Five Frames With A Pre-Ai Nikon Nikkor 35mm F2.8, In Black-n-White

Digital Moments - Vintage lens test, images with a Pre-Ai Nikon Nikkor 35mm F2.8, post-processed in black-and-white.

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The Pre-Ai Nikon Nikkor 35mm F2.8, an improved version of the Nikkor S Auto model, was first introduced in 1959. The version is more compact than its predecessor, extending only 44.5mm out when mounted on the camera body, and comes with NIC (Nikon Integrated Coating) on all air-to-glass surfaces which contributed to the improved performance, reduced flare and ghost, and improved color rendition.

Pre-Ai Nikon Nikkor 35mm F2.8

From its basic 6 elements in 6 group construction, the lens evolved through both multiple optical and cosmetic variations and ends with a 5 element optical design. The Ai version was made from 1979 through 1981, while the Ai-S was made available from 1989 through 2005.

Olympus E-P5, Pre-Ai Nikon Nikkor 35mm F2.8

The lens is a nice fit on the Olympus Pen E-P5, giving my smallish hands just the right leverage and finger distance for both aperture and focusing control. Focusing was, of course, soft and smooth, as smooth as a Nikkor should be, while aperture clicks were just right, not that I used much of it. Most of my quick-take images were taken at full aperture and almost at the lens's shortest focusing distance.

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