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Manual Focus Nikon Glass

  
 
James Markus
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p.2566 #1 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


jimmuller wrote:
I should have mentioned, so I will now, that these shots were all taken with the 55mm f/3.5. Blame James Markus for that! I'm liking it. Even my sweetie mentioned how sharp it is. So credit James Markus for that.


Jim, The credit for my discovery of that lens was from another participant in this thread - Scott (mp356) He likes to post well composed landscapes, and I noticed one constant. The infinity area was super sharp. In your last photo - look at the top of the trees in the distance. Very few lenses can resolve that fine of detail. Scott was using a macro lens as a landscape lens, and even after decades of shooting professionally - it had never occurred to me to do that. Additionally, Scott claimed his copy was owner ai'd - that someone had sawed off the tab so it would mount - so it actually was a non-ai lens. It began a journey of unlearning some assumptions I had been operating under (newest is the best-etc).. First, I purchased the 55mm f2,8 ais looking for that same bite (sharpness) - it was good, like my 60mm f2.8 af-d. but not as sharp. So I purchased a 900,000 serial number ai for $38 with free shipping. It was as sharp as Scott's - imo. then I got a late serial number ai again 1,050,000 serial number series. Then I purchased an even older factory ai'd Nikkor-P.C. 55mm f3.5 in mint condition for $78. It's my favorite, and I think it is the sharpest of the bunch. I had them mounted on everything. Nikon, Canon, and other bodies. I sold two since then, but I had to keep a backup just in case.




Jan 02, 2026 at 10:25 AM
lirain
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p.2566 #2 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


serge07 wrote:
Thank you, Ralf.

That was my reaction when I initially spotted the art.

Great photographs you posted in the last few pages. Congratulations on the 50/1.2, you should have lots of fun with it.

Happy New Year,

Serge


Thank you Serge, this is very kind of you!

The 50/1.2 is an amazing lens, but most of these old Nikkor lenses have a fantastic quality and rendering in my eyes. I also have the 55/1.2, and with my Df, it is far more easy to nail focus at 1.2 with the 55. I have no idea why, but with the 50/1.2 I really need the Zf when using it wide open. In any case, IF I nail focus wide open with the 50 or the 55, I'm always wowed with the result...

Happy New Year to all!

Ralf



Jan 02, 2026 at 10:58 AM
James Markus
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p.2566 #3 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


serge07 wrote:
Happy New Year to all!

Excelllent photographs in the last few pages.

A little color to start off 2026. Spotted this on a detour exploring a narrow side street in Malaga.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55016488512_36fd4e1ecc_h.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55017364816_3f6d6b31d1_h.jpg
X-E1 + 28/2.8 AIs
Serge


This reminds me of a couple graphic artist that I was their supervisor at the newspaper. They painted murals and art on buildings by projecting a photographic image on the building and then would paint over the projected image. It's the details like two different catch lights in the eyes, on the lips and nails - shading etc that makes me think that.




Jan 02, 2026 at 11:30 AM
SiMuMe
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p.2566 #4 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


jimmuller wrote:
Me too. I saw it first as a smaller image on my phone. The trees appeared as a deep void overhung with ragged clouds. Calming yet unsettling. It works when viewed larger too, of course, just different.



That's exactly what I saw. A deep dark space with ragged hanging clouds.


jimmuller wrote:
Interesting that you would identify the 55. Those shots have a subtlety but I'm not sure what's different. They are uncropped and unedited except for resizing. Obviously the trail and pine shots were composed so I could chose the aperture carefully.




Thanks for the explanation, especially for the last one compared to the first three. It looks nearly too sharp, consistent with use of a small aperture.

Well, you (still) have too few lenses for this place, hahaha, so it was kind of easy to tell you were working with something different(as opposed to the 35/50/200). You know like when I'd add a new component to my sound system and start listening to music I haven't listened to in a while. It's possible that you could have seen and shot the shared pictures with the 50 but owning a highly-resolving 55mm f/2.8 micro that's what I saw.



Jan 02, 2026 at 02:05 PM
SiMuMe
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p.2566 #5 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Whilst on the subject of the magnificent 55mm micros. Here's a picture I didn't think a lot of until I saw it at 100%. Lens is a bargain. When James shared the tests of all his 55mm micros, his copy of the 2.8S was no match for the 3.5. The 55mm always come up on sale here but never the P.C.


AI Micro NIKKOR 55mm f/2.8S + D700 | F8



100%



Jan 02, 2026 at 02:28 PM
pbraymond
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p.2566 #6 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


HAPPY NEW YEAR! Been a minute with not much to show in MFNG land for me. 5.8cm f1.4.







Jan 02, 2026 at 04:19 PM
AdaptedLenses
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p.2566 #7 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Happy New Years all. A couple quiet minutes today with some late afternoon sun.







Jan 02, 2026 at 04:46 PM
jimmuller
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p.2566 #8 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


James Markus wrote:
Jim, The credit for my discovery of that lens was from another participant in this thread - Scott (mp356) He likes to post well composed landscapes, and I noticed one constant. The infinity area was super sharp. In your last photo - look at the top of the trees in the distance. Very few lenses can resolve that fine of detail.


In that case I owe Scott a double debt of gratitude. It was Scott who tuned me into fredmiranda.com and this thread in particular. We met Scott and Joanne (and dog Cooper) while stopping for lunch at a trail junction in Acadia National Park. He saw my Nikon and came over to ask about it and say hi. Joanne and my sweetie/wife Sharon and Cooper sat in patient amusement while us guys did the guy-talk thing about camera stuff. Cognitive Redundancy Principle: Every conversation about banjos is the same. It applies equally well to cameras, apparently.

I had noticed the precision of those trees in the distance. What also struck me was the subtle shading on the bark of the tree in the foreground. Somehow the lens and those camera settings captured both near and far, both dark and light, and everything in between too. I didn't do anything special, at least I didn't think so.

So thank you both!
---------------------------------------------

SiMuMe wrote:
Well, you (still) have too few lenses for this place, hahaha, so it was kind of easy to tell you were working with something different(as opposed to the 35/50/200).


An astute observation! As for the 35/50/200 collection, I see you are tracking my lenses. I must start wearing a tinfoil hat so you can't read my thoughts.

In fact, the collection has already doubled. Before that 55mm I had picked up an F-mount 300mm f/4.5 AIS. I like it! I've posted a few pics with it but its real value will come when the migratory birds return. Before that I had bought from my local Hunts camera shop an F-mount Tamron 90mm macro for "scanning" my slide collection from the old days. No pics with it here in the MFNG thread but I have taken some good dragonfly pics with it. I guess there isn't much market for F-mount lenses now because none of these new additions were over $100, including shipping. But this 55mm is special, and a real surprise.

At the risk of lengthening an already long post I will relate a story from a few days ago. Were walking a trail and encountered three young Japanese women (everybody looks young by my standards). One was carrying a Nikon bag and had a Nikon around her neck; I don't know what model. They asked if I'd take their picture. The woman with the camera pointed at Z5-II with the 55mm and said something about me being a "real" or "serious" photographer. (You talking about me??) She handed me her camera and they posed. It had a zoom lens but I saw no focus ring. I had to ask if it was auto-focus. ("Yes.") So I rotated the zoom ring for a good shot, observed the focus boxes around their faces, snapped two, showed them the pics. They like them but decided they wanted a different pose too, so I took another. They liked that too. We spoke for a few more minutes and went our separate ways, everybody smiling. The thing is, it was too easy. It made me think about an AF zoom like the 24-70 that gets such good reviews. That would be so easy, so convenient. (Also expensive.) And it would mean I don't have to work at it, don't have to think about the pics I'm taking. If I needed convenience or speed I might consider it. Maybe one day. But I don't take pics for that. I'll stick to the MFNG formula for now.



Jan 02, 2026 at 06:11 PM
mp356
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p.2566 #9 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


James Markus wrote:
Jim, The credit for my discovery of that lens was from another participant in this thread - Scott (mp356) He likes to post well composed landscapes, and I noticed one constant. The infinity area was super sharp. In your last photo - look at the top of the trees in the distance. Very few lenses can resolve that fine of detail. Scott was using a macro lens as a landscape lens, and even after decades of shooting professionally - it had never occurred to me to do that. Additionally, Scott claimed his copy was owner ai'd - that someone
...Show more

Jim, I decided I just had to tryout the 55 F2.8 Ais version as I was looking to eke out as much aperture as I could for certain applications. It is a partial stop faster, very sharp, a tad larger, and the damping a bit stiffer. In my haste to fund the purchase, I sold the older version that I had. I do wish it back at times and might need to find a similar copy some day. It is easy to run in circles sometimes trying these wonderful lenses! Luckily they do not break the bank, and usually you can recover close to what you paid for them if you decide to sell. I appreciate your efforts on comparing the various versions of these 55mm beauties.
Scott








Jan 02, 2026 at 08:20 PM
mp356
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p.2566 #10 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


jimmuller wrote:
In that case I owe Scott a double debt of gratitude. It was Scott who tuned me into fredmiranda.com and this thread in particular. We met Scott and Joanne (and dog Cooper) while stopping for lunch at a trail junction in Acadia National Park. He saw my Nikon and came over to ask about it and say hi. Joanne and my sweetie/wife Sharon and Cooper sat in patient amusement while us guys did the guy-talk thing about camera stuff. Cognitive Redundancy Principle: Every conversation about banjos is the same. It applies equally well to cameras, apparently.

I had noticed the precision
...Show more

Jim, it was great meeting you at the park that day. As we rambled on about all things Nikon manual focus glass, the looks on our significant others faces said it all.

Glad to see you embracing the fun of finding and trying these lenses. Your "glass" family is growing!
Scott



Jan 02, 2026 at 08:30 PM
 


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NightOwl Cat
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p.2566 #11 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Jim, Scott likes to keep a small kit, however.... when Scott and I met in 2016, I was on my way to Massachusetts. I stopped at a hotel near Rochester,, Scott, Joanne, and I met up at a restaurant. After dinner and a photograph, we made the way to the trunk of my car (sorry, no photos of that, all my gear was stowed, and I do mean ALL my gear). I opened the trunk to show off that I had more camera bags in the trunk than luggage bags Good thing no cops of any kind came up thinking it was a drug deal... My plan for Massachusetts was that after the memorial service for my father in law, I was going to drive down the Cape, all the way to P-Town, as it was somewhere I hadn't been since I was a kid. There's that one section of Route 6 where there's an extremely narrow roadway, and when I got to the other side, first thing I needed was relief. Pulled into a gas station and was refused. Found a Chinese restaurant in the next parking lot, drove over, ran in, told them I would be ordering but first order of business needed taking care of first. Got some food to go, tipped well, continued my journey.

For a while, MF lenses had dipped in value as everybody wanted autofocus, then came the DF... Also Canon shooters have been able to adapt to their mount and were buying up Nikon MF lenses. Thankfully with the Z mount and the MTZ, we can adapt our F mount lenses easily. I try to avoid looking at the B&S forum here... I get into trouble fast That's what happened with the last acquisition, the Noct... The Devil is strong..



https://nightowldesigns.zenfolio.com/p392058693

Rochester photos got archived, waiting for it to unarchive too:
https://nightowldesigns.zenfolio.com/p433689103

This one is from 2017, when I went back for my mother in law's service, needs to unarchive first, hopefully by the time you read this.
https://nightowldesigns.zenfolio.com/p560346479

jimmuller wrote:
In that case I owe Scott a double debt of gratitude. It was Scott who tuned me into fredmiranda.com and this thread in particular. We met Scott and Joanne (and dog Cooper) while stopping for lunch at a trail junction in Acadia National Park. He saw my Nikon and came over to ask about it and say hi. Joanne and my sweetie/wife Sharon and Cooper sat in patient amusement while us guys did the guy-talk thing about camera stuff. Cognitive Redundancy Principle: Every conversation about banjos is the same. It applies equally well to cameras, apparently.

I had noticed the precision
...Show more




Jan 03, 2026 at 05:47 AM
pbraymond
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p.2566 #12 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Going back to summer with some LR presets. First pic 28mm f2.0 AI, the other two 50mm f1.4 AI.

















Jan 03, 2026 at 09:27 AM
SiMuMe
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p.2566 #13 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


pbraymond wrote:
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Been a minute with not much to show in MFNG land for me. 5.8cm f1.4.
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1277101363-6.jpg


Seems like you're up very early! Happy New Year to you, too.



Jan 03, 2026 at 09:44 AM
serge07
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p.2566 #14 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


James Markus wrote:
This reminds me of a couple graphic artist that I was their supervisor at the newspaper. They painted murals and art on buildings by projecting a photographic image on the building and then would paint over the projected image. It's the details like two different catch lights in the eyes, on the lips and nails - shading etc that makes me think that.


That is an interesting observation, James.

It would be interesting to see the artist live performing his craft. What caught my eye was his use of an oversized right hand. I spotted a second artwork near the beach (which may be his) with the same trait.

Serge



Jan 03, 2026 at 10:21 AM
serge07
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p.2566 #15 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Siphiwe, that is an excellent capture especially the second. I have a late serial 55/2.8 and for some reason do not use it much, usually grabbing the 50/2 instead. Perhaps I will change my ways in the new year.

Morten, excellent series of photographs with the usual great colors.

Ray, nice vintage look to your summer photos.

Setas de Sevilla (2011), apparently the largest wooden structure in the world.















X-E1 + 28/2.8 AIs
Serge



Jan 03, 2026 at 10:38 AM
James Markus
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p.2566 #16 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


serge07 wrote:
That is an interesting observation, James.

It would be interesting to see the artist live performing his craft. What caught my eye was his use of an oversized right hand. I spotted a second artwork near the beach (which may be his) with the same trait.

Serge



When I was a production supervisor I would hire the latest graduates and students from a local college of art & design. There usually were 50-75 of them working on three shifts. (doubt that occurs in the newspaper industry anymore). Anyway, there seemed to be a consensus among them that hands are the hardest part of the human anatomy to draw. It made me key on that when reviewing portfolios - scale, shading, perspective, etc. Some of them had very creative ways to avoid drawing them all-together. I can't draw, but it was a fun job for ten years supervising such young, talented, impractical, idealistic, and passionate artist. Their confidence in their superior to all their peers ability was inspiring - in a way.




Jan 03, 2026 at 10:39 AM
serge07
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p.2566 #17 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


James Markus wrote:
When I was a production supervisor I would hire the latest graduates and students from a local college of art & design. There usually were 50-75 of them working on three shifts. (doubt that occurs in the newspaper industry anymore). Anyway, there seemed to be a consensus among them that hands are the hardest part of the human anatomy to draw. It made me key on that when reviewing portfolios - scale, shading, perspective, etc. Some of them had very creative ways to avoid drawing them all-together. I can't draw, but it was a fun job for ten years
...Show more

James, it sounds like a terrific way to earn a living. I did not know that hands presented such difficulty for an artist.

The next time I visit a museum will closely examine the hands.

Happy New Year,

Serge



Jan 03, 2026 at 10:57 AM
grantgoodes
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p.2566 #18 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


James Markus wrote:
First, I purchased the 55mm f2,8 ais looking for that same bite (sharpness) - it was good, like my 60mm f2.8 af-d. but not as sharp. So I purchased a 900,000 serial number ai for $38 with free shipping. It was as sharp as Scott's - imo. then I got a late serial number ai again 1,050,000 serial number series. Then I purchased an even older factory ai'd Nikkor-P.C. 55mm f3.5 in mint condition for $78. It's my favorite, and I think it is the sharpest of the bunch. I had them mounted on everything. Nikon, Canon, and other
...Show more

It's fun to go down the rabbit-hole of Nikkor lens versions for a specific focal-length, and for certain cases like the Micro-Nikkor 55mm (and friends) it can be done very cheaply. Clearly newer isn't always better, as has been noted on this thread. The original 55/3.5 design, while of moderate maximum aperture, performed VERY well, and is arguably a better lens than the 55/2.8 that replaced it.

I replaced my AI'ed 24/2.8 N.C. with a modern 24/2 AiS thinking I had made a major upgrade (both an additional stop and modern coating/optics), but the reality was that the older lens probably performed better in most situations, partly due to a less aggressive design. Then there's the case of my 105mm addiction, where I replaced a 105.2.5 AiS with a Micro-Nikkor 105.2.8, and was vastly disappointed (to the point where I had to re-purchase the 105/2.5). After much nudging from this thread I recently purchased an AI'ed 105/2.5 Sonnar version for very little money, and have been most impressed by how it renders. Even the "lowly" 100/2.8 Series E is quite a lot of fun for under $100 (and super portable to boot). I also invested in a relatively "cheap" copy of the 105.2 DC lens (though more than the cost of all my other 105's combined), and I'm pretty sure on a "bang for buck" assessment, the Sonnar is the winner!

Edited on Jan 03, 2026 at 02:07 PM · View previous versions



Jan 03, 2026 at 12:37 PM
lirain
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p.2566 #19 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


Speaking of "older" Nikkors... Here are a few from today with a Nippon Kogaku S-Auto 1:1.2/55 on a Zf via FTZ. The lens is from 1966.









Jan 03, 2026 at 02:05 PM
jimmuller
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p.2566 #20 · Manual Focus Nikon Glass


NightOwl Cat wrote:
...After dinner and a photograph, we made the way to the trunk of my car (sorry, no photos of that, all my gear was stowed, and I do mean ALL my gear). I opened the trunk to show off that I had more camera bags in the trunk than luggage bags Good thing no cops of any kind came up thinking it was a drug deal..


Sorry you had the rejection in Massachusetts, but then you've lived here. OTOH, gas stations often declare their facilities off limits to non-employees.

The camera-gear-in-the-trunk story is intriguing. It reminds me of an experience I had in California except that it involved strawberries. Since it involved no camera gear at all I won't tell it, just keep everyone hanging.



Jan 03, 2026 at 03:01 PM
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