The old 35/1.4 MF lenses are not bad, but not so good overall. Keep in mind that it is basically a 1970 design without any aspherical elements. I used a couple a fair amount from 15-25 years ago, but usually stopped down a few to reduce the funky aberrations. At middle apertures the sharpness is good and close focus is fine.
Some people might like the artistic look and accept the IQ if the subject is in the central, sort of sharp area. I've found better choices purely for sharpness and low light shooting.
Many owners of this lens seem to forget that the performance is very dependent on focus distance, because of the CRC design. Close up, it's actually quite sharp even wide open and the bokeh is fine too. But at a couple of meters distance, it's almost unusable as I see it. Heavy curvature of field, veiling flare, purple fringing and a terrible bokeh. Possibly the worst ever.
But then if you stop it down to f/2.8, things changes a lot. At f/4 it might be one of the sharpest 35 mm lenses there is.
The prices have gone ridiculous over the last years. I bought one for $150 and it was well worth it. But $600 Jesus, just get a used ZF 35/2 instead, which is a much better lens. Except if you must have f/1.4.
Makten wrote:
The prices have gone ridiculous over the last years. I bought one for $150 and it was well worth it. But $600 Jesus, just get a used ZF 35/2 instead, which is a much better lens. Except if you must have f/1.4.
Makten wrote:
Many owners of this lens seem to forget that the performance is very dependent on focus distance, because of the CRC design. Close up, it's actually quite sharp even wide open and the bokeh is fine too. But at a couple of meters distance, it's almost unusable as I see it. Heavy curvature of field, veiling flare, purple fringing and a terrible bokeh. Possibly the worst ever.
But then if you stop it down to f/2.8, things changes a lot. At f/4 it might be one of the sharpest 35 mm lenses there is.
Makten wrote:
Many owners of this lens seem to forget that the performance is very dependent on focus distance, because of the CRC design. Close up, it's actually quite sharp even wide open and the bokeh is fine too. But at a couple of meters distance, it's almost unusable as I see it. Heavy curvature of field, veiling flare, purple fringing and a terrible bokeh. Possibly the worst ever.
But then if you stop it down to f/2.8, things changes a lot. At f/4 it might be one of the sharpest 35 mm lenses there is.
The prices have gone ridiculous over the last years. I bought one for $150 and it was well worth it. But $600 Jesus, just get a used ZF 35/2 instead, which is a much better lens. Except if you must have f/1.4....Show more →
Damn. I paid over $300 for one in the 80s and sold it for about the same 10 years ago.
Everyone is entitled to there own opinion. It's one thing to list off "all" the things wrong with the Nikkor 35 1.4 AIS . For me those imperfections are what are makes me love the lens and it's signature.
For me the Nikkor is is like a beautiful women.
I enjoy spending time with her and touching her gives me pleasure. if I do my part. she puts out and delivers the goods evert time..
Again and again and again. What's not to love.
I wish I had more recent film processed/scanned with this lens on my F2as and the F3T. I have about 20 rolls I need to soup, and another 50 I need to scan. Many are taken with the Nikkor 35 1.4 AIS and F3T/F2as combo.
The Nikkor 35 1.4 AIS on the F3T with MD-4 is one of the really good things in this life. The "feel" of the focus and aperture is as near to perfection as one can hope to get.
The 1.4 aperture means a very bright focusing sceen(I use the grid screen on the F3T) which is a real asset when working at F 1.4 in low light.
As many of you know getting the image in focus is key link in the image chain.
And while some may not like the look @ 1.4 I agree that at close distances it's as good as any thing else.... I wont even mention the Z word.
Some have mentioned the Nikkor 35 2.0 AIS which is also a great lens. However, it's only F2.0 while the 35 1.4 AIS is quite a bit more money I feel the money folks are asking is total justified.
When you consider all the time/energy some of us spend with are camera/lenes and the pleasure and joy that they give us and other's with are are images .And then there is the legendary build quaility of the Nikkor AIS glass.
Makten wrote:
Many owners of this lens seem to forget that the performance is very dependent on focus distance, because of the CRC design. Close up, it's actually quite sharp even wide open and the bokeh is fine too. But at a couple of meters distance, it's almost unusable as I see it. Heavy curvature of field, veiling flare, purple fringing and a terrible bokeh. Possibly the worst ever.
But then if you stop it down to f/2.8, things changes a lot. At f/4 it might be one of the sharpest 35 mm lenses there is.
Makten knows what he's talking about. I've used this lens for tens of thousands of shots. I love it. But it does indeed stink wide open at a distance. I use it mostly within 10 feet at f/2 and it's pretty great! Somewhat geometric specular highlights but it's prettier than wide open. I'm a big proponent of the lens, but only use it where it's good.
ulrikft2 wrote:
And well, it isn't necessarily only sharpness that lacks WO imo, but also micro contrast and overall contrast. I like my images to pop, also wide open.. But tastes differ of course. The way the 35 1.4 acts wide open makes me use it less than I else wise would. So I'm looking forward to trying the rokinon, new nikon and zeiss ..
Agreed again. I think you'll love everything about the new Nikon except it's size. Good micro-contrast, very sharp w/o, beautiful bokeh. The Zeiss is going to have to be really good for me to get it instead...
@c.giff
Your images are stunning... I like to see so good pictures done with lovely old tools...
Later Off Topic Edit: I see you use Vivitar 85/1.4 also... how's that lens?
Oh man - I just found a mint copy locally for $459. Took some sample images with it on my D700 and will look at them tonight. I have a few bits of gear to trade in on this - very very tempting. Seems that in the right hands it can produce stunning images.
jhinkey wrote:
Oh man - I just found a mint copy locally for $459. Took some sample images with it on my D700 and will look at them tonight. I have a few bits of gear to trade in on this - very very tempting. Seems that in the right hands it can produce stunning images.
lbloom wrote:
Bought one and sold it. It is usable wide-open, but the ZF35's (f/2) siren call was too much to resist.
+1. I found a great deal on the zeiss - cheaper than most of the Nikkor 35 1.4s I've seen. The Distagon's really helped tamp down gear lust for the new 35 1.4G.
I've found better choices purely for sharpness and low light shooting.
Jesus, just get a used ZF 35/2 instead, which is a much better lens. Except if you must have f/1.4.
. I wont even mention the Z word.
