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

Cameras and Lenses: Image updates with the Nikon Ai-S Nikkor 35mm f/2 lens.

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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 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.

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Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2, Close-ups In the Park

Cameras and Lenses: Image making with a Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2, close-ups in the park.

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The Nikon Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2, a classic manual focus portrait lens that has earned a devoted following among vintage lens enthusiasts, was introduced in 1981 as an upgrade to the earlier 1977 AI version, and stayed on the production run till 1995.

Both versions share the same optical formula of 5 elements in 5 groups, with the Ai-S version featuring improved coatings with a distinctive pinkish cast on the front element, as opposed to the greenish coating of its predecessor. As part of its historical development, the lens was created to replace the discontinued Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 (K).

The lens follows Nikon's traditional approach of all-metal and glass construction typical of that era, a solid metal body with a wide, checkered focusing ring that operates smoothly and allows for end-to-end focusing without needing to readjust your grip. The aperture ring is particularly noteworthy, often described as "probably the smoothest" among vintage Nikon manual focus lenses, with positive clicks and buttery smooth operation all the way on the aperture ring.

Physical attributes of the lens include a compact form factor, which is 61mm in length and 60mm in diameter, a weight of around 310 grams, which makes the 85mm a remarkably compact lens, roughly the size of most other 50mm lenses of the era, and significantly smaller than competing 85mm options. The lens accepts 52mm filters and normally comes with an optional HS-10 lens hood.

The focusing mechanism of the Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2 features a 170-degree focus throw on the Ai-S version, which is shorter than the 255-degree throw of the original AI version, making it faster to focus while maintaining precision. The lens focuses down to a minimum distance of 0.85 meters.

Olympus E-P5, Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2

On the Olympus E-P5, with a focal length equivalent to a 170mm tele on a full-frame camera, the lens is sharp across the frame when stopped down slightly, accentuated by its almost perfectly flat field at portrait distances, a characteristic that is one of the lens's strengths, aside from its color accuracy and contrast. The lens features a 7-blade diaphragm that may tend to produce somewhat angular bokeh balls rather than perfectly circular ones.

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Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2, Keeping The Options Open

Cameras and Lenses: Image making with a Nikon AI-S Nikkor 35mm f/2, up close and cropped.

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I am keeping an option open as to which of the 35mm compact fast wide-angle primes (and a zoom?) I will likely retain it as part of my minimalist collection of lenses. First up is the Nikon Nikkor Ai-S 35mm f/2, which, as my resources mentioned, has been a favorite lens by photojournalists for decades, at least until zoom lenses came into the market, and diminished manual focus primes to the mantelpiece.

For normal shots, peak performance is said to be from F4 to F11, quite usable below F4, with corners that are not always perfect. On the other hand, close focus is outstanding, with great results even from 1:2, even with the soft corners. For this test, I used the lens mounted on the 2x crop sensor Micro 4/3 ILC, which makes the lens the equivalent of a 70mm prime on a full-frame camera. Images, up close and cropped, as seen posted.

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

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Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2, Going for A Break

Analog Diary: Film photography favorites, image making with a Nikkor AI-S 85mm f/2, mounted on a Nikon F-301, and a break from the film genre.

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I am going for a break here, away from film photography, but not for too long, though, as the interest is still strong in my heart and in my veins. The reason? The photo lab nearest to my place is closing its doors, and I am not keen enough, at least currently, to create a new travel route to the next nearest lab.

Taken in a rush, these parting shots were with the Nikon F301 and Nikkor 85mm f/2.

Nikon F-301, Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2

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Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2, Take I

Cameras and Lenses: Image making with a Nikon Ai-S Nikkor 85mm F2, an excellent choice as a short/medium tele on your cropped sensor, Take I.

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When fitted to a 2x crop-sensor Olympus Pen E-P5, a Nikkor 85mm f/2, as done here, the lens now has an effective focal length of 170mm. This fitting advances the lens to that of a medium telephoto lens, and this calls for a different way of handling the lens altogether.

A longer focal length means a narrower depth of field, and it can be difficult to get your focus spot on, where even a slight change in camera position can cause blurriness. You will need to put your camera on a tripod when going for that super steady shot.

A genre where you can hand-hold this lens/camera combination, with the lens at its widest aperture, and with a shutter speed fast enough to avoid blurring, is in the motorsports arena, something that is always on my mind to try out. While you are there, add the 'panning' technique to your skills, and bring up your photography to another level.

Olympus E-P5, Nikkor Ai-S 85mm f/2

The Ai-spec of the Nikkor 85mm f/2 telephoto lens was introduced in 1977 and continued till the Ai-S version, which was introduced in late 1981. There is little difference in the specifications of these two series. Both versions are solidly built, the quality feel is all over, and using the lens is always a delight.

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Nikkor Ai-S 50mm 1:1.4, Take I

Cameras and Lenses: Image making with a Nikon Nikkor Ai-S 50mm f/1.4, the superhero of lowlight photography.

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The 50mm f/1.4 is the superhero for lowlight photography, a must for indoor sports, an essential for street photography, a norm for travel and adventure, an extreme close-up lens with a reverse adapter, and a superb portrait lens on crop-sensor digital cameras.

The legacy Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai-S by Nikon is no different, affordable by comparison (to current standards), and is one of the few manual focus lenses left in Nikon's lens line-up. Performance is said to be almost at the top of the line. Though reportedly to be pretty weak at 1:1.4, the lens improves considerably when stopped down to 1:2.

Nikkor Ai-S 50mm f/1.4

On a DX-sized or a 1.5 crop-sensor DSLR, the lens becomes a 75mm equivalent, which is more of a portrait lens than a nifty-fifty prime. On the 2x crop-sensor Olympus E-P5, the lens is equivalent to a 100mm short telephoto lens. The lens is built of all metal and glass. The lens is the ultimate build quality.

Olympus E-P5, Nikkor Ai-S 50mm f/1.4

Quite hefty in size when compared to Olympus's M4/3 lenses, the lens is about 70mm long when fitted with an adapter to the camera, and it weighs in at 250 grams, which does add to the weight of the setup. The lens, however, is a pleasure to use; the focus ring is buttery smooth and can be moved with one finger, and the aperture stops are sharp and sure.

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