Friday, January 31, 2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 S non-AI

Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 S non-AI (1962-'74)
This sample circa '71.







Filter size: 52mm
Close focus: 1 foot/0.3 meters
Aperture range: f/2.8 - f/16
Aperture blades: 6
Depth of field scale for f/4, f/8 - f/16, IR index.
Design: 7 elements in 6 groups

Comments: Note that the lens labeled 3.5cm is a different (and much rarer) lens with 7 elements in 5 groups. It is some what longer but otherwise looks similar. This one is a nice little lens.

The earlier version has a ribbed aperture ring.



The later Nippon Kogaku and Nikon versions have a scalloped aperture ring.



Oddly there were never C or K versions of this lens. Here are the two versions side-by-side:



Here are the other non-perspective control Nikon non-AI 35mm lenses: 35mm f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, and 3.5cm


More information:
Nikon Thousand and One Nights
Richard de Stoutz
MIR
Brochure

Sample photographs:

















 



























More photos taken with this lens

29









Canon 50mm f/1.4 FL

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 H non-AI

Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 H non-AI (cm marked '60-'67, classic non-AI '67-'73, multicoated non-AI '73-'75, K non-AI '75-'77)
These samples circa '62 and '72.







Filter size: 52mm
Close focus: 2 feet/0.6 meters (later K version 1 foot/0.3 meters)
Aperture range: f/3.5 - f/16
Aperture blades: 5 (later K version has 7)
Depth of field scale for f/3.5, f/8 - f/16, IR index (later K version stops down to f/22)
Design: 6 elements in 6 groups

More information:
Nikon Thousand and One Nights
Richard de Stoutz
MIR
Brochure
Another brochure

Comments: It is a lens of superlatives: tied for the biggest front element of any 52mm filter-sized Nikkor, the smallest rear element, the only Nikkor with a 5-bladed aperture (which I hate, but on a slow 28mm you aren't going to see the shape of the aperture much at all), about the worst close focus (1:18 maximum magnification), probably the fewest available f/stops (5).  It is a little hard to focus since it is wide and slow. It is nice and compact - just about the same size as the 50mm f/2.  All told, I really like this lens, but I find the close focus annoying.

The earliest version is marked 2.8 cm, and has a silver front ring and (usually) a ribbed aperture ring.



The next version is marked in mm but still has a silver front ring, but a scalloped aperture ring.  It is relatively rare, with around 10,000 made.



The versions with the black front marked Nippon Kogaku and Nikon and the C version are fairly common.



The latest K version of this lens fixes both of my complaints: it has a 7-bladed aperture and focuses down to 1 foot.  I'd highly recommend it!



Here are some comparisons of the earlier versions:





Example photos:









































More photos from this lens