As a long time Nikon user I enjoyed viewing this thread
From my first Nikkormat FTN as a student in the 1970's to the Z5 in 2025.
And the amazing thing is we can still use these vintage manual lenses on our modern cameras with an adapter.
These examples are with the Nikkor 1.8 50mm AIS compact version.
This lens was only available in Japan and I found my mint copy on the bay from a trusted seller in Tokyo.
Not to be confused with the plastic Series E version - this is a proper Nikkor.
Location is the polderland near Gouderak, the Netherlands.
André
Welcome to our world André and nice images. Please feel free to join in the conversation.
jamesdak wrote:
I've been recovering from surgery lately and going back through my archives from the past couple of decades. Today I finally re-found over 20,000 images shot years ago. They are all from when I was using an old manual focus Nikon 800/5.6 on a D300. I'm only about halfway through the stash but am loving seeing all these images again. Although, my old ACR 9.2 seems to struggle converting some of the NEF files. And then my old photoshop CS6 bogs down a bit working the images for things like cropping. A bit weird as this doesn't happen with my Canon or Leica RAW files. It's been so long I don't remember if I was using a different workflow for the Nikon Raw files. I show an icon for ViewNX2 but the app is no longer there. ViewNX is still working though. Yeah, my photo editing desktop is old, ! Anyway, here's one example of the kind of shots I'm finding from this beautiful old piece of glass. Wondering now, why I ever sold it. https://a4.pbase.com/o12/80/486280/1/175919412.Ga8EtznH.DSC_0117.jpg...Show more →
Welcome to you too James. Yea, after seeing this shot, I bet you do wish you had that lens back
NightOwl Cat wrote:
Time to upgrade that old PC then...sounds like you're running XP still... those shots deserve more
, that one is actually running Windows 8. It's a standalone and until I truly figure out all that can be done with photoshop CS6 I see no need to upgrade. Although I do have a brand new Macbook Pro. But I just can't wrap my brain around this new "renting software" scheme of Adobe and so many others.
Still learning the Zr. Controls are very different from any Nikon DSLR or mirrorless I have used. Video is a whole new learning curve for me. Still figuring out how to work raw video files.
Some giant pictures, sorry. I don't rate my copy of the 135mm f/2.8 AIS much when it comes to sharpness but hey, it's my only Rafael-condition lens. The Nikkor-Q Auto 135mm f/3.5 that I've owned and the Nikkor-Q Auto 13.5cm f/3.5 that I own now are superb, in comparison. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this shot. At only 1/160s, I was leaning heavily on the Z5 IBIS. I think this was at f/5.6.
Still learning the Zr. Controls are very different from any Nikon DSLR or mirrorless I have used. Video is a whole new learning curve for me. Still figuring out how to work raw video files.
That's a camera I never thought I see you own. I didn't know you were into video.
Very nice! Great images of the Charles, great bike too! Is that pic on the bike/pedestrian bridge in Waltham?
We should try to meet up for a combined bike ride and photo op. (I'll ride my steel Masi. Aww, what the heck, all my bikes are vintage. I could ride anything.)
Today's activity was an awesome November walk through Assabet River NWR. Not much bird activity but the light was interesting. I carried only two lenses today.
I did no color treatment on this. Just turned around on the trail and saw this, had to take a shot.
200mm f/4
The view during lunch:
Pine needles in the sun. 35mm f/2.8
! Anyway, here's one example of the kind of shots I'm finding from this beautiful old piece of glass. Wondering now, why I ever sold it. 
