so why would anyone prefer it?

I often wonder, especially when 35mm format rise to glory was the availability of COLOR film.

MartinCrabtree · Nov 4, 2016

For starters-no plastic. I cannot stand the toylike "feel" of a plastic bodied lens regardless of performance. I have a Nikon 18-55 f3.5-5.6G and while it's abilities are outstanding especially for a kit lens it just feels like a piece of crap and the tactile experience is a priority.

Rendering is a matter of choice and that's where reason blends into emotion. Things just get silly after that.

Terry Breedlove · Nov 4, 2016

My Nikon f2 with the 50 1.4 pre ai shooting tri-x just has a look I like. My only problem with it is that it won't work in my f3 hp.

Arvee · Nov 4, 2016

Terry Breedlove said:
My Nikon f2 with the 50 1.4 pre ai shooting tri-x just has a look I like. My only problem with it is that it won't work in my f3 hp.

Terry, I believe you can flip the AI tab up on the F3 and mount the pre-AI lenses. I do that on my F4S. Manual only operation, though.

Terry Breedlove · Nov 4, 2016

Fred Aspen said:
Terry, I believe you can flip the AI tab up on the F3 and mount the pre-AI lenses. I do that on my F4S. Manual only operation, though.

Thank you will try asap. update It doesn't flip up on the F3.

Soeren · Nov 4, 2016

Yes it does. you need to push the little button next to the white dot.

frank · Nov 4, 2016

I prefer non-autofocus lenses and non-G lenses (which lack aperture rings) to later Nikon lenses due to functional reasons.

jimjm · Nov 4, 2016

Terry Breedlove said:
My Nikon f2 with the 50 1.4 pre ai shooting tri-x just has a look I like. My only problem with it is that it won't work in my f3 hp.

Terry - If you really like this lens, have you thought about doing an AI-conversion? I have several favorite pre-AI lenses that I wanted to be able to use on all my MF bodies, like an 85/1.8 and a 180/2.8. Sent them to John White, and for $35 each they are now usable on almost any Nikon body, from the F to the latest digital. Really nice guy and fast service. He's at http://www.aiconversions.com/ .

frank · Nov 4, 2016

The F3 has a flip up AI tab. See post #32.

jimjm · Nov 4, 2016

As does the FM, but you'll need to meter with the lens stopped-down. The flip-up tab is one feature I wish Nikon has retained on all the later film bodies.

Terry Breedlove · Nov 4, 2016

PH sweet I didn't push that little button before pushing the tab up. I have my lens attached right now Thanks you

Terry Breedlove · Nov 4, 2016

jimjm said:
Terry - If you really like this lens, have you thought about doing an AI-conversion? I have several favorite pre-AI lenses that I wanted to be able to use on all my MF bodies, like an 85/1.8 and a 180/2.8. Sent them to John White, and for $35 each they are now usable on almost any Nikon body, from the F to the latest digital. Really nice guy and fast service. He's at http://www.aiconversions.com/ .

Yes I have though about it actually but I was checking on eBay and they are affordable enough I was just thinking about buying one.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 5, 2016

chip j said:
Looking thru both kinds, I find the older glass is flatter and less colorful, so why would anyone prefer it?

I creates the look of the 70s and 80s, which I loved.

chip j · Nov 5, 2016

There was no pre-AI glass made in the 80s; please clarify.

Arvee · Nov 5, 2016

I believe Ralph was referring to the 'look' of photographs made during that time period with pre-AI glass.

chip j · Nov 5, 2016

Yes, I think they do look very "photographic".

fstop · Nov 5, 2016

Journalistic is probably an accurate term also.
I think he meant 50s and 60s instead of 70s and 80s.

TheRook · Nov 5, 2016

chip j said:
There was no pre-AI glass made in the 80s; please clarify.

In the 1980's, there were plenty of photographers still using their trusty pre-AI lenses. And many were still using their old cameras as well. (It's not like today, where as a 15-year old digital camera is generally considered technically inadequate, if not downright embarrassing to carry in public.)

Anyway, I use both pre-AI and AI lenses on my Nikon FE, and I honestly don't see any significant difference in the "look" of the photos they create.

chip j · Nov 6, 2016

Is that the fault of the lenses (that you don't see any difference) or is it your shortcoming?

Soeren · Nov 6, 2016

chip j said:
Is that the fault of the lenses (that you don't see any difference) or is it your shortcoming?

B&W or color
Subject matter and lighting situation
Shooting and metering technique
Film and chemistry
Developing technique
Enlarger and paper
Chemistry
Etc.
I think there are plenty of things affecting the final result much more than what glass is in front of the camera so faulting the guy behind for not seeing SIGNIFICANT differences is one big step to far.

chip j · Nov 6, 2016

I've used many various of the above steps & can still see the difference.

kobaltus · Nov 6, 2016

I had 5 nikkors 50 /2 .The oldest was single coated from 1965, last 3 were multicoated.

And I can not see any difference in picture quality, related to the lens birth date.

And from my tests, the sharpest one is the oldest one.

For the end, this is " look up" trol thread.

fstop · Nov 6, 2016

The newer (mid 70s) lenses sure showed superiority in color than the older lenses.

Pioneer · Nov 6, 2016

I'll use what I like and you use what you like and we will both be happy.

Or is it not possible to celebrate our differences?

chip j · Nov 6, 2016

Ignorance is Bliss

Why do some people prefer Nikon pre-AI glass to later Nikon glass?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency