Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2, A New Look

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a vintage legacy Nikon Ai-S Nikkor 35mm f/2, an exceptionally compact all-metal build, sharp central rendering, and classic mechanical precision lens; a 70mm short-tele equivalent on the Olympus PEN E-P5.

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I acquired another copy of the Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/2 recently, an Ai-S version this time, and took these sample shots just to ensure that the lens is, as expected, an excellent performer equal to that of the Ai version, which I posted a few years back.

Olympus PEN E-P5, Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2

The Nikkor 35mm f/2, with its 8 elements in 6-group optics, has been in production since it was first launched in 1965. While the optics formula of the lens has remained the same, the lens body and mechanics have undergone continuous improvements and revisions. The glass also went from a single coat in amber, then blue (-C), and was multicoated for the last three decades. The Ai-S version was in production from 1981 to 2005.

Micro-Nikkor 55mm Ai f/3.5, First Impression

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a vintage legacy Micro-Nikkor Ai 55mm 1:3.5, widely acclaimed as one of Nikon's sharpest lenses, praised for its exceptional flat-field optical design, a 110mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus PEN E-P5.

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The Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI, considered one of the sharpest Nikon lenses, is an all-metal and glass 5-element in 4-group construction. Like most of Nikon's manual focus Micro-Nikkor lenses, this one only goes up to 1:2 macro; you will need a PK-13 or bellows to reach 1:1 macro.

Olympus PEN E-P5, Micro-Nikkor Ai 55mm f/3.5

Nokia Asha 300, Dawn

Mobile Photography Image making with a vintage candy-bar Nokia Asha 300, catching the break of dawn.

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A dawn session with a candy-bar 2011 production model, discontinued, which I am still using, albeit only occasionally now. The camera has served me well, and as far as I can remember, has always delivered sharp and scintillating 5MP JPEG images worthy of display on these pages.

Specifications of the candy bar include a 2.4-inch touch screen, 5 MP camera, FM radio, MP3 support, a microSD memory card slot, and a 24-day standby time. The Nokia Asha was then one of the leading phones on the market for battery life.

Nokia Asha 300

Lumax Gold Star 200mm f/4, Sharp And Vibrant

Cameras and Lenses: Sharp and vibrant images with a legacy Lumax Gold Star 200mm f/4, a vintage manual telephoto lens from the era of classic mechanical film cameras, a 400mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus PEN E-P5.

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My second image test with the Lumax Gold Star 200mm f/4, post-processed in color, very vibrant colors, if I may say so.

Olympus PEN E-P5, Lumax Gold Star 200mm f/4

Cimko Compact 28mm f/2.8, The Trumpet Pitcher

Cameras and Lenses: The Trumpet Pitcher (Sarracenia), first impression images with a legacy Cimko Compact 28mm f/2.8 wide-angle, a vintage, third-party all-metal build manual-focus wide-angle prime, on an Olympus PEN E-P5.

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The Sarraceniaceae, unlike any other plants in the Western Hemisphere, derive their common name from their hollow tubular leaves, which can take the form of a trumpet, a pitcher, or an urn. These leaves passively capture prey lured to the leaf’s mouth by its glistening surfaces or unusual coloration and transparent patches.

Once an insect or other organism falls into the pitcher, stiff downward-pointing hairs and slippery walls prevent it from crawling back out, eventually drowning in the liquid at the bottom of the pitcher. Protein-digesting enzymes and bacteria break down the insect’s body, allowing the plant to absorb nitrates and other valuable nutrients to supplement the poor soil conditions of its environment.

Olympus PEN E-P5, Cimko Compact 28mm f/2.8

The Cimko Compact 28mm f/2.8 (also seen as Paragon PMC, Beroflex, Ensinor, and Clubman) is a 25cm close-focusing all-metal construction made by Cima Kogaku.