AdaptedLenses
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 Re: Manual Focus Nikon Glass | |
I would be wary of anyone’s comments on a sample of one, including mine. But I’ve probably handled and shot a 100 different Nikkors over the years, so it’s based on those generalities.
What you’re describing sounds like a bit of mechanical slop and / or lube issues. It’s hard to say 100% without feeling it myself. What I’ve shot in good repair has a decent feel. These lenses are 40mm h years old now though, no telling what’s been disassembled, cleaned, relived etc. doesn’t mean they won’t be good shooters, or you should even worry it might get worse (it probably won’t) just that they are old lenses and may have minor issues. If the images look good, keep shooting. If you want to get them worked on, then it’s a novel endeavor, especially if they’re clean copies otherwise.
Yogifi wrote:
pbraymond wrote:
Yogifi wrote:
I picked up a few classic nikon lenses but I don't have experience in how they're supposed to feel and wanted to check with folks here.
I understand they're quite old at this point. I tried to get the highest serial numbers and best condition I could find.
My 50mm f1.4 AIS focus ring is so easy to turn, I worry when I let go of the ring that the focus will move from where I left it - it doesn't seem to, but it's probably close.
There's almost no dampening. Very different to the 50mm f1.4 AI, which is quite slow but not stiff.
I read on Ken Rockwell the 50/1.4 AIS is turnable with just one finger and that's true but it does seem a bit too easy to turn.
My 35mm f1.4 AIS is nicely dampened without being tight, and is a smaller lens than I was expecting but when doing the smallest microadjustment like you would everytime you confirm focus, there's like a very slight travel before it engages with the change of direction - about 0.5mm. Quite annoying when checking focus by going over and under and few times. You can feel and see it by trying to turn it the absolute smallest amount back and forth.
While I appreciate the improvement over the 50mm f1.4 AFD in terms of focus feel, they don't seem to be without issues themselves. The 35/1.4 being particularly cumbersome in-use. Perhaps my copies aren't representative?
The 50mm f1.2 should be here later today but those were the two I was most looking forward to using regularly with the fm2n, which I've been preferring over digital recently.
I've noticed with both of them, that if I don't use the grip but closer to the aperture ring, the problems aren't as bad so perhaps it's common to do large changes with the rubber grip and then slide down closer to the silver ring for the micro-adjustments? It is textured there but seems a bit unusual to need to do.
Perhaps they just all need some servicing? I'm not really sure who to take them to in the UK. It seems quite complicated to repair properly, especially with the 35mm.
It actually seems like every single camera/lens older than 15 years old that I've bought could do with a service, and the shops here seem don't seem to be as prevalent as maybe they were a decade ago.
Might be time to start learning repairs but making markings to remember the orientation and spacing....doesn't seem very sound.
Let's see, it's worth figuring out as I plan to keep these for the long term, and maybe the 24/28/85/105 too (those 20mm shots above look great though).
But with every additional purhcase I'm now less hopeful about avoiding even a small headache. Need to factor in repairs ontop of the price, even with these "top mint" items on ebay.
Probably not very relevant for you folks who've been nursing your copies for decades. But I think with film making a bit of a comeback the last few years, these lenses might start gaining in popularity again. Particularly because of the reliability of some of the older nikon cameras, they might be the only 35mm film cameras that still work that aren't Leicas in 10-20 more years. A bit nicer character on the 35, and also the 50 for my taste but I can appreciate the sharpness of the Leicas too.
I like the lenses quite a bit other than these possibly age related build issues. And I'm bracing myself for the build quality of the shortly arriving mir 24h (35/2 nikon f mount Russian lens, a Zeiss f2.8 inspired lens from what I've read with a massive focus throw, but smooth bokeh).
-- luckily, both the 50/1.2 and mir 24h lenses are fine.
I thought the mir had the same issue as the 35/1.4 ais with the wobble when changing focus direction but it's just a longer throw. It's actually a very good size too. And the 50/1.2 isn't particularly big either, just a bit dense. 35/1.4 ais is less dense but longer, but completely fine. I was worried about that one. I usually carry one lens on a body in a small camera bag that opens easily, rather than around my neck.
Mir seems like it's easier to focus with the longer smooth throw, but a little boring (but safer) rendering, very nice compact design. 35mm f1.4 render is fun though, I'm smiling just trying it on digital.
Maybe the 85 ais sometime next year for some nice film portraits.
Congrats on the new MF glass. In my collection of MF glass, all the things you said about the MF lenses apply to one lens or another. I'll add another one, I've had a 55mm micro seize up so badly that it was essentially unusable. Still trying to work up the courage and spend some $$ to get some basic tools to open that one up.
Thank you very much! I am quite pleased. Usually get a bit cautious with new purchases, especially when used.
I've got the 50/1.2 on one fm2n and the 35/1.4 on the other backup / alternative film / distributed wear body, ready for some use and I'm excited about it. Though I think the FM2ns also need a repair (one for the viewfinder detachment, and the other might just need a topup).
I'll get there with all these fixes  Hopefully keep them running smooth for another few decades with the worst of it being this initial upfront cost.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
Sounds like they may need to be relubed. Over time the grease can dry and become very lose or harden and make focusing very tough to turn.
Different lenses have different lengths of focus throw, but the difference in feel has been pretty subtle, not as drastic as you seem to describe. All decent lenses I’ve had have been smooth with enough resistance to stay put. A couple of zooms (Series E 75-150 comes to mind) have been a bit looser over all, but within similar high end primes you shouldn’t feel much difference for a properly lubed lens.
Yogifi wrote:
I picked up a few classic nikon lenses but I don't have experience in how they're supposed to feel and wanted to check with folks here.
I understand they're quite old at this point. I tried to get the highest serial numbers and best condition I could find.
My 50mm f1.4 AIS focus ring is so easy to turn, I worry when I let go of the ring that the focus will move from where I left it - it doesn't seem to, but it's probably close.
There's almost no dampening. Very different to the 50mm f1.4 AI, which is quite slow but not stiff.
I read on Ken Rockwell the 50/1.4 AIS is turnable with just one finger and that's true but it does seem a bit too easy to turn.
My 35mm f1.4 AIS is nicely dampened without being tight, and is a smaller lens than I was expecting but when doing the smallest microadjustment like you would everytime you confirm focus, there's like a very slight travel before it engages with the change of direction - about 0.5mm. Quite annoying when checking focus by going over and under and few times. You can feel and see it by trying to turn it the absolute smallest amount back and forth.
While I appreciate the improvement over the 50mm f1.4 AFD in terms of focus feel, they don't seem to be without issues themselves. The 35/1.4 being particularly cumbersome in-use. Perhaps my copies aren't representative?
The 50mm f1.2 should be here later today but those were the two I was most looking forward to using regularly with the fm2n, which I've been preferring over digital recently.
I've noticed with both of them, that if I don't use the grip but closer to the aperture ring, the problems aren't as bad so perhaps it's common to do large changes with the rubber grip and then slide down closer to the silver ring for the micro-adjustments? It is textured there but seems a bit unusual to need to do.
Perhaps they just all need some servicing? I'm not really sure who to take them to in the UK. It seems quite complicated to repair properly, especially with the 35mm.
It actually seems like every single camera/lens older than 15 years old that I've bought could do with a service, and the shops here seem don't seem to be as prevalent as maybe they were a decade ago.
Might be time to start learning repairs but making markings to remember the orientation and spacing....doesn't seem very sound.
Let's see, it's worth figuring out as I plan to keep these for the long term, and maybe the 24/28/85/105 too (those 20mm shots above look great though).
But with every additional purhcase I'm now less hopeful about avoiding even a small headache. Need to factor in repairs ontop of the price, even with these "top mint" items on ebay.
Probably not very relevant for you folks who've been nursing your copies for decades. But I think with film making a bit of a comeback the last few years, these lenses might start gaining in popularity again. Particularly because of the reliability of some of the older nikon cameras, they might be the only 35mm film cameras that still work that aren't Leicas in 10-20 more years. A bit nicer character on the 35, and also the 50 for my taste but I can appreciate the sharpness of the Leicas too.
I like the lenses quite a bit other than these possibly age related build issues. And I'm bracing myself for the build quality of the shortly arriving mir 24h (35/2 nikon f mount Russian lens, a Zeiss f2.8 inspired lens from what I've read with a massive focus throw, but smooth bokeh).
-- luckily, both the 50/1.2 and mir 24h lenses are fine.
I thought the mir had the same issue as the 35/1.4 ais with the wobble when changing focus direction but it's just a longer throw. It's actually a very good size too. And the 50/1.2 isn't particularly big either, just a bit dense. 35/1.4 ais is less dense but longer, but completely fine. I was worried about that one. I usually carry one lens on a body in a small camera bag that opens easily, rather than around my neck.
Mir seems like it's easier to focus with the longer smooth throw, but a little boring (but safer) rendering, very nice compact design. 35mm f1.4 render is fun though, I'm smiling just trying it on digital.
Maybe the 85 ais sometime next year for some nice film portraits.
^ Have you tried the 50mm f1.4 AIS? It's just I read that that specific model was very easy to turn, I'm just not sure it should be quite this easy.
Some grease that adds dampening sounds like it would help improve the feel, if anyone has any recommendations for that I'd appreciate it.
On the 35mm I suspect it might be a loose screw as the feel in general is very nice and similar to the 50/1.2, it's just that initial budge seems a touch loose, but it's so minor and it has that CRC so I wonder if it's just how it is maybe. It's very slight with the initial change in focus direction for micro adjustment - it's just that's something I do quite often to confirm focus.
None of them are stiff at least and all very usable, I am happy to have them - but if something is not as it should be I'd rather address it than let things get worse. I just have no idea what should be what. A trip to a physical shop is probably in order if none of this sounds familiar for those specific models.
Only the Helios lenses I've felt were stiff or not quite right. 44M/44-2 one of those. Both rather cheap, it's why I was worried about the mir 24h but that came from the "worse" factory, and feels quite a bit better (and is priced differently too) - though doesn't seem perfect on the aperture ring.
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