Manual Focus Nikon Glass
p.2685 #1Manual Focus Nikon Glass
Inspired by some recent B&W work on here. First shot 28mm f2.0 AI, others 85mm f2.0 AI.
Aug 30, 2026 at 12:27 PM
p.2685 #2Manual Focus Nikon Glass
My "Like" button finger has been kept busy lately as the participants here continue to demonstrate that the need to manually focus a lens is no obstacle to great photography!
Here are a few more images from the Qualicum car show, all taken with the 35 f/1.4 N on my Fuji X-T4.
Here are a few more images from the Qualicum car show, all taken with the 35 f/1.4 N on my Fuji X-T4.
Aug 30, 2026 at 10:23 PM
p.2685 #3Manual Focus Nikon Glass
You might think you're rock steady, but you don't feel your motion. The longer lenses amplify it though. While I do get handheld shots with silly shutter speeds (1/15, 1/30, ) a good tripod is an asset and something you should definitely have.You want something that will hold a good amount of weight for its rating (30 pounds and up) and something, since you are taller, with at least 65 inch height.
I'm about to give a recently acquired 600mm some tests, but it's AF, so not eligible here.
jimmuller wrote:
I appreciate the responses. I certainly don't claim to be a champion camera handler and admit that my vision isn't as good as it once was. But I'm skeptical. For this study I was seated on the bench of a solid, wooden picnic table, body leaning against the tabletop, both elbows solidly on the table, eyepiece pressed against my face. The slowest shutter speed was 1/2500 sec, the fastest 1/8000 sec, and the Z5ii has good IBIS. (That's the same hardware, Z5ii, FTZ, 300mm, no TC, I used for the hand-held-while-standing moon shot I posted a month or two ago.)...Show more →
I'm about to give a recently acquired 600mm some tests, but it's AF, so not eligible here.
jimmuller wrote:
James Markus wrote
It boils down to this one axiom: the longer the focal length the harder it is to get a sharp image....and the most likely is camera shake - which is the nice way to say it's the operator's fault.Aug 31, 2026 at 06:28 AM
p.2685 #4Manual Focus Nikon Glass
NightOwl Cat wrote:
You might think you're rock steady, but you don't feel your motion. The longer lenses amplify it though.
...
I'm about to give a recently acquired 600mm some tests, but it's AF, so not eligible here.
Thanks for the note. (Is "I feel your motion" like "I feel your pain"?
) If the lower IQ from the 300 alone was due solely to motion, then it should be worse with the TC attached. Now, it's possible that the different focus ring position with or without the TC made me nudge one consistently but not the other. I do have a good tripod which I don't typically carry but could use for a test here at home.
Regardless of all that, I think it was impressive that the weathered lettering of the manufacturer's name was recognizable from that distance.
I would very much like to see any results you get from testing a 600mm. Let us know where/if you post them. Not that I'm looking to buy one any time soon.
You might think you're rock steady, but you don't feel your motion. The longer lenses amplify it though.
...
I'm about to give a recently acquired 600mm some tests, but it's AF, so not eligible here.
Thanks for the note. (Is "I feel your motion" like "I feel your pain"?
) If the lower IQ from the 300 alone was due solely to motion, then it should be worse with the TC attached. Now, it's possible that the different focus ring position with or without the TC made me nudge one consistently but not the other. I do have a good tripod which I don't typically carry but could use for a test here at home.Regardless of all that, I think it was impressive that the weathered lettering of the manufacturer's name was recognizable from that distance.
I would very much like to see any results you get from testing a 600mm. Let us know where/if you post them. Not that I'm looking to buy one any time soon.
Aug 31, 2026 at 07:02 AM
p.2685 #5Manual Focus Nikon Glass
rafaelcasd wrote:
Here is a trippy lunar trip.
I was not enthusiastic about the recent lunar eclipse because it would not be total and the brightness of the sunlit portion 'eclipses' the darkened red moon, besides, it was going to be cloudy.
But out came the 800mm 5.6, the laptop, and nikon camera control pro. With control pro I need not touch the camera on the tripod and avoid vibration in long exposures, I have learned how to do dark dark moon shots.
This is what a full lunar eclipse looks like, but before my learnings on exposure, from 2022.
What a beautiful eclipse series, Rafael. Bravo!
Here is a trippy lunar trip.
I was not enthusiastic about the recent lunar eclipse because it would not be total and the brightness of the sunlit portion 'eclipses' the darkened red moon, besides, it was going to be cloudy.
But out came the 800mm 5.6, the laptop, and nikon camera control pro. With control pro I need not touch the camera on the tripod and avoid vibration in long exposures, I have learned how to do dark dark moon shots.
This is what a full lunar eclipse looks like, but before my learnings on exposure, from 2022.
What a beautiful eclipse series, Rafael. Bravo!
Aug 31, 2026 at 08:17 AM
p.2685 #6Manual Focus Nikon Glass
jimmuller wrote:
I would very much like to see any results you get from testing a 600mm.
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. Rafael's 800mm examples are wonderful, and I have over 20K images with and without teleconverters. If you are into tinkering, you can modify a Nikon TC-16a to give partial AF to a manual focus lens. You get it close by hand, then the TC has elements that are driven by the camera to fine tune the focus (F mount only). Or, you can use a focus confirmation adapter on many bodies.
5DS-R_Nikkor_600mm-f5.6-ais(New)_Focus-ConfirmationChip-Dandelion-Adapter
D850_Nikkor_600mm-f5.6-ais_ED-IF_Modified-TC-16A_960mm-EFL_Black-cappedChickadee
I would very much like to see any results you get from testing a 600mm.
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. Rafael's 800mm examples are wonderful, and I have over 20K images with and without teleconverters. If you are into tinkering, you can modify a Nikon TC-16a to give partial AF to a manual focus lens. You get it close by hand, then the TC has elements that are driven by the camera to fine tune the focus (F mount only). Or, you can use a focus confirmation adapter on many bodies.
5DS-R_Nikkor_600mm-f5.6-ais(New)_Focus-ConfirmationChip-Dandelion-Adapter
D850_Nikkor_600mm-f5.6-ais_ED-IF_Modified-TC-16A_960mm-EFL_Black-cappedChickadee
Aug 31, 2026 at 08:51 AM
p.2685 #7Manual Focus Nikon Glass
Another monochrome, though this one is a required B&W conversion IMO due to the large amounts of LOCA from shooting the 85mm f2.0 AI wide open into a side-lit steel fence.
Aug 31, 2026 at 11:25 AM
p.2685 #8Manual Focus Nikon Glass
James Markus wrote:
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. ...
I hear what you are saying but I have no intention of acquiring another lens in the near future! If I did it would probably be a modern AF zoom, though I have no justification for it. I'm just doing this for the fun anyway.
Yesterday I repeated that FL comparison, shot a series with the 200, 300, and 300 x 1.4, at least three apertures each (5.6, 8, 11). I mounted the camera on a heavy old-school Manfrotto tripod, target was a lawn chair about 100 meters away. (With the high viewfinder magnification the tripod was surprisingly jiggly with a high oscillation frequency than if I were hand-holding it.) The light was bright but variable due to swaying tree shadows. I cropped them to the same subject matter, about 1465, 2200, and 3100 pixels, re-zised them to 1200, the applied PaintShop Pro's Sharpen filter.
I won't show any pics but here are my impressions. At the smaller apertures the 300 and 300x1.4 were nicer than the 200 because processing artifacts were apparent in the 200. When the 300 combos were wide open the 200 was equal or a bit better for clarity. When the light happened to be more direct on the target the 300 and 300x1.4 pics seemed better than when the light was diffuse because there was more obvious contrast between shadow and lit areas.
Under these circumstances the longer FL's were better but I'm still impressed by the old 200mm f/4. For printing or display on a larger screen the differences would likely be more pronounced.
Now back to your regularly scheduled picture display.
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. ...
I hear what you are saying but I have no intention of acquiring another lens in the near future! If I did it would probably be a modern AF zoom, though I have no justification for it. I'm just doing this for the fun anyway.
Yesterday I repeated that FL comparison, shot a series with the 200, 300, and 300 x 1.4, at least three apertures each (5.6, 8, 11). I mounted the camera on a heavy old-school Manfrotto tripod, target was a lawn chair about 100 meters away. (With the high viewfinder magnification the tripod was surprisingly jiggly with a high oscillation frequency than if I were hand-holding it.) The light was bright but variable due to swaying tree shadows. I cropped them to the same subject matter, about 1465, 2200, and 3100 pixels, re-zised them to 1200, the applied PaintShop Pro's Sharpen filter.
I won't show any pics but here are my impressions. At the smaller apertures the 300 and 300x1.4 were nicer than the 200 because processing artifacts were apparent in the 200. When the 300 combos were wide open the 200 was equal or a bit better for clarity. When the light happened to be more direct on the target the 300 and 300x1.4 pics seemed better than when the light was diffuse because there was more obvious contrast between shadow and lit areas.
Under these circumstances the longer FL's were better but I'm still impressed by the old 200mm f/4. For printing or display on a larger screen the differences would likely be more pronounced.
Now back to your regularly scheduled picture display.
Sep 01, 2026 at 05:49 AM
p.2685 #9Manual Focus Nikon Glass
pbraymond wrote:
Inspired by some recent B&W work on here. First shot 28mm f2.0 AI, others 85mm f2.0 AI.
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpg
Ray, excellent B&W processing.
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
Serge
Inspired by some recent B&W work on here. First shot 28mm f2.0 AI, others 85mm f2.0 AI.
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpg
Ray, excellent B&W processing.
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
Serge
Sep 01, 2026 at 06:56 AM
p.2685 #10Manual Focus Nikon Glass
jimmuller wrote:
I hear what you are saying but I have no intention of acquiring another lens in the near future! If I did it would probably be a modern AF zoom,..........
Jim, that's a terrible attitude. Now that I think of it, a double terrible attitude.
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serge07 wrote:
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpgRay, excellent B&W processing.
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
Serge
Thanks Serge. I don't make it there often enough in any kind of decent light, and many times it's deserted enough that the risk of being harassed for money limits my desire to be there. Perhaps the new work being put into the area will truly attract more usage and add more consistent life to the area.
James Markus wrote
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. ...Jim, that's a terrible attitude. Now that I think of it, a double terrible attitude.
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serge07 wrote:
pbraymond wrote
Inspired by some recent B&W work on here. First shot 28mm f2.0 AI, others 85mm f2.0 AI.https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpg
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
Serge
Thanks Serge. I don't make it there often enough in any kind of decent light, and many times it's deserted enough that the risk of being harassed for money limits my desire to be there. Perhaps the new work being put into the area will truly attract more usage and add more consistent life to the area.
Sep 01, 2026 at 11:05 AM
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p.2685 #12Manual Focus Nikon Glass
pbraymond wrote:
Jim, that's a terrible attitude. Now that I think of it, a double terrible attitude.
He! Why? Because I’m not looking for another lens right now or because it might be AF? Or both?
You have one to sell?
jimmuller wrote
I hear what you are saying but I have no intention of acquiring another lens in the near future! If I did it would probably be a modern AF zoom,..........He! Why? Because I’m not looking for another lens right now or because it might be AF? Or both?
You have one to sell?
Sep 01, 2026 at 11:43 AM
p.2685 #14Manual Focus Nikon Glass
milt wrote:
Walking around London
D850, 50mm f/1.2.
Love it! The boats and park benches are great!
Oh, and I'll have a pint of stout too, please.
Walking around London
D850, 50mm f/1.2.
Love it! The boats and park benches are great!
Oh, and I'll have a pint of stout too, please.
Sep 01, 2026 at 03:09 PM
p.2685 #16Manual Focus Nikon Glass
serge07 wrote:
Richard, thank you for the excellent article.
I have looked at 8.5cm f/2 LTM many times but the Leica crowd keeps the price on the steep side of the equation. The build quality on the 1950s era lenses is amazing.
Regards,
Serge
look in japanese ebay
richardHaw wrote
https://richardhaw.com/2026/08/15/repair-nikkor-p-c-8-5cm-f-2-ltm/ I have looked at 8.5cm f/2 LTM many times but the Leica crowd keeps the price on the steep side of the equation. The build quality on the 1950s era lenses is amazing.
Regards,
Serge
look in japanese ebay
Sep 01, 2026 at 08:37 PM
p.2685 #17Manual Focus Nikon Glass
Happy September, everyone. August ended up with too much stuff on the calendar. I have been carrying a camera occasionally but not taking many pictures. I've been enjoying seeing everyone else's pictures.
Sep 02, 2026 at 03:20 AM
p.2685 #18Manual Focus Nikon Glass
Ray, you know that line is the weakest defense. Sooner or later he'll crack....
pbraymond wrote:
I hear what you are saying but I have no intention of acquiring another lens in the near future! If I did it would probably be a modern AF zoom,..........Jim, that's a terrible attitude. Now that I think of it, a double terrible attitude.
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https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpgRay, excellent B&W processing.
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
SergeThanks Serge. I don't make it there often enough in any kind of decent light, and many times it's deserted enough that the risk of being harassed for money limits my desire to be there. Perhaps the new work being put into the area will truly attract more usage and add more consistent life to the area.
pbraymond wrote:
jimmuller wrote
James Markus wrote
Jim, Just pointing out there are manual focus 600mm Nikkors. ...---------------------------------------------
serge07 wrote
pbraymond wrote
Inspired by some recent B&W work on here. First shot 28mm f2.0 AI, others 85mm f2.0 AI.https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985798-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985797-6.jpg
https://www.pbraymond.com/img/s/v-10/p1591985799-6.jpg
It looks like a great area for photography, nice bridge in the first photo.
Serge
Sep 02, 2026 at 04:33 AM
p.2685 #19Manual Focus Nikon Glass
I've got 30 pages to go through to get up to date but in the meantime here's a shot from Shirt Tail Falls I took recently
Shirt Tail Falls by Andy MacDougall, on Flickr
I'll be back !
Andy
Shirt Tail Falls by Andy MacDougall, on FlickrI'll be back !
Andy
Sep 02, 2026 at 06:05 AM
p.2685 #20Manual Focus Nikon Glass
jimmuller wrote:
D850, 50mm f/1.2.Love it! The boats and park benches are great!
Oh, and I'll have a pint of stout too, please.
Thanks Jim!
milt wrote
Walking around LondonD850, 50mm f/1.2.
Oh, and I'll have a pint of stout too, please.
Thanks Jim!
Sep 02, 2026 at 06:21 AM